After a while of me stroking her, she chuckles. “You know, ever since I sawClueless,I always wanted to have a gay best friend.”
I freeze, looking down at her, which prompts her to lift her head.
“What?” she asks, puzzled. “You’re the one insisting that you’re my best friend,” she mumbles, blushing slightly.
I chuckle softly. “I am your best friend, but I’m not gay, kitten.”
Her eyes widen. “I’m sorry,” she quickly apologizes.
“For what?” I ask, resuming my gentle stroking.
“For assuming,” she whispers.
“It’s okay. I mean, I’m very much not straight either.” I snicker.
She pulls her thigh away from me, and it brushes against my boner, making her eyes lock with mine. “See?” I whisper. “Not gay.”
“Then this is very much inappropriate,” she says, moving to get up.
“Shut up, kitten, and come back here,” I insist, reaching out to pull her back down to me. “You just pushed your not-so-small tits nearly in my face. Of course, I got a boner. It’s a natural reaction. Don’t overthink shit. We just made plans to cuddle all day long, and I am very much determined to do just that.”
She relaxes back against me but doesn’t hold me like before. So I reach over to get her thigh back over me. “I need you right here,” I whisper to her.
She looks up at me, searching my eyes before her gaze lands on my lips.
Fuck, I would still be the second guy she ever kissed, right?
“Thank you for yesterday,” she says, her voice soft. “I don’t think I told you that. But it meant a lot to me that you came for me. Again.”
I hold her closer. “I will always come for you,” I promise, feeling a tingle in my chest as our eyes lock. “Fuck, kitten, I think I?—”
“Don’t say it.” She stops me. “Let’s just lay here and tune the rest of the world out for a while.”
“I can do that,” I say, disappointed but willing to put away my feelings.
For now.
FORTY-FOUR
“Chiara, no,”I say firmly, grabbing my backpack and heading toward the door to leave the apartment.
She had already bugged me about the same thing yesterday, and it was even more annoying then. My patience was already thin, thanks to the headache that made it even harder to deal with her. Somehow, I managed to drag myself to work, even with my head still pounding like a drum. The guys came over to take us to dinner and Joshua was being his usual adorable self, so I think we really are good again. Clay, on the other hand, was surprisingly quiet. He didn't say anything, but that smirk of his spoke volumes.
“Please, Lina,” Chiara pleads again, making puppy dog eyes at me.
“You can make him a present instead. Remember those pretty bracelets you made for Monica and me last year? That’s cute, and he’s so in love with you, he’d gladly wear something you made,” I suggest.
“No, I can’t do that. It’s childish,” she protests.
“I don’t think so. In fact, I’m planning to make some of those bracelets for my new friends too, because I can’t afford to buy them Christmas gifts either. Remember, it’s the thought thatcounts. And I just don’t have a hundred dollars for you to buy him that skateboard. Besides, it’s winter,piccola,” I reason with her.
“But I love him, and he always gives me gifts. I think he’ll get me something big too,” Chiara says with a pout.
“Then be grateful and say thank you. Maybe you can give him a massage or something. Show your affection in ways other than buying stuff,” I suggest as we walk out of the building to the subway station.
“You don’t understand, Lina! You’ve never had a boyfriend before!” Chiara nearly yells.
“I have one now,” I say, stopping to look at her.
