He strolled to the bathroom and dropped his towel, his lean muscled back and taut ass teasing me, before leaving the door partially open.Okay.He didn’t drop the towel in front of me. My horny imagination got the best of me for a moment. But Grey was inviting me to join him in the shower if I chose. A choice that would have consequences I wasn’t prepared for, so I decided to stay put until he was done. Thoughts of Carter and Grey swirled in my mind. How anyone could be with more than one personat a time was certifiable and exhausting. I was in a pretend relationship, yet suddenly, I was slowly becoming the center of a love triangle between my best friend and my crush.
I pondered what to say while he showered, and then I questioned my reaction to him. He’d never charmed me. Grey was usually a grump around me. A loveable grump, but one nonetheless. We’d spent every day together, sometimes hours at a time, this past summer and even more in the last week as roommates. In some ways, we were like a couple. Finishing each other’s sentences, knowing each other’s likes and dislikes, and knowing when to give each other space. And having arguments that we both knew would never be enough to stop being friends. I had an older brother who I adored, but Grey was mybrother. Would fight anyone for me. Agree to do anything for me, like being my pretend boyfriend against his better wishes.
When the shower turned off, I yelled, “I’m still out here. Come out here dressed.”
“I don’t have any clothes in here.”
I jumped up and went to his closet, quickly grabbing cargo pants and a black T-shirt. I held them through the barely opened door.
“Guess I’m going commando.”
“Like it’s the first time,” I replied.
I patted the bed beside me when he exited the bathroom, fully dressed and with wet curls. He flopped down and immediately laid back with his arm over his face.
“Grey, do you want to be with me?”
Grey sighed, “It was just a kiss.”
“We have never kissed in the seven years I’ve known you.” I laid back on the bed with him and shifted to my side to face him. “Game recognize game, right?”
His arm remained over his face.
“The same way, Carter is more interested in me because of you. You’re doing the same thing. Suddenly, I’m more interesting because another man wants me.”
“That’s not true. You’ve always been interesting.”
I pointed out, “Yeah, but not sexy, and men want sexy and interesting.”
He grumbled. “You’ve been both to me.”
“Then let’s be together,” I suggested, knowing my friend enough to recognize that his feelings for me are temporary at best.
Grey removed his arm and stared up at the ceiling. “It’s not you. I don’t want a relationship with anyone.”
“And I do want one. If I’d joined you in that shower and we had sex because of who you are to me, it would have meant something. I would’ve thought you wanted more from me, and then I would’ve been hurt when you didn’t.”
He shifted on his side to face me. “I suck at relationships because of my fucked-up parents, and I never want to hurt you.”
“I know that. As much as your kiss got me all hot and bothered and tempted me to get in that shower with you, we would be a mistake.”
“And so is Carter,” he added.
“Maybe," I conceded. "I can live with making a mistake with Carter...but not you.” I gestured between us. “This is sacred to me.”
He captured my hand in his and gazed into my eyes. “And if I said I want us to be together or that I wanted to try...would you drop Carter?”
“If I believed you were sincere and ready to be in a committed relationship with me, I would give us a shot,” I answered honestly. We were already friends, and we had chemistry. A recipe for a healthy relationship. “You already know my crazy peeps, and I know your crazy mama. Why not?”
Three lines appeared on his forehead. “You’re serious?”
“Contrary to your belief, I’m not scared of something real. It’s why I’m more and more attracted to Carter. I’m seeing a side of him I didn’t expect. He’s not just some football jock I’m crushing on. He’s a man with doubts and insecurities. A man who is taking his time with me.” I smiled. “Ironically, what I like the most about him is that I can be myself around him like I am with you. Grey, you’re real to me, and he’s starting to be real. So yeah, if you wanted to try, I would let go of Carter.”
His gaze dropped to our entwined hands and his jaw unclenched and clenched several times before he attempted to speak.
“It’s okay, Grey. I already know your answer. Nothing will change between us. You’re still my best friend.”
He chuckled softly. “Don’t let Chelsea hear you.”
