Page 61 of Rush

“True.” He chuckles. “Thank you for coming here and telling me all of that. I appreciate you being honest with me. But don’t lie to me again. I hate being lied to. Even if you think it’s something I won’t want to hear, I would rather hear it. So, full disclosure from here on out. Okay?”

He’s still my friend. My happy heartbeat is a palpable force in my chest.

“Okay.” I smile. “Full disclosure.”

There’s a beat of silence between us.

“So, that guy…”

“Luke.”

“He’s your sponsor?”

“Yes.”

“And you guys aren’t…”

“No! God, no! That’s not allowed. Totally unethical. But, even if it weren’t…he’s not my type.”

“Oh. Well…who is your type?”

You, apparently.

Shit. I just agreed to full disclosure, no more lies. But I can’t tell him that he’s my type because I’m not his; it’d be awkward as hell, and then I’d definitely lose him as a friend.

I shrug with a noncommittal answer. “Uh…um…guys.”

His brow lifts. “What type of guys?”

Jesus. My whole body is getting hot. My face must be the color of a tomato right now.

“Ones who…don’t drink.”

“I don’t drink.”

“You don’t?”

I didn’t know that. We haven’t been anywhere where he would drink. But I just assumed he did. I don’t know why I thought that. He’s not exactly a fan of alcohol.

Alcoholics. You’re getting them confused, Ari.

“Nope,” he says.

“Okay…” I trail off.

“So, what other qualities do your type of guys have to have?”

“Why do you want to know?” I’m skirting the question because I can’t think of anything else to say that won’t expose my feelings for him.

“I’m curious.”

“You know what curiosity did—”

“I’ll take my chances.” He shrugs, a grin on his lips.

“Uh…” I rake my fingers into my messy bun, tugging on it. “They just have to…I don’t know. Like me. Like who I am. Baggage and all.”

He nods, his eyes holding mine. “You’re right. He should.”