“Why is it so surprising? You don’t have a girlfriend and you’re hot. Granted, you are a dick, but a lot of chicks will overlook that for a nice set of abs.”
“You think I have nice abs?”
I rolled my eyes. “You know you have a great stomach.”
He chuckled. “I told you why I don’t have a girlfriend. I don’t do relationships.”
“Well, neither do I.”
There was a pause, and then, “I guess we are a lot alike.”
Looking at him, I tapped my fingers off my knees. “I thought so.”
“Past tense, huh?”
I nodded slowly. “I don’t have anything against relationships. I’m just a firm believer in not wasting your time unless you see a future with someone. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy each other, but why put the effort into something when you know it’s not going to go anywhere?” I shrugged one shoulder. “That’s my motto.”
“And you’ve never met someone that you thought would go somewhere?”
“Nope.”
“Huh,” he murmured. A distant look crept into his features.
My fingers stilled. “You have?”
One shoulder rose after a moment. “I did once before. Apparently I was wrong.” The smile reappeared and was quickly gone. “Way wrong.”
“So . . . like I said, you don’t like to get close.”
“No,” he countered with a frown. “That’s not the case.”
I arched a brow as I laughed softly. “Okay. Whatever.” Unfurling my legs, I stretched them out in front of me. As I wiggled my toes, I could feel his gaze on me, and even though I told myself not to, I glanced over. Our gazes met briefly, and then I looked away, swallowing. “By the way, I accept your apology.”
“You do?” he asked softly.
Refusing to look at him, I stared at my socks. “I still think you’re a dick, though.”
“Kind of hard to believe you really accept my apology if you think that.”
“Well, it helps that you’re really attractive. I’m shallow like that.” I was lying. I wasn’t that shallow, but I enjoyed his reaction.
A surprise laugh burst out of him. “I feel like I’m being exploited over here.”
“Don’t let my shallowness mean more than it does,” I advised, fighting a grin.
“So I guess that means you—”
“If that sentence has anything to do with sex, I suggest not finishing it.”
Nick chuckled. “Actually, I was going to say I guess that means you . . .” He trailed off, and when I peeked at him, he had the most boyish grin I’d ever seen on a guy his age. “Okay, I lied. Totally had to do with sex.”
Smoothing my hands over my face, I hid my grin. “You . . . you are terrible.”
“Possibly.” A heartbeat passed. “I like the hair, just FYI.”
Luckily my hands were still on my face, so he didn’t see my smile grow. I’d forgotten that I had put my hair in pigtail braids when I got home. “Thanks,” I said, my voice muffled by my hands.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
“Sure.” I lowered my hands, twisting toward him.
He dipped his chin, causing that damn lock of hair to sweep across his forehead. “You were staring at me earlier, weren’t you?”
Dammit. I tried to fight it, but I felt warmth creeping up my neck. “You’re so arrogant. I was not staring at you earlier.”
“You say arrogant, and I say observant.” Nick shifted before I could respond, reaching between us and tugging one of my braids. He tugged gently, his fingers curling around the braid. “You and I cool?”
It took me a moment to answer and I wasn’t even sure why. Deep down, I already knew the answer, so I forced it out. “Yeah, we are.”
“Good.” He slid his fingers down, smoothing them over the loop, drawing my attention, and I was helpless to not watch his fingers work their way down. “Will I see you at Mona’s again?”
Drawing in a short breath, I lifted my gaze, but he was staring at my braid. “Maybe.”
“Say yes.”
My heart was starting to beat faster. “Yes.”
“That was easy.”
“To see Roxy,” I added, and I smiled when he laughed. “I’ll make sure I say hi to you if you happen to be there.”
“Make sure you do.” Smiling, he tugged on my braid once more and then flipped it over my shoulder. His hand lingered in the space between us and then he cupped my cheek. The move startled me as he dragged his thumb under my lip. “It’s really a shame.”
I frowned. “What is?”
“Us,” he said, his voice low as his thumb made another sweep, and my breath caught. “That you and I are the way we are. It’s a damn shame.”
Chapter 7
The smell of fried bacon and maple syrup caused my stomach to grumble like a monster straight out of a horror movie. It screamed, Feeeed meeee.