“Shep. He keeps texting and calling, wanting to know where I am.” She shut her phone off and tossed it on my nightstand. “Stage five clinger.”
I didn’t like Shep. Well, I didn’t like the idea of Shep. And I didn’t really think B was all that into him anyway. “The Grizzly Maze?” I pressed info and we both read through the description. It sounded ridiculous. Which meant Bryan would love it.
“Perfect.”
I nodded and hit select. “So what did you tell him?”
She shrugged. “That I came to Florida to visit my sister and some friends.”
“What did Dylan mean earlier? About your relationships never lasting?”
She cocked an eyebrow. “I thought those cartwheels didn’t matter?”
“They don’t, in regards to our friendship. But I’m curious.”
She sighed. “She’s right, my relationships never seem to last. I don’t really know what happens. It’s like everything is going great and then all of a sudden I get bored and have this urge to move on. I’ve never brought a guy home to meet my parents; I’ve never said I love you… It just never ends up going anywhere.”
“Does that bother you?” I didn’t mention that I’d never done those things either. That I never even made it to actual relationship status before sending a girl packing. Comparing her to me…just didn’t seem right.
“Honestly?”
“Always.”
“Not really.”
She snuggled into my side, the conversation obviously over, with her head on my chest and her leg thrown over mine. “By all means, B, make yourself comfortable.” Bryan reminded me of Lexi in that sense. Both girls loved to touch and hug, every person near them was a body pillow.
I felt her smile against my chest. “Tell me to move and I will.”
She called my bluff. I didn’t want her to move, I loved having her pressed against me. Because she was my friend. And I, uh, liked having my friends close. I needed to calm down or I was going to end up getting a semi and with the way her leg was draped over mine? She’d feel it. We were both quiet for a while, wrapped up in the movie, which ended up being not half bad.
Luke walked past my room, then backed up and stood in my doorway, eyebrows raised in question. My arm was around her, resting on her hip, her shirt hiked up. I’m not quite sure when I started tracing little circles on her bare skin with my fingers…but I was. I used my free hand to flip him off and he walked away chuckling. It wasn’t my freaking fault. Since we moved into this house, I’d been acting like a monk. At first it was just because I was exhausted from touring for months on end. Then it was because I went out and realized this was family friendly central, and there were no good bars to pick up chicks. I kept meaning to head over to Panama or Destin one night, but I just never got around to it. And now here I was, manhandling my best friend and thinking sappy thoughts. “Hey, B?”
“Hmmm?”
“Do you think you could watch Landry for me tomorrow? I need to do some work down in the studio with the band and then I have a few errands I need to run after Landry goes to sleep.” And by errands? I meant ass.
“Sure.” She scooted closer to me. “Now stop talking and watch the movie.”
I never set out to have Bryan fall asleep wrapped in my arms. I had every intention of keeping my hands to myself and tucking her into her own bed as soon as the movie was over. But you know what they say about the best of intentions. And the worst part? I didn’t want to wake her up. I didn’t want her to go to her bed. I wanted her to stay right where she was. I wanted to breathe in her sweet scent until the sun came up. She was out cold, and she didn’t know I was awake. In the morning, I could act just as surprised as she did. I buried my face in her neck and closed my eyes.
***
“Just friends, my ass.” I opened one eye and saw a very annoyed-looking Dylan standing over me. I closed that eye and took inventory of my surroundings. I was under the covers and I was big spooning her little sister.
Bryan rolled over, stretching her arms over her head, and yawned. “Leave him alone, Dylan. We fell asleep watching a movie, it’s not a big deal.”
Dylan scoffed, “That’s what I told Dash the first time he caught Smith and I like this.”
I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “Believe me, if something had happened between me and B last night, neither of us would be wearing clothes. And I wouldn’t have woken up with this massive er—”
Bryan cut off my words with an elbow to the ribs. “Good morning, Landry.”
She was standing in her doorway, looking into mine and clutching Ello to her chest. I smiled and crooked my finger. “Come here, sweet girl.” I patted the bed and waited until she climbed on before asking, “You ready for breakfast?”
She nodded.
“Me too. I’m starving.” I looked over at Bryan, giving her my best puppy dog eyes and pouty bottom lip.