Page 48 of Late Nights

“Right,” Halle said, turning back to me. “So tell us what’s going on with you two.”

I shrugged, not sure what to say. There wasn’t much to say. I liked him, he liked me, but he didn’t want to be with me. The end. “Nothing, really.”

The three of them all gave me a ‘yeah, right,’ look, waiting for me to say more.

“I don’t know what you guys want me to say here.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Halle said, tapping her nails on the table. “Maybe something about how you two can’t keep your eyes off each other, or how the chemistry between you two has seemed to go up several notches since you started living in his apartment.” She looked at me expectantly. “I’m pretty sure West is the only one oblivious to what’s going on between his sister and his best friend. Which I think has to do with him probably hoping to avoid the potential outcomes if you two got together.”

“I agree,” said Kate.

“Me too,” Jax nodded.

I couldn’t help the quizzical look I gave Jax. I wasn’t used to having a guy join in on a girl talk session, especially a guy I barely knew.

“What?” he asked. “Just because I’m a guy and new to this friend group doesn’t mean I can’t see the way what you feel for each other is written all over your faces.”

They all were saying they could see something between Cannon and me that was so obvious, but how was that possible? I was still trying to figure everything out. Yes, I knew I liked Cannon, and I definitely knew I wanted to kiss him, but I hadn’t really thought much farther than wishing to see what could happen if we did kiss. Everything was still so new.

“Well,” I started, thinking of the best way to summarize everything that had happened the last few weeks. “We’ve gotten to know each other more since living together. We stay up late playing Mario Kart and Call of Duty. We make breakfast together in the mornings. We texted for the first time last night, and he slightly opened up to me. And he told me earlier today that he likes me but doesn’t want to do anything about it.” I finished giving them the bullet points of our relationship, hoping that would be enough for them. “I think that pretty much sums it up.”

Each of their faces was in some stage of disbelief at the bomb I’d dropped on them.

“Wait,” Halle said, as if her mind was still trying to process what I’d told them. “Cannon told you he likes you? Like, just came out and said it?”

“Yep.”

“When?” Kate asked.

“Today,” I said simply.

They sat there, looking stunned.

“We kind of got into an argument because he was acting ridiculous about Gavin,” I kept going. “So I called him out on it, and then he admitted to having feelings for me, but quickly followed it up with how he didn’t want anything to change between us. He wants to remain friends.”

“What?” both girls exclaimed.

“That makes sense,” Jax said at the same time, nodding.

Halle and Kate swung their heads to look at Jax.

“How so?” Halle asked.

“Sometimes liking someone doesn’t mean you should be together. There are other things to think about.” He swallowed, looking around the lodge like he wished he hadn’t said anything.

Throwing Jax a bone, I spoke up. “Cannon pretty much said the same thing.”

I wasn’t sure if Jax liked Kate, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if he did. They’d been best friends since they were kids and probably talked more to each other than most couples did. The fact that no matter where he was in the country he would call her every night to talk until they fell asleep made me wonder if he felt more for her than friendship.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if Kate liked Jax. For starters, he was extremely good looking, with his short brown hair, green eyes, and a body that proved he took advantage of hotel gyms while he was traveling. And then how they seemed to get along effortlessly, how he was attentive and complimentary to her, knowing and accepting all her quirks and habits. He was definitely one of the good guys.

Although neither one of them had been overly obvious about being interested in the other, they genuinely seemed to be friends, so maybe I was way off.

“Like what things?” Halle asked me, reminding me we were talking about Cannon and me, not Kate and Jax’s relationship.

“Thing number one being my brother,” I answered.

Halle waved my words off. “West will get over it. He loves you, and he loves Cannon. Why wouldn’t he want you guys to be together if that’s what you both want?”

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