Page 37 of Love in Unexpected Places

“But what?” I ask, leaning forward.

“I can maybe help you move in? Or… visit when you’re all unpacked.” His eyes are innocent, not betraying any heat at all, but I still feel myself getting a little hot under the collar.

The look in his eyes seals the deal, and I nod. “Take my number,” I tell him and recite it quickly. He has it in his phone and is shooting me a text just moments before Evan sits back down.

Looks like my move just got more interesting.

chapter five

DEREK

I’m almost floating on cloud nine when I send Keith a text when I get home. Throughout the rest of the day, I can’t stop thinking about him—mainly the fact that he’s Evan’s father. I always knew the older men that I was attracted to would have kids, but I didn’t think I’d know the kid.

Sighing, I flop on my bed and pull my phone out. Even though Evan is my best friend, I know I’m going to end up seeing Keith again. He’s handsome, and everything I look for in a man—not to mention that he has a delicious, thick cock. No way will I let him get away from me.

Me: What building are you in?

He doesn’t respond right away, so I busy myself with pulling out some study material and get started on cramming for my sociology exam in a week.

Twenty minutes later, my phone dings and I grab it quickly, almost dropping it in my rush to get it unlocked. I smile when I see the initial I saved him under pop up on my notification screen.

K: Building 1608. You?

My hands shake and my heart thumps in my chest. We’re in the same building, but I didn’t see anyone moving in. He may be on the other side.

Me: Me too! What apartment number?

K: 211.

Yep, he’s on the other side. One side is even numbers, and the other is odd. I live on the odd side. The apartments are labeled by the odd or even side, floor, and apartment location. So Keith lives on the even side, first floor, in the first apartment. I’m on the odd side, second floor, in the third apartment.

Me: 123. Really easy to remember.

The conversation lulls for a moment and Keith doesn’t text me back for another few minutes. I mean, what did I expect him to say? I just told him my apartment number. Maybe I should have said something else after? Is he expecting me to pick another topic of conversation? Ugh! I’m terrible at this.

Groaning, I flop back on the bed, throwing a hand over my eyes. I’m not terrible at flirting, but the stakes haven’t been this high before. I’m not sure where things will go with him. Sure, I’d like there to be more than us…hanging outor whatever we plan to do, but Evan is my best friend. So nothing will come of it after we’ve had our fill of each other. That should make things easier, knowing that things won’t get too deep between us.

But it’s the opposite.

I can’t help but think that I’m ready to settle down and be with one man. I’m not sure if Keith is that man, but our chemistry from the one time we were together was explosive. I want to explore more of that, but not for just a few months.

Am I willing to lose my best friend to be with his dad? Would Keith be willing to lose his son to be withme? Will we be enough for each other, knowing that if we lose Evan, it’s because of our own doing?

Before I sink too deeply into that rabbit hole, my phone dings with a text.

K: Step outside.

With my heart in my throat, I scramble out of bed, glad that Bryson has to work tonight. It would just be my luckthat he saw the hot stranger from the club and found out said hot stranger is actually the hot dad of our other best friend.

Quickly, I check myself in our hall mirror—for once happy that Bryson insisted we get one—and step outside, looking left and right. I see Keith leaning against the banister just to the right of the door. He has his hands in his jeans pockets and a shy smile on his face. I grin back, walking over to him slowly.

“Hey,” he says in a deep voice that I don’t think I won’t always find sexy as hell.

“Hey yourself,” I squeak out, sounding way less sexy than him. I feel my cheeks flame, but I don’t drop my eyes.

I step beside him and lean against the banister as well. We’re quiet for a moment, just soaking up each other’s energy and presence. Finally, he glances down at me. “Were you serious about helping me move in, or was that some kind of line?”

Laughing, I bump his biceps with my shoulder. “No, it wasn’t a line. Though I was thinking more of ‘you unpack and I’ll keep you company’.”

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