Page 53 of The Geography of Happiness

The kennel room door opened and Spencer walked in. He took a seat on the floor beside me and began stroking Miller’s head. “The rain has finally stopped. It should be a good day tomorrow.”

I glanced sideways in disbelief. “We’re doing small talk now? After that bombshell?”

He gave a crooked grin that made me want to laugh. “Yeah, okay. I’m sorry I never mentioned it. As you can tell, I haven’t been exactly open with anyone. Sonja is right to be pissed. I knew she’d be upset, which is why I’ve been avoiding the subject. To be fair, I wasn’t even looking to move. But someone gave the university my name, and at the time I think I felt just a little... stuck. Like I needed a change.”

I held up my hand. “You don’t owe me an explanation, Spencer.” I wriggled my butt around to face him, only to find he was closer than I’d thought, the rough scruff on his jawline just a small lean away from my lips.

Nope.

“And yet for some reason, I want to give you one.” He turned as well, putting his lips right fucking there. “Why do you think that is?” His gaze remained steady on mine, because we both knew the answer to that one.

I huffed at the loaded question, my attention drawn to the slight flare of his nostrils and the bow of those plump lips beneath.Stop it. I dragged my eyes off those suckers and back down to Miller. “Maybe because this thing between us is starting to feel like it could be a good friendship,” I answered tamely, deftly sidestepping what we both knew he really meant.

Spencer gave a soft snort. “Right. Afriendship.” He ran his hand down Miller’s back, the tips of his fingers catching my thigh, sending goosebumps rippling up my spine. “Yeah. That must be it.” The heat of his gaze travelled my face, and I wondered what he saw.

Time to be honest. I eyeballed Spencer. “Okay, well, maybe just answer me this. When you know you’re heading to Adelaide, why bother with...?” I waved a hand between us. “Why the wholelet’s have a coffee and discuss why we had so much fun together todaybullshit, when in the end it doesn’t matter because you’re leaving the country? I don’t get it. And to be honest, it kind of sucks. I feel like you’ve been playing with me.”

Spencer fell quiet, but his gaze remained steady on mine. Finally, he shook his head. “I... don’t know.”

I waited, but when he offered nothing more, I huffed, “Really? That’s all you’ve got?”

His hand slid over mine and I wanted to pull away, but I didn’t. “I’m sorry if you feel I’ve been playing with you,” he said so soft I almost had to lean in to catch the words. “Please believe that’s the last thing I wanted. I don’t know what to say. Yes, I’m planning to go to Adelaide but—” He sighed and brought my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of my fingers. “—I wasn’t expecting you. Not now. Maybe not ever, if I’m honest. And I have no idea what to do about that. About you.Runseems like a really good idea.”

I snorted. “Yeah, join the club.”

He slid an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “Other times I think maybe I shouldn’t be so hasty.”

I craned my neck to see his face and smiled. “Yeah? And exactly how does that work in your head?”

He shrugged. “You tell me. No one makes decisions after just a few days knowing another person, right?”

I nodded. “Right.”

“So, to answer your question—” He pressed his lips to my hair, making my heart race. “—I think I’ve just been enjoying getting to know you. Enjoying and wondering and imagining and trying to get my head around the puzzle of ‘why you?’.”

I chuckled. “Well, when you come up with an answer, maybe you can tell me and then we’ll both know, because I’m asking myself the same question. About why you as well.” I leaned against his side and slid my hand around his waist, his stomach tensing at my touch.

Then he relaxed and a soft grunt of contentment fell from his lips. “I don’t have any answers for you and even fewer promises. The timing sucks big time.”

I breathed out a long sigh. “It does. So maybe let’s not even ask the questions. Let’s just agree to be friends.”

“Goodfriends?” His arm tightened around me.

I laughed. “Yeah, I can do good.”

“Good friends who keep in contact?” he pushed in a hopeful tone and I pulled away to stare up at him.

“Contact?” I narrowed my gaze. “Just so we’re clear, I won’t be doing booty calls or rendezvous in hotels or anything.”

He chuckled. “No, I meant emails, texts, phone calls maybe. I know—” His mouth turned up in a triumphant smile. “—we could be pen pals. The modern version, of course.”

I almost choked. “You don’t strike me as the pen-pal type.”

He eyed me coyly. “And exactly what type of mandoI strike you as?”

“The dangerous-to-my-heart type,” I shot back. “Although not to me, of course. Not with us just being friends and such.”

“Of course.” He managed a straight face. “But I’ll have you know, I write a mean letter.”

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