Page 103 of I Knead You Tonight

He shakes my hand again and heads toward the cake after bopping Riker on the nose.

“Think about what I said,” Blythe says, patting my cheek. She leans in close and whispers, “Don’t give up on her.” She tosses me a wink before straightening up herself. “See you kids later.”

When they’re out of earshot, Drew spins toward me.

“What the hell was that?”

“What was what?” I say innocently, pushing the stroller forward.

“You know what I mean,” she says out of the corner of her mouth, clearly annoyed with me. “Why did you just let them believe we’re dating?”

“Because it’s not that big of a deal if they think it.”

“But it’s not true.”

“Am I really that awful that anyone thinking we’re dating upsets you? Even if it’s two old farts like Randy and Blythe?”

She grins. “I am ninety-five percent certain Randy would kick your ass if he heard you calling him an old fart.”

“He’d definitely give it his best shot, but that’s not the point. I just don’t understand how you can fuck me every night and sleep in the same bed as me and live under my roof but be too chickenshit to call this what it is.”

“Call this what it is? What?” She wrinkles her nose. “A relationship?”

I laugh disdainfully at her disgust, which is an obvious coverup for how she really feels.

“You say I’m living in a bubble, too afraid to go after what I want, Drew? Maybe you’re right, but I’m not the only one doing it.”

“What? What does that even mean?”

“It means there is clearly something between us, and it’s not just mind-blowing sex. I’m saying maybe, just fucking maybe, you don’t hate me at all.”

“I’m not the only one doing the hating around here. You don’t like me just as much as I don’t like you,” she maintains.

“Or,” I say, “maybe that’s not the case at all.”

“Wait a second…are you…are you saying youlikeme?”

Her mouth is popped open, like even she can’t believe the words coming out of her mouth.

But she should, because they’re accurate.

Hell, they’re more than accurate.

I like Drew, and I might even love her.

I just wish she could see what’s right in front of her.

“I’m just saying maybe things aren’t what they appear to be.”

“Stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop playing with me right now. I don’t know what this is, but it’s not funny.”

“I’m not playing any game,” I push out through gritted teeth, already annoyed with myself for opening my trap because she’s obviously not taking me seriously. “I’m simply telling you I don’t think the idea of us being together is entirely insane.”

“You can’t be serious. We can’t stand each other!”

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