Page 50 of Until We're More
“I’m not surprised. Those bottles in there are giant.”
“Not helping.”
A red mark covered the top of her foot—there’d definitely be a bruise later. As my gaze ran up her legs, it snagged on the bottom of the towel. Then I forced it up, only to get distracted by the way she had the towel tucked tightly around her breasts.
I swallowed hard. “Want me to get some ice?”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll get some when I grab breakfast. I figured I’d just spend a lazy day here anyway, since I’m guessing you’ll be at the gym.”
My head bobbed up and down somehow, despite the frozen-in-place sensation that’d taken over. “With Finn’s fight so close, I won’t be home much this week. We also have a new fighter coming in—the one my dad and I went to see in L.A. the other night.”
“It’s fine. I know how to entertain myself, and thanks to my headache and…” Her cheeks flushed and she glanced at the floor. “Let’s just say I’m not going to be getting drunk again anytime soon.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ve all had a bit too much and said and did stupid things.”
Her head whipped up, and I held up my hands. “Not that you did or said anything stupid. I’m just saying I understand.”
“Good. I’m glad. Because…yeah.”
“Uh-oh. I’m getting half sentences again. You’re holding back.”
“I’m standing here in a towel with my hair dripping a puddle on the floor. I figured if there was any time to be laconic, it’d be now.”
“Sure. If I knew what that meant, I might agree.”
Finally I got a smile, and the knot that’d taken over my chest loosened. I didn’t realize how much I needed things to be okay. “Succinct, pithy—using very few words. In other words, I’m doing my best impression of you.”
“Ah. Well, I wrap my towel around my waist.” It came out before I’d thought it through, andshit.She was blushing again, and my body felt too hot all over and I’d made it weird. “I’ll, uh, let you get dressed.”
She darted into her bedroom, and I quickly strode toward the kitchen. I’d planned on making breakfast, but I decided I’d better leave before I managed to make things any worse. “I’ve gotta get going,” I called out, “but help yourself to anything you want, and I’ll see you later.”
A muffled “later” came from her bedroom, and I hefted my gym bag and got the hell out of Dodge.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chelsea
Nothing saysI see you as just a friendlike a forehead kiss. Last night Liam had carried my drunken ass out of a bar, listened to my rambling—I only remembered parts, and it was still enough to make me want to go full ostrich. Sure, my butt would be sticking up for the world to see, but as long as my head was underground, I wouldn’t have to witness the reaction.
Perfect plan, really.
“George, how do I manage to botch everything up so thoroughly? Finally I’m learning how to be more assertive at work, and then I go and get ridiculously overconfident and hit on my best friend. Who had to let me down easy.Ugh.”
George nudged my hand, so clearly he was super concerned about my well-being. That or because in my distress, I’d dared to stop petting him.
In added proof that playing roommates with my best friend perhaps hadn’t been my smartest idea, after embarrassing myself last night, I’d had to face Liam first thing in the morning. While wearing a towel. And he’d told me that if I was going to do an impression of him, that he wrapped his towel around his waist. Usually I was the one who turned red, but this time, he had as well. Either that was a sign he wasn’t totally opposed to seeing my breasts, or I was such a nonentity he’d forgotten I had them until that moment.
I glanced down.Not much to look at, I’m afraid. But, hey, when I get older, they’ll have nowhere to sag to.
For a cheer-up thought, that was pretty depressing. I should just face it. I was either going to have to settle for someone who wasn’t Liam, or I was going to die a virgin.
I picked up my phone and scrolled to Kevin’s name. Over and over I’d tried to convince myself that if I kept seeing him, gradually our intimacy would build. In the name of doing something bold that also scared me, I’d also stopped by Victoria’s Secret and bought lingerie, so I’d be prepared if I did decide it was time to say goodbye to my virginity. But I kept thinking about losing it with the wrong guy.
If Liam liked me even a little bit, there’s no way he would’ve encouraged me to get Kevin’s number.It was time to face facts. If I didn’t do something drastic, and soon, I was going to throw myself at my best friend.
Hell, I practically had already.
I got a flash of him brushing my hair off my face.Because I’d never let you be lonely.
