Page 28 of Quarantine Crush
“No.” I grit my teeth. “We’re friends.”
“Friends don’t make each other homemade pasta.”
“I’d make you homemade pasta if I knew how.”
Knox snorts. “C’mon, Emy. I saw the way he was looking at you in the store.”
I groan, rubbing my hands over my cheeks.
“We’re just friends,” I say slowly. “But Reedhasmade it obvious that he’d be interested in more. Only I’m not–”
I break off.
Knox uncrosses his arms and leans forward, his hands falling to his lap.
“Not interested?”
I shake my head.
“It’s not even that,” I tell him, the honesty I can’t help around Knox bubbling to the surface. We’ve never talked about relationships before. Correction, we’ve never talked aboutmyrelationships before. Still, in the wake of the failed kiss, and everything else, I know I need to try harder to maintain a platonic friendship vibe. Maybe confiding in him about this will help. “Reed’s really nice and a great guy. He makes me laugh. Hell, he makes me food, so it should be a no-brainer. But up until recently, I’ve never even really considered it.”
No need to tell him thatrecentlywas as close as today.
His eyes narrow knowingly. “So you’re thinking about giving him a shot?”
I shrug, hoping like hell I’m pulling off nonchalance. “Maybe. If there’s a guy who deserves me to give it a shot, it’s Reed, but...I’ve been kinda busy lately.”
Knox’s expression tightens, but he quirks his head.
“With your book?”
I nod, biting my lip. I haven’t shared the details of the story I’m writing with anyone but the three whores I call my best girlfriends. Even Knox has been out of the loop on this. Okay, especially Knox. However, with him staying here, it’s not like I can avoid talking about it completely. I just have to keep it vague.
“What are you writing about anyway?” Knox asks. “Can I read it?”
“No!” I pull my laptop closer, farther from his reach, and my cheeks flame. “Sorry. It’s not ready for anyone else’s eyes. If it’s total crap, I’d rather not know yet. I want the accomplishment of actually finishing it first before I let others’ opinions into my head.”
He grins. “That makes sense, I guess.”
I push back from the table, needing to put a little space between us.
“I’m gonna take these plates back inside, and then we can get back to work. Okay?”
I grab the plates from the table and scramble off before he can reply.
I take my time, keeping an eye on Knox through the partially open glass door while I wash the dishes. Then, I pack up the rest of the pasta and make a quick pit stop, making sure there’s nothing in my teeth, before heading back out to where Knox is working on the balcony.
I pause at the sound of his deep laughter drifting in.
“Seriously, Nelle? You’re a goddess.” He laughs again, and something ugly curls in the pit of my stomach. “Let me put you on speaker, and then I’ll look.”
I watch as he sets his phone down and begins typing on his keyboard.
“Holy shit. This is amazing!”
“Do you love me?” a posh British accent asks from the phone’s speaker, the grainy quality of the call not diminishing how adorable her accent is at all. Bitch. “It’s okay. You can admit it. You love me.”
Knox laughs. “Definitely. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
