I nod, handing him the keys. Once inside, the familiar scent of vanilla from my air freshener wraps around us.
Kieran doesn’t even bother hiding how much he’s watching me. At a red light, he reaches over, taking my hand again.
His thumb strokes over my knuckles, and my stomach does this weird little flip.
When we pull up to my place, Slim’s already in the window, meowing like a lunatic. As soon as I unlock the door, he bolts to me, rubbing against my legs.
“This your guard cat?” Kieran teases, kneeling to scratch behind his ears.
“More like my needy roommate,” I say, scooping him up. I kiss the top of his head before setting him down. “Come in.”
He looks around as I shut the door behind him. “Your place is nice.”
I snort. “I’ve been to your place. You can’t tell me this is nicer.”
“Yours has character,” he says, grinning. “Mine’s more like a studio with art and a bed.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
He surprises me by stepping closer, his hands sliding up to cradle my head. His lips are on mine before I can say anything, soft but insistent, pulling me into him. When he pulls back, his voice is low. “Do you mind if I shower here?”
I nod, still catching my breath. “Bathroom’s down the hall, first door on the left.”
He kisses me again, quickly this time, before disappearing down the hallway. And for the first time all day, I realize I’m not as scared as I was. If Beau and Mason take the news like Kieran… maybe everything will be okay.
I feed Slim, then grab a soda from the fridge, twist off the cap, and take a sip. The cold fizz settles the weird buzz in my chest—not nerves, exactly, just… something.
My phone vibrates on the counter, and I glance at the screen. Logan. Of course, he’s dying for details.
>> Did you tell him?
I swipe open the message.
>> Yep. Everything.
Three dots appear immediately, and I smile. Predictable.
>> EVERYTHING, everything? How’d he take it?
>> He was chill. Surprisingly. I’ll explain tomorrow. He’s staying the night.
I don’t even wait for his response before setting the phone face down on the counter.
Another sip of soda, then I head to my bedroom, picking up Kieran’s hoodie on the way. It smells faintly like him—soap, faint woodsy cologne, and something that’s just… him.
I toss it over the chair and pull off my dress, swapping it for a black tank top and a pair of soft cotton shorts.
The cool air hits my skin as I tug my hair into a loose bun. After kicking my shoes into the corner, I walk to the bathroom to wash my face, and there he is. Blond hair damp, droplets trailing down his chest, and… holy shit.
The towel. Tiny. White. Barely holding on to his hips.
He grins when he catches me staring. “You good?”
Good? No, I’m barely breathing.
I nod quickly, gripping the edge of the sink. “Yeah. Fine.”
He steps closer. The room suddenly feels a lot smaller. “Forgot my bag in the car. This okay?” He gestures at the towel like it’s no big deal.