Page 37 of Dreams
Abigail missed the entire exchange as she dug into the food, and Josh couldn’t help laughing at her. He ran to his room to put the picture where it wouldn’t be ruined.
He heard Abigail’s voice as he returned.
“I’m telling you,” she said. “They’re so worth the look.”
“Abigail, stop.”
“You’re such a prude. Seriously, they’re better than Grant’s.”
Upon hearing his roommate’s name, Josh decided to join in the conversation.
“What are you ladies talking about?” he asked, piling a plate high with food.
“Your abs.” Abigail took a bite of sesame chicken and gave him a closed-mouth grin.
Josh’s hand stilled as he glanced from Abigail to Taylor, whose cheeks were an adorable shade of pink that he was sure matched his own.
Swallowing her food, Abigail decided to up the awkwardness. “I’m not kidding.” She pointed her fork Taylor’s way. “You should see them. I’d spend the night here more often just for a peek.” Turning to Josh, she said simply, “show her.”
He swallowed hard. “What?”
“Oh, come on,” she said. “They’re just abs. Every guy wants to show them off every chance they get. You’re a hottie, Josh, and I want to see the goods.”
He was sure the blush on his cheeks had reached the tips of his ears.
“He’s shy,” Abigail said to Taylor. “You should have seen how quickly he ran for a shirt when I came into the kitchen.”
Josh opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again in embarrassment.
“Abigail, stop,” Taylor demanded. “Seriously, what is wrong with you? Just ignore her, Josh.”
As if he was there to save his friend, Mack pushed open the front door, his large frame lumbering into the room. Abigail finally stopped talking, and their eyes locked. One side of his mouth quirked up into a smirk.
“Have you been drinking?” Josh asked as his roommate stumbled forward. “Mack, what the hell? We have a game tomorrow night.”
The big man shrugged as Josh fumed. As much as he should be, he wasn’t mad for his team. No, he knew their number one center would still play well. That’s what pissed him off. His friend didn’t care enough because he didn’t have to.
“Look, this is fun and all,” Abigail said. “But, it’s Friday night. I have to go.”
Mack blocked her path. “You could stay.”
“I’m calling an Uber,” she threw back over her shoulder, ignoring the man in front of her. “Colin wanted to hang tonight anyways.” Sidestepping Mack, she practically ran into the hall.
“On that note,” Mack said. “I’m going to crash.” He disappeared down the hall.
Josh could barely look at Taylor as they finished eating. Once done, they lounged on the couch and flipped through channels.
“So,” Taylor started. “Tell me about this brother that’s coming to town.”
“You don’t want to know about him.”
“I do.”
Josh scratched the back of his neck and looked into her expectant eyes. “He’s an ass.” He sighed, studying her to see how much of the truth to tell. All of it. He didn’t talk to anyone about his family, but suddenly found himself wanting her to tell him what to do. “We haven’t talk in two years because he hit his girlfriend.”
“This Michaela you always talk about?”
“Yeah, she’s like my sister. I wanted her to marry Ethan so bad. I wanted her in my family for real. But she deserved better than him. The night Ethan struck her, she left with her father. They were in a car accident; one she almost didn’t survive. After I saw her in that hospital, I could only bring myself to look at my brother long enough to clock him.”
