Page 104 of Code Word
“I’ll allow that.”
Smiling now, he scanned my eyes. “I love you so fucking much.”
I kissed him again, lingering a little longer before it got the better of me. “Okay, so disclaimer. I said I’ll never do a lot of things, and I mean that. Never is a promise, and I don’t break promises. But there’s a good chance I probablywillmake you mad at some point. But as my best friend, you know what you’re getting yourself into, right? I’m sure there’s a mea culpa clause or something.”
He laughed and put his hand to my face. “Believe me, I know exactly.” He pulled me in for a kiss. “Now, I do seem to recall something you said earlier about maybe watching some porn.”
A jolt of something hot and delicious burst through my blood?—
“Hola? Hello? It’s just me,” Alma called out from inside. “I cooked you some dinner.”
Luke shot up so fast—like we’d just been busted by our mothers—that I almost fell face-first onto the lounge chair.
“Oh, hi,” Luke said, going inside to meet her. “You didn’t have to do that... Oh wow, it smells amazing.”
“How’s Blake’s knee?” I heard her ask.
His knee would feel a lot better if we weren’t interrupted just now.
I got up and limped to the door, trying not to put too much weight on my knee. “Hi,” I said. “My knee’s okay. I just have to take it easy for a day or two. It’s not that bad.”
“Oh good, good,” she said. “You use that ointment, okay?” She didn’t give me time to reply. She turned to Luke. “You make him use it. I won’t keep you. Just wanted to make sure you were both okay.”
“Thank you, Alma,” he replied. “You’re too sweet.” He walked her to the door, and she whispered something to him, and they both chuckled before she gave me a wave and left.
Luke came back in, grinning. “She’s so lovely. Even if it does kinda feel like Mom’s right next door.”
“Did she really cook something for us?” I asked, limping over to the kitchen. “That is super sweet.”
“Take it easy on your leg,” he said, brushing my arm as he walked past. “I’ll just tidy up out here.”
He brought the tray in first as I was about to sneak a taste of the queso fundido. Instead, I held the fork out for him, and the smile he gave me...
It made me want to do things for him all the time.
I found some plates and dished up his dinner first, as he brought his guitar and phone inside. “So I was thinking,” I said as I began plating up mine. “Dinner first, because this is amazing. Then I’m gonna tackle those stairs, take a shower, and if you’re still interested, we could maybe check out some porn.”
Luke laughed. “Fuck yes, I’m interested.”
I walked gingerly backinto the bedroom, wearing boxers, my knee bandage in hand. Luke was there, lying on the bed with his laptop and his phone, looking a little nervous.
And hot.
I wasn’t sure when that started to happen, him being hot. He’d always been good-looking and sexy, but now he washot. I was attracted to him.
Maybe realizing that what I felt for him was actually love was when I started seeing him in a different light...
“You okay?”
I hadn’t realized I’d zoned out. “Oh, sure. Just trying to remember exactly when I started thinking of you as hot. Good-looking, yes. Funny, yes. Smart, talented, yes. But hot? Hot is new.”
He laughed and patted the bed. “Park yourself and I’ll wrap your knee.”
I sat on the bed, resting against the headboard, and Luke fetched the ointment.
“Ugh, really? Not sure that smell is conducive for porn-watching.”
He chuckled but proceeded to rub it into my knee. “It helps with healing, though.” Then he carefully wound the bandage around my knee, his touch gentle but firm. “How does it feel after the stairs? Need a pain pill?”
