Page 59 of Faking It Right
“Nope, but only because I love how it makes you smile, even when you’re trying not to.”
I didn’t know how to respond, so I focused on finishing cleaning him up. The only sounds were our breathing and the soft rustle of the wipes against skin.
“You’re being very thorough,” Harley commented.
I felt oddly defensive. “I’m being considerate.”
“I wasn’t complaining. It’s nice.”
I glanced up, surprised by his sincerity. Our eyes met, and all the teasing fell away, leaving something open and honest in its place.
“This is weird, isn’t it?” I asked.
“The part where you just had sex with your male best friend, or the part where you’re now giving me a sponge bath with wet wipes?”
“Both?” I laughed, the tension easing from my shoulders. “All of it. This whole situation.”
Harley reached out, catching my wrist. “Weird doesn’t have to be bad, you know.”
I stared at the contrast of his tanned fingers against my paler complexion. “I know.”
“And for what it’s worth, this is the least weird I’ve felt in a long time.”
I looked up, surprised. “Really?”
“Yeah.” Harley’s smile was genuine, devoid of his usual teasing. “Pretending not to want you was the weird part.”
I’d been so caught up in my own confusion and journey of self-discovery that I hadn’t fully considered what this meant for Harley, who had hidden his feelings behind jokes and casual flirtation for three long years.
“I’m sorry it took me so long,” I apologized.
“Don’t be. Some things are worth the wait. You definitely were.”
I resumed cleaning. “Still, I feel stupid for not realizing it sooner.”
“To be fair, youarea little slow on the uptake sometimes,” Harley teased, his eyes dancing with mischief.
I retaliated by pressing the cold wipe against a sensitive spot, eliciting a yelp from him. “Says the guy who’s currently at my mercy.”
“Ooh, kinky.”
I chuckled, marveling at how quintessentially us it was to find humor in even the most intimate moments, pushing each other’s buttons because we knew exactly where they were. It was comforting to know that despite everything that had changed, that fundamental aspect of our relationship remained unchanged.
Harley’s teasing pulled me from my thoughts. “Uh-oh, your brain is starting to work again.”
I hesitated, then decided that honesty was the best policy. “I’m amazed at how different this is from being with a woman. How solid and strong you are. But we’re still us.”
“And how does that make you feel?”
It was such a therapist question that I nearly burst out laughing, but the genuine curiosity in his eyes stopped me. “Good. Really good, actually.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “Well, that’s a relief. It would’ve been awkward if you’d replied, ‘Deeply regretful,’ after what we just did.”
I snorted, gathering the used wipes to toss them in the trash. “You know what I mean.”
“I do,” Harley said, his voice softening. “I feel good, too. Better than good.”
I returned to the bed, sitting on the edge beside him. “Yeah?”
