Page 38 of Just Best Friends

“You okay, Thea?” Ben’s eyebrows knitted together, and I brushed the concern off my face, plastering on a smile instead.

“I’m fine. Totally fine.”

“Don’t lie.” He loosened his grip on me, pushing himself up on his elbow. “Should we talk about last night?”

“Naked?”

“I can put on some pants if it helps.”

Since I’d officially demolished any hope of a quick round before checking out, I nodded.

Ben stood up and grabbed his boxers off the ground, pulling them on with a cheeky look back at me. “And what about you?”

“I’m quite comfortable, thank you,” I teased, gripping the sheet over my body.

He sat down on the edge of the bed. “I’ve got to be honest, Thea. I don’t think I can focus on a conversation about us sleeping together if you’re still naked. I’m easily distracted.”

He tugged on the corner of the sheet.

“Fine.” I reached past him, grabbing his shirt off the side table and pulling it over my head.

“Yeah, I’m not sure that’ll help,” Ben said, his voice low and his eyes raking over me.

I smacked his arm. “Hey, eyes up here, buddy. Focus.”

“I’m not sure what I’m focusing on,” he admitted, eyes lazily making their way back to mine.

“You’re focusing on what happens when we walk out of here. We have dinner with your parents tomorrow.”

He grimaced.

“Seriously? You forgot?”

“I’ve been distracted.” He pushed aside the sheet and rubbed his palm over my knee, sending a shiver down my spine.

I batted his hand away. “You’re trying to distract me again. And your mom is going to sniff out that something happened if we don’t get our story straight.”

“Our story straight?” That seemed to get his attention. “What do we need to get our story straight for?”

“Seriously, Ben?”

“Seriously, Thea.”

My jaw dropped and I crossed my arms. “Fine, when your parents ask us how the resort was this weekend, let’s just tell them we slept together.”

He laughed. “Is that a dessert conversation or entrée?”

“It’s a not happening conversation,” I said. “Be serious, Benny.”

He sat on the side of the bed, leaning forward to kiss me. I sighed, melting into him before he pulled away. “Okay, I’ll stop joking around. We’ll tell them we had a nice time. That we enjoyed the food and the hot tub and the hikes.”

“I didn’t enjoy the hike,” I said, dropping my head onto his chest.

Ben wrapped a protective arm over me, his fingers raking through my hair. “Well, we’re already lying. Just consider that a natural extension of the lies. Besides, you’re supposed to bring a side dish. You can distract her with your amazing cooking.”

I groaned. “Do you think I can pay Gloria to open the diner just to make me a side dish?”

“No,” Ben said, kissing the top of my head. “I don’t know why you’re so worried.”

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