“I’m not sure what you are referring to.”
“You can’t fool me girl, the two of you just had a moment back there.” My mom’s eyes narrow in on me, and I have to look away to escape her guilt. All it takes is one look from her to put me in my place.
Faye puts her arm on my shoulder, leaning on me for support. The party has taken more out of her than I thought. I motion for Caroline to help me get her in the house. The two of us get my mom settled in her recliner. I thought Bender would make an appearance but he’s a no show. I don’t know why mom bothers to talk to him at all, but she’s on the phone with him now, telling him all about Jace’s party.
Caroline offers to take Jace next door for a sleepover with her grandson. “Child, let me take him for the night. Daniel is spending the night with me, so you will be doing me a favor giving him Jace to play with.”
“All right, but if he gets whiney, give me a call, and I will walk straight over and get him.” I give her my “I mean it stare.” I don’t want him wearing out his welcome.
“We will be fabulously entertained. You should go out for once. I can check in on Faye too.” She gives my hand a gentle squeeze, urging me to live a little.
I snatch Jace’s overnight bag and send them on their way. A night out would be nice, but I don’t even know where I would go. I cleanup from the party and debate going out for dinner alone. Instead, I take a nice hot shower, and I find myself feeling curious about Tyler’s date as I wash my hair.
I wonder if he is having a good time? I hope so. Then just maybe Faye will scrub her thoughts of Tyler and me becoming something more form her mind. “Yeah, right,” I say with a snort, watching the suds swirl down the drain. If only it were that simple.
Wrapping a towel around myself, I creep into the living room, trying not to wake Faye. She looks so peaceful in her slumber. I grab my phone; it’s flashing with a new alert. Just as I am about to slide the bar across to check it, there is a light tap at the front door.
Jace must have decided to come home. Not thinking about only being dressed in a towel, I let the door fall completely open, only to be met by Tyler gaping at me.
Biting the inside of my mouth, I’m not sure what he is doing here. He just stands there not speaking or moving. I can’t help but stare back, getting lost in his eyes. There is only one emotion found in them, lust. This isn’t good. For a spilt second I think of just dropping my towel to the floor and begging him to just get it over with and fuck me. We have been dancing on this fine line—on the verge of more than friends, on the edge of maybe for months now.
“Shit! I’m sorry, come on in and give me a second to put some clothes on. I thought you were Caroline; she’s keeping Jace tonight.”
Not waiting for him to respond, I quickly turn and speed walk to my bedroom. My cheeks are a deep crimson. I need to get a grip. I don’t want him to look at me like that; he is my friend.
Attractive people can be friends, can’t they? Sure they can. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.
A girl is allowed to fantasize though. I think about him storming into my room without an invitation and taking what he wants.
My ass cheeks are still slightly wet as I hurry to slip my panties on. I dress hastily yanking a pink tank and black yoga pants on. I pile my wet dark hair into a messy bun on top of my head. Peeking down the hall towards the living room, I spy Tyler scooping Faye out of her chair and putting her to bed in her room.
He is the sweetest guy. I never would have expected him to be doing nice things for us when I first met him. He’s intimidating and his tattoos are menacing, but damn sexy.
“I will not ruin our friendship—I will not ruin our friendship,” I repeat the motto to myself under my breath as I make my way into the kitchen. I need a glass of wine. Tyler joins me as I start to pour.
“Got any of that for me?”
“I took you for more of a beer man.” I laugh under my breath as I pour his glass.
“I am, but I have seen the inside of your fridge too. I know there’s not any in it, and I could use a drink.” He places his hand to his head using it like a gun.
“Your date was that bad huh?” I take sip from my glass. I’m not really sure what else to say to him. An awkward silence fills the room. I swear I can hear his heart beating. He starts tapping his fingers against the counter, like he is tense about what he is about to say.
“My date was a disaster. I don’t know why I agreed to go in the first place. There isn’t much point in involving myself with anyone is there?” Clearly, it’s a statement more than it is a question. “She wasn’t club material. Maybe a one-night stand. But I can have that any time.”
“I don’t know…can you,” I tease. I lick the back of my teeth and take another sip.
He follows my lead, having a taste of his own, spitting it out immediately. “This tastes like ass.”
The disgusted expression on his face is priceless.
“And you know what ass tastes like?” I ask with a smirk.
“Next question?” He says with a chuckle.
I grin shaking my head. Tyler is probably very experienced in the bedroom.
“Um?” I blank on a comeback.