“You aren’t wrong,” I agree.
She beams up at me. “I always wished you two would have ended up together.”
I raise a brow. “That would be really weird, but totally something you’d want. All your kids married to all my mom’s kids so you guys can so further intertwine our families and no one could tell any of us apart.”
Her eyes are bright with happiness. “This is all true.”
I laugh along with her before I kiss her temple. “Sorry for messing that up for you, but I’m pretty sure the guy Posey is with will impre
ss you. He is really attentive to Posey, and when Ally and I saw them out, he gave me the look that said Posey was his.”
She eyes me. “Really?”
“Really. I feel good about them.”
“Well, that makes me feel better,” she says softly. “As for Ally—”
I hold up my hand. “Let me stop you there. If you are suggesting that Ally and I should get together, don’t. Everyone already has.”
She blinks. “But you two are so cute together! There has to be some kind of attraction there.”
There is. I realized last night that it’s stronger than I believed. Sleeping next to her all night was torture. I hadn’t even considered that it would be until she asked if I thought it was weird to sleep together. I get it, we’ve never really shared a bed on our own, and usually, we’re with friends or family, but I didn’t care. I was tired, and I didn’t want my friend to leave. I didn’t want to be alone. But I’d never thought of the agony that would ensue being so close to Ally. Let’s be honest, I haven’t gotten laid in months, which means I’m beyond horny. At one point in the night, my knee brushed against her ass, and I almost came. Seriously. I’m unsure at what point in the night she became irresistible, but one thing is for sure, I’m fighting tooth and nail to keep my need for her in check.
“She’s my best friend. Don’t want to mess that up.”
“Shea is my best friend—”
“Nope,” I say, shaking my head. “You two started off as strangers, then went to lovers to best friends. It would be detrimental for Ally and me to cross that line. We’re too good of friends. We’re only friends. Seriously.”
Which is the only reason I keep my feelings buried deep down inside me. I wish I could go a minute without someone trying to smush us together and make something out of nothing. I can be attracted to her all day, but she doesn’t think of me that way. I know why everyone does it; they want us to be happy. We really are good together, but I won’t make a move again. Now, if Ally were to make a move, I sure as hell wouldn’t stop her. I might pause and try to think it through, but it would be pointless.
Pretty sure she’s one hell of a kisser.
“I think you two could be more.”
“No. You want us to be more because, again, you want to keep all us kids in a tangled web of Assassins insanity. God forbid anyone bring in an outsider.”
She snorts. “You make me sound crazy.”
I shrug. “If the shoe fits.”
She smacks me playfully, and while I know she tells us all we are her favorite, I think I’m top three. Emery and Posey might have a slight advantage on me. She hugs me once more and then pats my chest lovingly. “Well, this was fun. Go on down to see HR, get a badge made, and then go find Artie. He has some work for you.”
“Man, you don’t wait to put me to work.”
She smiles as she puts her hand on her hip. “I’ve been waiting for you to start working here since I learned of your major.”
I send her a grin as I walk away. Elli has a way of making me feel like a million bucks. It’s nice to have extended family like her in my corner, but I can’t shake her words about Ally. I really don’t understand what everyone’s deal is. Don’t they see we are only friends? Yes, she’s hot and funny and simply amazing, but you can’t make something happen when the other person isn’t down.
When Ally asked me why I cared if she was dating Taco or not, it took everything in me not to scream at her that I want her to find someone to love her the way I can. I want her to find a man who will automatically know she is it. See that she can move mountains, and he better strap in for the ride because Ally will keep him on his toes. I only want for her to be happy and to always love herself. That’s it.
Not too much to ask of a guy, I feel.
The rest of the morning, I spend in HR, and then I work with Artie for a bit, learning the ropes and what he expects of me. Unlike at Bellevue, I will answer to him, and he knows what he wants. I feel like Tony just wants things done and for it to look better than it does now. He doesn’t care how I do it. That’s not the case with Artie. He has standards, and it excites me to meet them. When he gives me my schedule, it’s actually lighter than I expected, so I’m glad I have the other gig at Bellevue. Especially if I plan to take over the lease for Aiden’s condo. Everything is starting to fall into place. Got my condo, my jobs, and next is my car.
My mom wakes me at the butt crack of dawn to go car shopping since we have to meet later at the bridal shop for fittings. As soon as I pick out my car, I wish I had gone with my dad, but he’s traveling at the moment. Mom wanted me in a sensible, safe car apparently, so when I picked out what I did, she complained I’d chosen a “small-dick syndrome” ride. I don’t care, though. I feel like a badass in it, and I’m damn sure I can be an extra in the Fast and Furious franchise while I drive it.
I just need to send in my audition tape.