He’s right there—his apartment is small—but he’s still too far away. I want to touch him, hold him, kiss him.
“How come we never hang out here?” I ask.
“There?” He turns back to me. Motions to the couch. “Or here?” He draws a circle in the air, like he’s saying the entire apartment. “Or there?” He nods to his bedroom.
My cheeks flush. God, I’m so ready to fuck him. It’s ridiculous.
I’m not usually this… Well, horny. But it’s been forever. Since yesterday morning.
Stupid parents wanting to hang out with me.
No, it’s nice. They’re supportive. Too supportive sometimes, but I’m the same as Forest. Family comes first. Always.
Which is why—
Ugh, not thinking about her. She gets the entire weekend of her wedding. Until then, I’m enjoying my time with my best friend.
Hopefully, without his clothes.
He laughs. “Princess, you’re staring.”
“No…”
“Yeah.” He crosses the room. Hands me a glass of water. “You’re drunk.”
“Tipsy.”
“That’s good.”
“Good?”
He nods. “You’ll say yes to my request.”
“Go on…”
“Drink first.” He holds up his glass of water to toast.
I do.
He sets his glass on the coffee table. “You look good here.”
“Is it the dress?” I tug my skirt a few inches up my thighs. It’s a hot dress—another freebie from a designer—and it’s black. Like the couch.
“Yeah. But more than that.”
“We should come here more.”
“It’s not next door to your house.”
Is that why he’s always at his dad’s house? Because he’s closer to me? “True.”
“Or near any good matcha shops.”
“Also true. But you make a good latte.”
His lips curl into a smile. “Only the one bedroom.”
“Did you need a second?”
“Fuck no. I just mean—”
“It’s kinda small.”
“Yeah.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I do pretty well. But I’m not a doctor married to a consultant.”
“I’m not a—whatever your dad does in sales.”
“Yeah, but—”
“You’re a guy so you have to provide?”
“Not exactly.” He moves into the kitchen. Grabs the mugs of ice cream. And spoons. “More that I—”
“Love to take care of people.”
He nods yeah. “I’m never going to have the kind of money your parents have.”
“I know.”
“You deserve that.”
“Maybe I’ll make it myself.”
“Oh?” He slides onto the couch. “You’re going to be that big?”
“I hope so.” My fingers brush his as I take the ice cream. “I got another offer. A hair salon. It’s not much, only a few hundred dollars, but it’s something.”
“Are you changing it?” He runs his fingers through my hair. Along the ends. Then along my neck.
“Just a trim… I think.” Fuck, his touch feels good. “I like this style.”
“It suits you.”
“Thanks.”
“It’s hot too.”
“Yeah?” I set my mug in my lap. Wrap my fingers around my spoon. “I always thought… Mack has such long hair and you’re always with girls—”
“I’m with you.”
My blush deepens. “So, I uh… I like your apartment. Even if it’s too close to the freeway. I’d live here. I mean, I know you’re not inviting me just yet. Or maybe you never will. But if you wanted to—”
“Good to know.”
“Yeah.” I bring a spoonful of ice cream to my lips. “It’s a good size. Not too small. Or too big.”
He raises a brow.
Oh. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Uh-huh.”
“You sound like Holden.”
“That’s my favorite thing about this place.” He turns his body toward mine. “No Holden.”
“It is nice.”
“Listen to this.” He wraps one hand around my wrist. Brings the other to his mouth. Makes the shhh gesture.
The room falls silent. Nothing but the hum of the air-conditioning. The passing traffic outside. “Listen to what?”
“Quiet.”
“Oh.” I can’t help but laugh. “It is different.”
“No one to interrupt when I tear your clothes off.”
“Or cockblock us by inviting my dad to dinner.”
He nods hell yeah. Takes my spoon. Brings the ice cream to my lips.
I suck the treat off the spoon.
He watches me with rapt attention. Then he brings another spoonful to my lips.
Fuck, it’s good. Rich and creamy. Just enough sweetness to balance the matcha. “When did you get this?”
“Yesterday.”
“You drove all the way to Culver City after work?”
“It’s three miles.”
“On the other side of the freeway.” That’s the ultimate LA compliment, crossing the 405 for someone. “Thank you.”
“You like it?”
“Yeah.”
He brings another scoop to my lips. “Me too.”
I lick it off the spoon. “You’re not eating it.”
“This is better.”
“It is.” I shouldn’t feel so shy. I’m still buzzed. But there’s something about the way Forest looks at me. He makes me nervous in the best possible way.
“Princess Skye… it has a nice ring to it. You could take over the world.”
“I hope so.”
“You have your swimsuit shoot figured out?”
“Not yet. But I… I don’t want to think about her for a while.”
He nods yeah. “One question.”
“Okay.” I take another bite of ice cream. “But only because you’re feeding me matcha ice cream.”
His smile is wide. Easy. “Fuck, Skye…” His fingers skim my temples. “I really like you.”
“I really like you too.” More even. I mean, I’ve loved Forest as a friend for a long time. For a million years.