Tight

What moment? The one where you imagined throwing yourself into Roman’s arms?

I looked back at Roman and smiled. “Thank you again, I really do appreciate it. We’ll have to plan for that dinner, okay?” I turned and headed toward my dad’s vehicle before he could get out and start doing the whole third-degree interrogation about my car. Besides, at this moment the best thing for me to do was probably get out of here before I put my foot in my mouth and embarrassed myself further.

I looked out the passenger side window at Roman, who continued to stand by my car, his arms crossed, his focus on me. He wore this strange expression on his face, one where he was probably wondering what the hell my problem was, why I was so awkward.

I exhaled and rested my head back on the seat as my father pulled away from the mechanic shop. He was going on about the car and asking questions, but the only thing I could think about was how long I could go keeping the secret that I was in love with Roman.

Chapter Six

Roman

I opened the fridge and pulled out a beer. The sound of a football game coming from the living room was obnoxiously loud.

I heard a couple of my friends holler out at a missed play, and for a moment I just stood in the kitchen, refusing to head out there.

The truth was more times than not I liked being by myself. I was still so young at only twenty, but how I’d been back in the day, hanging out with less than respectable friends, partying too hard, getting into trouble and being reckless, that seemed like a lifetime ago now.

I was trying to make myself better, do better.

“Roman, get your ass out here.”

I exhaled as I heard Raif shout from the living room.

“And bring a couple beers, would yah? Game’s getting fucking intense.”

I tipped the bottle back and took a long pull of the beer, the hoppy, buttery flavor sliding down my throat. I didn’t move for a long moment, and instead let my thoughts wander to far more pleasant things, to thoughts of a certain someone I’d much rather be spending tonight with.

I thought about today, about seeing Kennedy, offering to fix her car at her place. I’d wanted to say a lot more than I had, and I probably would’ve—maybe—but then her father had shown up.

I took another long drink from my beer, staring at the wall in front of me, picturing her today, the sun beating down on her dark hair, my fingers itching to touch the strands. I wanted to touch every part of her, memorize every dip and hollow, every inch that made her up. I wanted to watch her push her glasses up the bridge of her nose, to run my thumb along her bottom lip, gently pull the flesh down.

Damn, I wanted to do a lot filthier things than that.

My cock started to stiffen behind my fly at those thoughts, and I reached down and adjusted myself. I would have bet she was innocent as hell, untouched, ripe for the picking.

For me.

Only me.

I’d do anything for her, whether she knew it or not.

I opened the fridge and grabbed a couple more beers, then headed back into the living room. Raif and Theo were sitting on the couch, their feet propped up on the coffee table, the game playing on the big screen. I sat on the chair beside the couch after handing them the beers, staring at the game, my mind elsewhere, as it usually was where Kennedy was concerned.

The guys cheered when a touchdown was made, but all I did was sit there and tip my beer back, taking another drink. I stared at the TV but wasn’t focused on it.

“Yo, dude, you good?”

I glanced over at Theo. “What?”

“Ever since we came over you’ve been spaced out.”

“Sorry, I got shit on my mind.” Raif looked over at me then, this blank look on his face. It was clear he didn’t give two shits about anything but the game.

“You got girl trouble?” Raif said and looked back at the game.

“Just work shit,” I lied easily.

“Damn, I thought it was girl trouble. I don’t think you’ve ever talked to us about anyone you were dating.” Raif still stared at the TV, his voice conveying he’d probably prefer us to shut the fuck up.

But I certainly wasn’t going to start talking about anything to do with Kennedy, especially with these two jokers.

“You know what I think would make you feel better?” Raif said. “Do you know what I think would make all of us feel better?”

Before I could shut it down, because I knew exactly what he was going to say, he started talking again.

“I think a badass party this weekend is exactly what we need.”