Page 23 of Late Nights

I sat up slowly, adjusting my sweatshirt. “It’s okay—”

“No, it’s not.” He cut me off. “I don’t want to make things confusing between us. Just because we find each other attractive doesn’t change anything.”

I gave him a blank look. “What things?”

“You know,” he said, gesturing between us. “You’re my best friend's little sister, and I’m not the type of guy you should be interested in. We’re just friends. Have barely started to become friends.”

I bit my lip in an attempt not to smile. He was usually so confident, and seeing him all flustered was an enjoyable sight.

“First of all,” I said. “Just because you find me attractive doesn’t mean I’m going to throw myself at you. And second of all,” I gave him a cheeky grin, “who said I found you attractive?”

That had him chuckling, his shoulders relaxing. “You’re right. How presumptuous of me.”

“Look,” I said, turning serious. “Just because we mutually admire each other’s looks doesn’t mean that anything has to change between us. I’m not looking for anything with you beyond friendship.”

Lies. Well, half lies. Did I wish he would come back over here so we could make out until the sun came up? Heck, yes. But did I know anything other than friendship between us would end up disastrous and with me nursing a broken heart? Also, yes. Hopefully my face was on the same page as my words.

He had been right when he’d said he wasn’t the type of guy I should be interested in, the type that couldn’t give me a relationship. As for being his best friend’s sister? That was a lame excuse. Sure, West was the classic overprotective brother, but he loved Cannon. And if he knew Cannon could make me happy and be in a real relationship with me, I really thought he would be fine with it. Possibly even elated. But Cannon’s track record wasn’t great, and that would be West’s only hesitation.

But all that didn’t matter because Cannon wasn’t a relationship kind of guy.

Plus, I didn’t need to be thinking about my love life at the moment. I wanted to focus on myself and school, going out on my own and achieving my dream. I didn’t have time for guys.

You would make time for Cannon.

Oh, shut up, annoying internal voice. Cannon’s not an option.

“Good. I’m not looking for anything either,” he said, eventually coming to sit back down on the couch.

“What?” I pretended to act shocked. “Mr. Anti-Commitment isn’t looking for a relationship?”

“Ha, ha, very funny,” he deadpanned, picking up his controller.

I smiled because I did think I was funny.

And just like that, we were back to normal, our flirty tickling session firmly behind us.

I crossed my legs underneath me. “Do you happen to have Mario Kart? Something I can beat you at?”

“Mario Kart?” His brows shot up like I couldn’t be serious.

“Yeah, what’s wrong with Mario Kart?” It was pretty much my only experience with video games.

“I haven’t played that since I was a kid.”

“Me neither, but I was pretty good at it back in the day,” I said, lifting my chin.

He gave me an amused look. “If you being pretty good at it means you could beat West, I’m sorry, but that’s not very impressive.”

I smacked his arm but laughed. It was true, West wasn’t very good when it came to video games, so beating him probably wasn’t as impressive as I’d thought.

“Whatever,” I smiled. “Let’s play one more game, and then I’m heading to bed.”

Cannon joined a new game, and surprisingly enough, I hadn’t gotten any better than when we played fifteen minutes ago. I didn’t care because I liked spending time with Cannon regardless of how many times I died in the game.

My body went through the motions of filling glasses with beer and wiping down the counters, but my mind was fixated on Cannon, who was at the end of the bar with a pretty blonde. I kept reprimanding myself for continuing to glance their way, but no matter how much I got mad at myself, I couldn’t keep my eyes from being pulled toward them.

I watched as she placed her hand on his arm, her red nails shiny under the pendant light that hung directly above them like a beacon in the dim bar. Her hand slid up his well-defined arm, up to his shoulder before she leaned in to whisper something in his ear. I couldn’t read the expression on his face, but it didn’t look like he was hating having her all up in his space. As she pulled away, she let her hand drag down his chest, a half-smile appearing on his handsome face.

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