Page 60 of Goodbye Note

The pungent aroma of coffee wafted to my nose.

Ser leaned against the narrow countertop, sipping from a mug. He glanced between the two of us.

I broke the intense eye contact, grabbing a cup. I’d let Arik explain.

“Morning…afternoon…whatever.” Arik said, reaching around me to grab a mug, pressing into my back.

Fuck. I exhaled slowly, waiting for him to pull back. But he didn’t. He took the coffee pot and filled his cup around me. Had I woken up in some alternate universe? Surely this couldn’t…

Arik backed off to lean next to Ser. “Where are we?”

He acted like this was nothing.

Another day.

“Nashville,” Ser said, still looking at me. “What made you ride with us?”

“We were talking, figured we were going to the same place,” Arik answered for me.

“Your bus is packed—I don’t envy you. But we have an empty bunk. You didn’t have to sleep in that cramped space. Not like Hael is shy about taking the back lounge.”

“And Kiernan. What do you figure that is?” Arik asked.

Ser lifted his shoulders, tilting his head. “Not my business.”

“I don’t care if it’s not your business. I want to know if they are hooking up!” Arik grinned.

“Nosy bastard.” I took a gulp of the coffee, feeling in my pocket for my phone before remembering I’d taken it out and shoved it under the pillow after texting Val.

“I won’t deny it. I love gossip.” Arik had a glint to his eyes as he wagged his brows. “I need to grab a shower.”

“You heading to the bathhouse?”

“I got to. I thought about stopping at a truck stop, but we slept through it.” Arik lifted his shirt to his nose and wrinkled it. “You didn’t tell me I stink.”

“I didn’t notice.” Or I liked it.

Arik had a manly scent laced with spice and leather. He could distill that shit and sell it to his fans. They’d pay its weight in gold.

Arik lingered, searching my face. “We’re early. If I go now, I should beat the rush. Want to come?”

I almost spit my coffee all over him.

Had he just…?

Was he…?

What the fuck.

EIGHTEEN

ARIK

The words were out in a rush before I could stop them. This mutual magnetism I felt in my chest made me want to spend all my time with him. His lip quivered, and I started to back my way out of what I’d said.

“I just meant because your bus will be full?—”

While he said, “If you want me to?—”

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