Page 38 of Force Play

“You’re lying to yourself again.”

“About?”

“Us not being friends for starters, and the former thing seems a little premature. I still have time to change your mind about that.”

I laugh so loudly it takes me by surprise, but it doesn’t deter him. Instead, it has the opposite effect. He scoots closer until we are hip to hip, leaning against the counter, and shifts to face me head on. Not one to back down, I do the same, but regret it immediately. This close, I can’t ignore the scent of him wrapping around me or the imposing presence he has over me. When he looks down at me, the swoop of long brown hair that’s always got this irritatingly perfect wave to it, falls forward.

“You let me drive you back to my house last night and stayed the night platonically. That’s something friends do. Especially when one of those friends is notoriously bad at accepting help.”

Suddenly my fingernails are incredibly interesting. I study them, refusing to give him the satisfaction of admitting that he’s really got me pegged there.

“Then you accepted my help again this morning, letting me drive Brianna to the airport. She’s delightful, bee-tee-dubs. I’m going to miss her.”

“Sure you are. But you’re still wrong.”

“Now we are in your kitchen sharing coffee. See friends.”

“You don’t have coffee,” I remind him.

He reaches out, taking the cup from my hand and sipping. “I do now.”

“Still not friends.” When another silky strand of hair falls forward, I add, “You need a haircut.”

“Are you going to cut it for me?” He hands me back my coffee and I bring it to my lips, ignoring the fact that his lips were just on it and I don’t hate that as much as I should. In fact, I kind of like it, which is problematic.

“Absolutely not.” My nerves flare at his absurdly broad smirk. It’s trouble, I just know it.

“Then it’s settled. I’m not cutting it until you do it for me.”

“I hope you like long hair because that’s never happening.”

“You’ll cut it before the season is over.” Voice clear and steady with his confidence in his prediction, he steps back turning towards the door. “See you soon, friend.”

“You never asked if I was okay?” With his back turned away, I squeeze my eyes shut, quickly realizing my mistake. But it’s too late to take it back, so I straighten my spine.

Long strides carry him back towards me and his fingers brush along my jaw. The cocky smirk and mischievous gleam to his eyes are nowhere to be found when he looks down at me, cupping my face. “Are you okay?”

“F-fine,” I stutter, not expecting that level of earnestness from him.

“You know you don’t have to be. As a matter of fact, it’s normal to not be. You’ve got the girls who’d be there for you in a heartbeat; even the guys consider you like family. And you’ve got me.”

Emotion constricts my throat. “Yeah, thanks,” I say and strangely, I mean it.

Chapter 14

Indie

Turns out finding a doctor that would see me on short notice without requiring me to sell a kidney on the black market was a tall order. Lara was incredibly understanding when I texted her asking if we could move our meeting to this morning to accommodate the appointment I was able to get due to a cancellation.

Not that I have any immediate plans that require birth control, but my prescription lapsed, which means I’m also due for my annual exam. And given my family history, I need to get it taken care of quickly. Luckily, the free women’s health clinic is in the same neighborhood as Buns & Roses.

The bell above the door chimes when I walk in, and I spot Lilah’s blonde head bopping along to the music as she works.

“You seem extra happy this morning,” I say, stepping up to the counter as she continues moving her hips to the beat with her back to me.

“Indie!” she exclaims, setting the pan down and coming around the counter to hug me. “I didn’t expect it to be you.”

“I have a meeting this morning and an appointment nearby after. There’s no way I was going anywhere else for coffee when I was this close. What’s got you shaking your ass this early?”

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