Page 35 of Something Borrowed

“Why else, indeed? You’re about as forthcoming as a dead pigeon.”

“That’s a bit harsh.”

He towel-dries my hair and then gestures me back to his station. I sit down in front of the mirror and blink. “Wow, that’s…that’s short.”

He puts his hands on his hips. “And?”

I twist my head from side to side. My long hair is now chin-length, and the shorter length turns my waves more into curls. It accentuates my jawline and makes my eyes look very blue. “It’s actually quite nice.”

“Quite?” The word is filled with outrage.

I wink at him. “I’m sure you’ll get better at this hairdressing lark the more you do it, love.” He rolls his eyes, and I laugh. “It’s great. Thank you.”

He starts the hairdryer and directs a warm stream of air over my head, his talented fingers busy and his face preoccupied. I can predict what he’s going to say next without any effort. You can’t divert Leo when he’s after the truth.

As if on cue, he says, “So, how is it between you and Stan?”

I shrug, avoiding those clever eyes fastened on me in the mirror. “Not brilliant,” I admit.

“Oh,Raff.”

“It’s fine,” I say quickly. “We just need to get back to normal.”

“That’s hard to do after you’ve spent a couple of months shagging.”

“I’m beginning to regret confiding in you about that.”

“You didn’t need to. It was as clear as day when you started fucking around.” He stops the hairdryer, watching me with bright grey eyes. “So, it’s difficult?”

I bite my lip, fiddling with the hem of the gown. “Yeah. I’ve fucked a lot of men, Leo.”

“They weren’t Stan.”

“It’s just such a mess. I can’t be around him without needing to touch him, and I can’t get him out of my head.”

“Why don’t you tell him how you feel, Raff?”

I blanch. “I’d rather suffer from an attack of biliousness.”

“Have you been watchingBridgertonagain?” He sighs. “You can’t keep hiding your feelings from him.”

“Really? Because I actually think I can.”

“I think you’d be surprised by what he says if you tell him.”

“No,” I say, and it comes out sharper than I intended. “I have no right to interfere in his love life. I wanted to be just his friend again, and now I am. I need him to be happy. I’ll get over everything else.”

“Can you get over being in love with him?”

I wince and then try to look as if it was a smile. “It’s probably not that. It’s because we’re best friends, and the waters got muddied a bit. We’ll go back to the way we were soon.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m worried about.”

“What do you mean?”

“The last thing either of you needs is to go back to being just friends.”

“Why? Because, in all honesty, that’s what should happen.” He raises one eyebrow, and I narrow my eyes. “I’m telling the truth. He’s made his decision and he’s chosen Bennett. I just want my friend back now.”

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