Page 20 of Nothing Left to Lose

“Can we not?” He looked at me then, and there was fear in his eyes before he looked away. “Sorry. Maybe later. Tomorrow.”

“Okay.” I didn’t want to push. He was clearly trying to get his mind around what had happened and the fact that he’d been into it. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower.” I stood up and headed for the bathroom. “Well, I dunno about quick. For as long as it takes me to jerk off.”

A cushion hit the wall behind me, making me laugh.

I managed a quick shower, without the jerking off, and came out with the towel around my waist. Probably should have thought about grabbing my clothes before I’d gone in.

Brody was at the window, looking at the well-lit strip. His reflection in the glass was neon.

“Shower’s free,” I said.

He startled, turning around, then seeing me half naked, he groaned. “Christ, put some clothes on.”

“You’ve seen me wear less than this. And tomorrow is the pool party. I’ll be wearingwayless than this.”

He bit back a groan—one of frustration, I was sure—and dug his fingers into his eyes. “I’ll... I’ll go... shower.”

He went around the couch to avoid me. “I didn’t jerk off in there, if that helps.”

He stopped at the door. “It... does not help, but thanks.”

I snorted. “Brody,” I began.

“Still don’t wanna talk about it.”

The door closed behind him and I changed into my PJs, which were a pair of gray sleep pants. It was all I ever wore to bed. But for his sake, I did pull on a T-shirt.

I turned on the TV and climbed into bed, pulling the covers up over my hips to save him from spiraling some more.

I probably shouldn’t have joked with him about it. But damn, if I didn’t make light of it, we’d probably fight and I’d say a whole lotta things I shouldn’t, and we’d be taking separate flights home.

He took a while in the shower, doing what I tried not to imagine, and came out with a towel around his waist. “I, uh, I forgot my pajamas,” he mumbled, quickly grabbing them from his bag and disappearing again.

Yep, he was definitely awkward. Normally he’d have pulled his briefs on under his towel, then flicked me with it.

But not now.

So maybe joking about it wasn’t the best way to handle it...

He came back out, dressed in long boxers and a shirt—not his usual sleeping outfit either—and quietly got into bed.

“Pawn Stars,” I said, waving the remote at the TV. “We should go there tomorrow and see if they’re filming.”

“Hm.”

Awkward silence followed, and I didn’t look at him, and the longer it went on, the more awkward it got.

I sighed. “If you don’t want to kiss in public?—”

“Still don’t wanna talk about it.”

Awesome.

Whatever.

“Fine.” I tossed him the remote and turned onto my side, away from him. “Good night then. See you in the morning when we can pretend it never happened.”

Exactly how I’d spent the last ten years of my life.

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