Page 15 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

Brad’s eyebrow pops up. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

The scary thing is…I can’t.

Smile still on his face, Brad steps up to the counter and orders a double shot of espresso to go, plus…whipped cream? “Want anything?” he asks me.

I shake my head, watching as he pays and jokes with the barista, so naturally charismatic it’s hard to look away. When he gets his to-go cup of espresso piled high with whip, he turns to me, nose crinkled in happiness.

“Ready?” he asks.

I nod. And nod again, charmed beyond words. Charmed by this man and his whipped cream and the easy yet confident way he walks through life. Charmed by his lack of propriety and how goddamn refreshing that is. Charmed, even, by the tiny cowlick at the back of his head.

I am so completely and utterly screwed.

It’s not a long walk back to Brad’s place. He waits to drink his dessert espresso until we’re close, not wanting to burn his tongue, as he tells me. We keep up a steady stream of chatter on the way, the minutes passing far too quickly.

My pulse is racing by the time we reach Brad’s hallway. He’s talking about pants now, and how pants are a single item, yet so is a pair of pants, andisn’t that just the weirdest fucking thing?

It is, and I never considered it before, but all my focus shifts to Brad’s mouth as he sips his espresso, a small bit of whipped cream staying behind on his lip. His smile goes crooked when he sees me staring.

“What, uh…”

His words trail off as I cradle his jaw, wiping the whipped cream off the corner of his mouth with my thumb. I linger a little longer than necessary, having a hard time pulling myself away. It takes me a good long second to realize Brad’s eyes have gone wide. We’re standing so close I can make out all the specks of color in his light green irises.

Fuck, they’re gorgeous.He’sgorgeous.

Brad swallows roughly. “Uh, Joey? This might be a strange question. And I could be way off base. But, uh…are you about to kiss me?”

“I was thinking about it,” I admit, voice hoarse. Although I would have asked first.

“Oh,” Brad says, letting out a single puff of air before stepping back, the move dislodging my grip. “Oh, shit. Joey… I think…Fuck, I think I made a mistake.Pleasedon’t hate me. Please, please don’t. I didn’t realize. I just…” He groans, and I shake my head, at a complete loss. “Jason was right.”

“I don’t understand,” I say, my gut sinking somewhere down near the bottom of my shoes. “What’s wrong?”

Brad cringes, his eyes sorrowful. “I’msosorry, Joey. I really am. I… I’m straight.”

Oh.

Ohhh.

Well, fuck.

Chapter 5

Brad

Oh no.

Joey looks sad. I don’t like seeing Joey sad.

“I’m sorry,” I repeat, feeling gut-punched when Joey takes a full step back.

“Not your fault,” he says roughly, his eyes downcast as he scrubs a hand through his hair. “I just assumed. But… Hold up, what about Jason?”

I’m thrown. “What about Jason?”

Joey’s eyes meet mine again. “Your ex?”

“My…Ohhh. Jason and I were never together. Not like that. Platonic bros only.”

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