Page 31 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

Ah, God.

“Thanks again,” he says. “I know who to call if I ever need more pictures taken.”

Gianna gives me a smile as she squeezes Brad’s shoulder. “Maybe an anniversary session?”

I want to screamhe’s straight!Instead, I bite my tongue as Brad huffs a laugh.

“Maybe someday,” is all he says, his face falling slightly. He recovers quickly, shooting me a smile. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah,” I tell him, even though I want to know what that flicker of sadness was about. Is a long-term relationship something he wants? Something he’s looking for?

We thank Gianna one more time before heading through the door.

“Hey, you doing anything tonight?” Brad asks, unlocking his car with the fob.

Don’t do it. Fuck, don’t you dare.

“Hanging out with you?” I propose.

His grin is swift, and it hits me with the force of a sledgehammer. “Yeah, man! We can check out our photos. And then wanna playRun, Run, Ricochet? I think I found a glitchearlier, but I didn’t have time to investigate it before I picked you up. We should probably get some dinner, too, huh?”

I nod weakly, getting into the passenger seat as Brad suggests different food options and gets us on the road. There’s a smile on his face as he drives, chatting animatedly and glancing over at me every once in a while when it’s safe to do so. But he’s not looking at me any differently after having spent an hour nearly naked in my presence. There’s no longing in his gaze or intentional innuendo in his tone when he mentions an Italian restaurant he likes with meatballs that are small enough for him to fit two in his mouth at a time. Or, as he calls it,double balling.He doesn’t seem remotely affected by the fact that I was touching him in a way friends rarely ever do and looking at him with what I’m sure was unrestrained lust. I don’t think he even noticed.

Nothing has changed. Not for him.

Which means, somehow, I have to find a way to let it go.

If only I knew how.

Chapter 9

Brad

Why are they called cum gutters?

Sure, the muscles that lead down in a V toward the dick are like a big glaring arrow advertising the goods. But it’s not like jizz actually comes from a guy’s hips and travels down to their…

Wait.

Joey’s abs flash back to mind, including the deep V that disappeared below the line of his briefs. If he—or another dude—were to jerk off and come alloverhis abs, the jizz would run down those muscles like—

A coughing fit disrupts my rather vivid imagination, ending in me nearly spitting my coffee all over the table. Luckily, I manage to swallow.

“You all right, Brad?” Marley asks from behind the register. I’m at Hyped, my go-to coffee shop to work at when I need a change of pace from my usual view, aka the inside of my apartment. Jason used to be a barista here before he became afull-time nurse. The entire place smells like bitter roast coffee. My favorite.

“I’m fine,” I manage, the coughing starting to subside.

I was just picturing cum sliding down my friend’s abs. No big deal. Nothing to see here.

“Need a top-off?” she asks.

“What?” I practically yell. “Nothing’s coming off my…top.”

Marley squints at me. “Coffee?” she says slowly.

Oh, good God.

“Right,” I say, huffing a laugh. “Coffee would be great, thanks.”

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