Page 41 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

A frown pulls at my lips, an uncomfortable sensation settling in my gut. “What do you mean?”

Joey squeezes my arm as the both of us swerve around a slow-moving jogger. “I don’t mean it in a bad way, bub. It’s good—believe me. You just…” He goes quiet for a moment before saying, “Most people put up walls, whether or not they intend to. But you’re justhonest. You’re honest about who you are. It’s a rare quality.”

I chew on the inside of my lip, my feet rhythmically pounding the pavement. Joey’s do the same beside me.

“I’ve never seen the point in pretending to be anyone but who I am,” I tell him. “Maybe it’s stupid, not protecting myself. I do get hurt sometimes. But if you spend your life building walls, you might miss out on the people who’d see you for who you are. I don’t want to miss out on that.”

I nearly stumble when Joey tugs me to a stop. He pulls me in for an unprompted hug, and my heart kicks, my chest feeling tight where we’re pressed together.

My buddy Jason has never been big with physical affection. At least, not with me. And that’s fine. It’s not the way he’s hardwired.

But Joey is different. He doesn’t hesitate to give me hugs or a touch to let me know he cares. I’ve never really had that outside of the occasional girlfriend. And maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I’ve had one of those, but Joey’s arms around me feel like the best sort of comfort.

I could get addicted to it if he let me.

He gives me another squeeze before letting go. “Like I said, you’re a rare gem, bub. As for those assholes who’d hurt you? Let ’em try. I have a hammer, and I know how to use it.”

“Whoa,” I breathe. “Joey. Did you just threaten bodily harm for me?”

He chuckles, clasping my neck. “Seriously, don’t stop being you, okay?”

I must be grinning like a fool because Joey shakes his head, looking fondly exasperated. Or maybe just fond. His shirt, I notice, is sticking to his chest now, sweat creating a damp spot on the fabric. My brain does a funny little blip when a bead of that sweat slips out from underneath the hem, the single drop rolling over the hills and valleys of Joey’s stomach. It heads down, down, down, toward—

“Ready to keep going?” Joey asks.

“Yep!” I say much too loudly, practically jumping. We settle back into a swift jog, my heart rate elevated. But that’s normal, right? Perfectly normal for cardio.

I frown a little.

“Did you know not all animals sweat?” I say. “Like dogs. They pant to cool down. Or air their crotch.”

I catch Joey’s raised eyebrow before refocusing ahead.

“Could you imagine if we were like dogs?” I go on, huffing a laugh. “If we just stopped wherever we were and spread ’em allwilly-nilly? Justwhoop, flat on our backs, whip out the goods. Really ventilate those shafts, you know?”

Oh, good God, what?

“Brad,” Joey says, a chuckle in his tone as I wince. “Maybe not the best place to be discussing…shafts?”

“Right,” I say quickly, looking around at the families we’re passing. I clear my throat. “I wonder if kangaroos sweat.”

“This kangaroo sure does,” he says, confirming he’s the absolute best.

I grin, but as soon as I look over at him again, my gaze slips down to his stomach, and I snap my head forward.

“Yeah,” I cough out, wondering what it is about all that bare skin that—“Oh.”

I beeline toward a street vendor nearby.

“Brad?” Joey calls, his footsteps following me. “We’ll have time for bacon sandwiches when we’re done.”

I shake my head, but I don’t bother stopping to explain it’s not bacon sammies I’m after. I’m too transfixed by the most magnificent thing.

I tug out my wallet as I stop in front of the vendor’s stall. “The pink one,” I tell them, still catching my breath.

They nod, plucking the item off the rack and handing it over. After they run my card, I turn around with a massive grin on my face.

Joey looks perplexed.

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