Page 64 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

“So, uh,” I say slowly. “What, um…”

“I think I was jealous,” Brad says.

“Jealous?” I ask, my pulse kicking back up.

“Of Logan.”

Oh fuck.

“Um, yeah?” I say.

He nods, still looking out the window. “Here’s the thing. I didn’t like him having your attention, you know? Which is pretty shitty of me, considering I set you up with the guy. But…every time you were looking at him, it pissed me off.”

Oh, God.

“So, uh, the kiss,” I say hoarsely. “Was that because you wanted my attention on you?”

Brad’s head whips my way. “What? No. I wasn’t… I wasn’t trying tomanipulateyou, Joey. Did it feel like that to you?”

“No,” I say quickly, grabbing a mug from the cupboard. “The kiss didn’t feel fake. I’m just trying to understand what’s going on here, bub. I don’t want to make assumptions.”

I fill up Brad’s mug now that his coffee is ready, the silence stretching painfully in the few seconds it takes before Brad speaks again.

“I don’t have a perfect answer,” he says. “All I know is I understand cum gutters now because of you, and I’m pretty sure I’d like to test yours out if you’d let me.”

The mug of coffee hits the floor, and Brad jumps back, avoiding the spray of liquid that coats the hardwood.

“Oh no,” he mumbles, bending down to grab the miraculously intact mug. “Bad night for drinks.”

“You…youwhat?”

Brad looks up at me. “I’m attracted to you, Joey. At least, I’m pretty sure I am. I’ve been having a lot of thoughts.”

“Thoughts about me,” I say weakly.

“Yeah,” he answers, standing up. He hands me the mug, and I get my feet into gear, pouring him a new cup before grabbing a roll of paper towels for the spilled coffee. I wipe up the mess as quickly as I can.

Brad sips his coffee as I wash my hands.

“So, uh, the kiss,” I begin again, my thoughts a jumbled mess. “That was a test?”

His face scrunches. “Not a test, no. More of a…confirmation.”

I think I need to sit down.

I can hear Brad following me into the living room, his footsteps soft. I feel as if I’m rolling. Flipped upside down and lost at sea, unsure of which way is up. When I plop onto the couch, Brad sits beside me.

“I don’t really know how to do this,” he says, voice quiet. “I’ve never been interested in a friend before, let alone a guy. I’m in uncharted territory here. And I don’t even know…I mean… Would you even want to…you know…with me?”

“Yes,” I say immediately.

Brad blows out a breath. “You sure didn’t have to think about that long.”

I slip off the couch and kneel in front of him, my hands on the outsides of his knees. His mouth opens as he looks down at me, his chest rising and falling with his breaths.

“Whatever you’re thinking about? Whatever you want to try? Try it with me.”

“Joey…”

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