Page 4 of We Can't Be Friends

I cover the distance to the bathroom in eight steps.

Before I can turn the handle, the door swings open.

Steam rolling out, a body within it.

A very naked female body.

Her mouth is agape, as if she was about to say something before slamming her mouth shut.

Wide, round eyes meet mine.

Pools of silver. Bright as the stars in a midnight sky. The ones bright enough that you wonder why there aren’t special sunglasses for nighttime, but can’t tear your gaze away from.

My gaze lingers longer than appropriate. Drifting from her dark brown hair that hangs around her shoulders to arms that are a canvas of black ink. Her hips are narrow, but she has curves in the best places. My eyes scan the smooth olive skin of her long legs. Retracing my path, I’m met with narrowed catlike gray eyes.

“I’d offer you a photo, but I think you already took enough.” Her head tilts, a strand of dark hair falling over a patch of freckles on her face. “You done? I need to speak with Emme.”

I glance over my shoulder whereEmmeis sitting, laughing. Hands covering her eyes as she leans on the counter.

“A heads up that you are bringing a guy over would have been nice.” She brushes past me, stalking over to her friend.

“As if you care.”

“Right, I don’t.” The bathroom guest shrugs. “We are all adults. We’ve all seen a naked body before. What’s there to be ashamedof?” She spins in my direction, head cocked to the side. “You have seen a naked female before?”

“Plenty.” I give her a curt nod.

“Happy to be another number on your list.” She raises a hand, delicate tattoos on her knuckles. Flicking them in my direction, she shoos me away to the bathroom.

I close the door, but their conversation still floats into the space.

“My landlord says the pipe should befixedby Friday.”

“I don’t care, you can shower here whenever you want.” There’s the Emerson I know, always pleasing everyone. “I enjoy the company.”

“Ienjoythis let-me-talk-about-my-emotions Emme. She might be my favorite.”

“Uh-huh. Care to explain the middle of the afternoon shower?” Emerson asks as I open the door.

I watch her shoulder blades tense, her dark hair shuffling across the rigid muscles. Her tongue runs across her front teeth. “It’s nothing. I’m fine,” she says sternly. Emerson is tossing the coffee and carrier into the trash, so she doesn’t notice her friend shut her eyes, inhaling deeply. “Seth didn’t book his flight.”

“Who’s Seth?” I jump into the conversation, alerting them of my presence.

She spins, narrowed eyes and a scowl that is way hotter than it should be. Everything about her is fit, and she’s cheeky. Not usually my type, but then again, my type is anything that’s a quick fuck and on their way.

“Who are you?” she spews.

“Callum Sullivan.”

“Well, Calvin—”

“Callum,” I correct her. She doesn’t care.

“It’s none of your business who Seth is.” She steps toward me, where I’m leaning against the bathroom doorway. “By the way, my eyes are up here.” A finger pulls my chin up. “You’re staring.”

“So are you.”

I noticed the way she checked me out. More defensively than seductively.

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