Page 32 of Friends Don't Kiss

Stressing out over what I’m going to wear. How I am going to spend a whole weekend with them?

“Pouvez-vous m’indiquer la poste, s’il vous plait?” the melodic voice on my language learning app sounds. Somehow this calms me down, and I strive to answer the question correctly. Since the whole debacle with my family and with Colton, I’ve been focusing on ways to make strides in my career, and I came across a scholarship at one of France’s most prestigious pastry schools.

You never know until you try, so I applied, and that’s why I’m learning French now.

There’s a knock on the door, and from the sound of it, it’s Colton. Three quick, two slow, assured, not too loud, not too soft either.

My heart does a little skip and a jump, and I take a breath.

He could have been my boyfriend.

But I’d rather have him as a friend.

I scold my features intomildly unwelcoming, I’ve got shit to do. Then I crack the door open, hoping Colton doesn’t catch onto the fact I’m getting ready to go somewhere.

But he has a bag at his feet, a carton tray with two coffees, and his charming smile on. I retreat inside my apartment, leaving the door open for him.

“Thought you might need a friend,” Colton says, handing me the carton tray. Two cups, each with a name.Colton. Kiara.

Ignoring the temptation of Millie’s coffee—a clear bribe if I’ve ever seen one—I set them on my kitchen counter and cross my arms.Please tell me this is not what I think it is.

“Going somewhere?” I ask, my chin pointing at his duffel.

Closing the door after him, he leans his hip on the other side of the kitchen counter, crossing his arms too. “Maine,” he answers, dragging the word.

My palms moisten. “M-Maine?”

“Prenez la premiere à droite, puis la seconde à gauche. La poste…” I click my app shut.

“You all packed?” he adds.

Shit. I shut my eyes. “You don’t need to—I didn’t think you’d…”I didn’t think you’d remember.But of course he did. Of course.

“Bill reminded me,” he says, and my heart drops a little. Smirking, he adds, “Disappointed I didn’t remember?”

Annoyed he can read me so well, I cross and uncross my arms.

“You’re an open book to me, grasshopper,” he says, then after a pause adds, “for the most part.”

Pushing himself from the counter, he pops the coffees out of their carrier and hands me one. “This party is important to Eloise.” He looks me top to bottom. “And I thought you could use a friend.”

I feel sorry for him. Colton is always coming through for me—hell, that’s how we met—and he always seems to be giving way more than I have to offer back. There’s only so many cupcakes a guy can eat, even if you add his staff. That’ll never compensate for the many ways he’s always there for me. But this is reaching whole new levels.

I set my coffee on the counter. “Colt, you don’t need to get roped into my family’s dysfunctions.” I sigh. “I don’t understand why Uncle Bill reminded you. He knows… I mean Itold himwe’re not together. What is he…?” I raise my hands, giving up. “Why did you even engage with him on that?”

Something hot passes in his gaze, something that brings back the memory of us standing in his kitchen and him declaring, “We should date.” But there’s no way Colton couldgenuinelybe interested in me that way. He was just being lazy that day—and I get the feeling. The dating scene is tough. But I know his type. And it is not me.

“Grasshopper, get ready. We’re gonna make the most of it. That’s what friends are for, right?” He takes a long draw from his coffee.

I swallow with difficulty. “It’s an overnight thing.”

“I know.” He gestures to his luggage.

I narrow my eyes on it. The bulky thing on top of his duffel bag? It’s his dressy jacket on a hanger. “I mean, I booked a room. One room. If we’re pretending to be—”

“I’ll take the floor,” he interrupts, understanding what I mean: If we’re to continue with this charade, we’ll need to share a room. “Or the couch, if there’s one.”

“I can’t ask that of you,” I say, embarrassed that he’s willing to sleep on the floor for me.

---