Page 25 of Summer Kisses

"What are you talking about?" I asked them.

She drew up short when she reached us. "I'd love to offer more programs."

"We could always help out. The business contributes to a lot of local causes."

Hazel was quick to respond. "I'll figure it out. Can we get this stuff to your house so I can get settled in?"

I grinned, eager to see her things scattered with mine. "Let's go."

At my house, we quickly unpacked the trucks, and I sent my brothers on their way. There wasn't anything to assemble, and I wanted some time alone with Hazel.

Max had disappeared as soon as we arrived, darting through every room, sniffing everything.

Hazel stood at the doorway of Dalton's room. "When is he officially moving out?"

"I'm not sure. I think he's a little worried that Oakley will change her mind, and he'll need a place to stay."

Her face screwed up. "I didn't realize the situation was so volatile."

"She's pulling all the strings at the moment, and Dalton's going along with it. But it's only a matter of time before he messes up, or she decides it's not enough. I don't like it."

"You're protective of your brother."

"Growing up, we had to look after each other. I'm worried about him. Let's get you unpacked so we can figure out what's for dinner." I liked the thought of spending all our spare time together now. I wouldn't have to make excuses for us to hang out.

I'd cleared out half of my closet and drawers so she'd have room. I helped her unpack her clothes and tuck them away in the drawers.

"Are you sure this isn't an imposition?" Hazel asked when we closed the now-empty suitcase, and I tucked it into the bottom of the closet.

"You're doing me a favor. Just think of it as one long sleepover."

She frowned. "I guess. But when we talked about this, I thought I'd sleep in Dalton's room."

I shuddered. "I wouldn't go in Dalton's room. It's not clean."

Her brow furrowed. "It's that bad?"

"Yeah, and I'm not sure he's not going to show up at some point unexpectedly. We don't want people to know we aren't sharing a room."

"I suppose. But it just seems like it will be awkward."

"We're friends. It doesn't have to be that way." Did she think it would be awkward to share a bed with me?

Any time I thought about it, my blood ran hot, and my skin tingled. Now it was tempered with the idea that she might notfind it to be appealing. Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all. I couldn't convince someone to see me in a different way if she didn't want to.

"We'll get through this."

That made me pause. "I didn't realize that living with me was something we had to get through."

Hazel sat on the bed with a sigh. "That's not what I meant. It's just we're tied up in this until you get what you need for your show. Both of us are in limbo, not able to date other people or move on with our lives."

"You want to date other people?" My voice rose slightly at the end of my sentence.

"I don't have anyone lined up, if that's what you mean," Hazel said as if she wasn't throwing my entire plan off course. "Why? Do you?"

"Of course not. I'm all in with you."I'd secretly lusted after you all my adult life, and now I'm wondering if you'll ever feel the same way about me.How do you go about saying that to your best friend?

Hazel smiled softly. "I don't want to be an imposition?—"

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