Page 17 of Best Friends
Apparently not noticing my reticence, he continues. “Cecilia keeps bugging me to go out again. I was going to blow her off,but I just remembered she said she has a friend who thinks you’re sexy.”
“Not sure I’m up for a blind date, Malc.”
“Come on, it’ll be fun.” He smiles at me. “We can have dinner and drinks, then go back to my place. It’ll be great.”
The thought of watching him with a girl makes me feel sick. But I can’t say that. Not if we’re trying to go back to how things were before. I have to come up with some other reason I don’t want to go on a double date. “I don’t know, I’m working so much right now. I’m not really sure I have time for that right now.”
He scowls. “The motorcycle convention ended tonight. By Friday, Whispering Pines will be back to normal and the overtime will dry up. There’s no reason you can’t go on this double date.”
“I guess that’s probably true,” I murmur, trying to hide my dread.
“We have to get back on the horse sometime, C.” He shrugs. “Let’s just go out with Cecilia and her friend and… you know… get back in the saddle.”
I’m distracted by all the horse metaphors, but mostly I’m just stressed. The idea of him with anyone—girl or guy—makes me feel messed up. “So you’d feel weird if I hit on a guy, but you’re totally fine with me screwing some girl in front of you?”
His Adam’s apple bobs, and he avoids my gaze. “We’ve done it plenty of times before. We just need to get back to how things were,” he insists. “Isn’t that what we both want?”
“Yes.”
“Then we should do this. I’m going to set it up. You in?”
I’m not sure watching each other bang some random girls is going to fix anything. He obviously wants to believe that will work, but I’m on the fence about it. “I’m going to have to get back to you on that.”
“Why are you hesitating?” His eyes are bright with frustration. “We like girls, right? You… you still like girls, right?”
“Of course,” I answer robotically. Never mind the fact that I can’t stop thinking about deep throating him. No problem. I’m just a perfectly straight guy who likes to suck his best friend’s cock now and then. Totally not gay.
“Okay.” Despite this being his plan, he looks about as thrilled as if he’s suggesting we get root canals together. “So, I’ll call Cecilia and set dinner up with her and her friend. Then we can just go back to being how we used to be. Does that sound like a plan?”
I exhale roughly. “Fine. If it means this much to you, I’ll do it.”
He forces a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Great. I’ll arrange the whole thing and things will be back on track before we know it, C.”
“Absolutely,” I say woodenly.
“Okay.” He claps his hands together and moves toward the front door. “I’m glad that’s all settled.” He opens the door and looks at me over his shoulder. “I’ll let you know the date and time we can meet the girls.”
Following him to the door, I avoid his gaze. “Can’t wait.”
“Me either. Should be a really fun time.” He squeezes my shoulder, and I brace myself against the rush of need that hits me at his touch.
I don’t know how watching him sleep with a girl is supposed to drive away this new, confusing attraction I have for him, but I’m willing to try anything. I’m not ready to walk away from our life-long friendship.
Chapter Four
“You’rebothcops?” Amanda’s green eyes are wide as she stares at me. “Have you ever shot anyone?”
I smile because if I had a nickel for every time someone asked that, I’d have a fuck ton of nickels. “No. I’ve never shot anyone.”
Her face falls. “Oh. I guess I just assumed.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” I laugh gruffly.
She waves me off, giving a sheepish smile. “No, gosh, I’m the one who’s sorry. I sound blood thirsty.”
“Nah, you’re fine,” I say. “A lot of people wonder about that.”
“I’ve shot someone before,” Malcolm volunteers with a grin.
