Page 30 of Trust Issues
Focus on something else, Kyle.
I hopped up and promptly went across the hall, tapping my knuckles against Max’s door. I should have just walked in but I have more manners than him so I didn’t.
“What’s up, Kyle?” Owen grinned down at me and I smiled politely.
“Hey, Owen. Any chance you and your horribly disfigured brother would feel like coming over to keep me company while I straighten up my apartment?” I felt a swish of fur around my ankles and looked down at Barkley. I scooped him into my arms and he settled against me like I was his personal pillow.
“You need any help?” Owen chuckled.
“I mean if you feel like helping, who am I to stand in your way?” Honestly, I just needed someone else to occupy my mind so I wouldn’t go to town on my fingers, nibbling them until they threatened to bleed. Maybe I was more nervous about having Austin over than I thought. When I did normal dates, I didn’t sweat it but having a man come into my home? My sanctuary? My place away from the world? That was huge.
“I see the dog is at the door. Oh, and Barkley’s here too. What’s going on?” Max smirked at me and I glared so hard my eyebrows burned.
“I need some company while I clean,” I informed him through gritted teeth.
“You do?” Max lifted an eyebrow and glanced down at my hands. I promptly buried them in Barkley’s fur and turned on my heel to go back across the hall. Not too long after that, Max and Owen were following me into my apartment.
Thank god.
“Kyle, your place isn’t even messy. I mean a few throw pillows need to be fluffed and put back but…” Max cut his brother off and held his hand out.
“The vacuum is down the hall in the closet. Just run it over the floor and I’ll straighten the pillows.”
I actually felt my fucking heart flutter. What the hell was that shit? I didn’t like it. Felt like indigestion.
I rubbed the space between my breasts and looked at Max for a moment. I shouldn’t have because he narrowed his coffee gaze at me and held out his hand expectantly.
“Hand. Now,” he said.
“Max, what is wrong with you? Are you off your meds or something?”
“Kyle.” I’d never heard four little letters command so much attention. My hand wanted to leap into his but I kept it balled tightly at my side. Fuck that. Max would have to pry my fingers open.
He did.
He pried them open.
He gripped my wrist in his hand and used his other hand to open my fingers until he saw all the private spaces on the sides of my nails where I’d been nibbling like a little shameful mouse.
Fuck.
Sometimes I got on my own nerves.
Is that a thing? If it is…it’s totally my thing. I do that a lot.
“What’s going on?” Max asked quietly as we moved into the kitchen. I grabbed a champagne flute and began filling it with tequila and pineapple juice. Maybe a little more tequila than juice but hey…
“I called Austin,” I blurted, lifting the crystal flute to my lips.
“Okay, and? That’s a good thing right? I mean unless you really like this guy and being around him makes you nervous or something.” He sounded like he was accusing me rather than making a suggestion. My eyes lingered on him for a bit, taking in his chiseled jaw.
He was such a cliché.
Chiseled jaw. Dark skin. Intense gaze.
Dammit. I lost track of my thoughts.
“I don’t like him. I told you that. It’s just really nerve-racking having him in my space.” Max grew silent as he studied my face. My cheeks turned hot and my throat got tight. It wasn’t the liquor but I was going to play a dangerous game where I covered up my true feelings by pretending I was buzzed. Sometimes I liked to do fun little things like that.
