Page 26 of Petals and Plot Twists
From any other man, the question might have sounded flirty. But Peter doesn’t know how to flirt, so his question can’t be anything but genuine.
That doesn’t mean I have to give him a genuine answer.
I roll my eyes and push past him, moving to the fridge so I can hide my face behind the door because yes, yes I was checking him out. The list of thoughts and observations I’m blaming on Willa and her stupid suggestion is getting longer and longer.
I suddenly think of the moment Peter tucked a curl behind my ear right after he wiped Sissy Mayhew’s blush from my cheeks, and the same fluttery feeling he triggered then fills my chest.
Okay, maybe it’s notentirelyWilla’s fault. But she definitely didn’t help.
“I was not checking you out,” I say as I inspect a random stick of butter. “My question was more literal. Like, have you been working outright now.”
I look over my shoulder to see Peter staring at me, arms folded across his chest like he doesn’t buy my excuse, and he knows exactly what’s going through my mind.
I close the fridge. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one who is suddenly walking around my apartment looking all toned and muscly. I don’t know what to do with this version of you.”
He walks to where I’m standing and reaches over my head, pulling a box of granola bars out of the cabinet just to the right of me. It brings him close enough for me to feel the heat emanating from his body and catch the musky scent of his skin.
“This version of me?” he says. “How is this different? I run. I swim. That’s always been my exercise routine.”
I lift my hands in surrender. “Fine. Forget I said anything.”
The man is standing impossibly close to me, but he doesn’t step away. Instead he puts the box down on the counter and leans even closer. A part of me thinks he’s doing this on purpose. Standing this close because hewantsto get a rise out of me.
“I haven’t changed, Sophie. Maybe you’ve just never noticed.”
I purse my lips to the side and study him. Objectively, he’s probably right. At least in the last few years. Since he got through puberty and grew into an adult, he pretty muchhasstayed the same.
So if Peter hasn’t changed…have I?
“Haveyouever noticed?” I hear myself ask.
I wish I could pull back the question the second it’s out of my mouth. I’venevertalked to Peter like this. But it’s too late now. I’m already committed. He’s watching me intently, his gaze serious, but his expression holds curiosity too.
“Have you ever noticed me?” I add. “Like…” I shrug and push my hands into my back pockets, needing to put them somewhere just to keep them from fidgeting. “You know. Like that.”
Peter looks at me for a long moment, his expression darkening before he puts one hand on the fridge directly behind me and leans forward, his face mere inches from mine. “I’ve noticed,” he finally says. “You’re beautiful, Sophie. And I’m not blind.”
His words feel like an actual caress, and for a split second, I can’t pullanyair into my lungs. My heart pounds harder and harder until I finally inhale, heat spreading through my belly like warm honey.
This is Peter, a part of me thinks. Mybest friend.Except he is not looking at me like I am just his friend.
“Hey, listen,” he says, his body still close, his eyes fixed on my face. “Remember when I asked if you’d come home with me to pick up the rest of my stuff?”
I swallow and force myself to nod. “Yeah,” I say, my voice much too breathy.
Peter’s lips lift on one side, his eyes flashing with something I can’t quite read before he says, “Are you free on Saturday? I could really use the help.”
“Of course,” I say. “I’d love to help. But I might have a date.”
I don’t know why I say it. I do not have a date planned, and even if I did, I’d cancel it to go home with Peter. His family ismoving.This is exactly the kind of thing his best friend is supposed to do.
But he’s making me feelso muchright now. With his intense looks and his soft words and the unexplained fluttering that keeps skittering behind my ribs.
Mentioning the possibility of a date is my only defense. The only way to land us back in the friendzone.
Peter’s lips twitch the slightest bit, but that’s his only reaction before he says, “I guess you can check and let me know?”
“I will. Definitely. I could text you, maybe.”
