Page 32 of Accidental Theirs
I look at her, frowning. “Friends?”
She nods. “My mother always said I should be friends with my lovers first, and I never believed her. But now that she’s gone, I think I’m going to take her advice.”
“So, we can be friendsandlovers?” I ask hopefully, and she shakes her head, smiling.
“Nothing like that. Just friends.”
“Just friends.”
“That’s what I said, isn’t it?” She sounds almost proud of herself, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“You’ve got me right where you want me, don’t you?”
“Maybe.”
She’s grinning, and I haven’t seen her smile like this in so long.
I want to kiss her so badly, but I know this isn’t the right time. She’s not ready.
We’refriends.
“Okay, then.” I stick out my hands. “Friends.”
She shakes it enthusiastically. “Friends.”
“Do friends get to eat your ice cream?”
“One bowl.”
“I’ll take it.”
I get up and make us a couple of bowls, bringing one back to her, and she grins wider, digging in when I hand her the bowl.
I stay for another hour, helping clean up a bit and ushering her to her bedroom.
“What if I asked you to stay the night?”
I freeze in the doorway, conflicted. “What?”
She giggles. “Don’t look so scared. I’m not going to ask you to stay.”
Well, shit. I was hoping she would.
Baby steps.
“I’m just tucking you in and going home.”
“You’re not even tempted?” She shifts on the bed where she’s crawled on top of the covers.
Her pajama shorts ride up and show a hint of her curved ass.
I groan. “Of course, I’m tempted. But you want to be friends. Just friends.”
“Just friends.” She puts her head down on the pillow.
I walk out and flip the light off before turning back when she calls my name.
“I’m glad we’re friends,” she says quietly, and I give her a smile before shutting the door and drawing in a deep breath.
