Page 54 of Flaunt
Maybe I screwed up by not adding that he can’t be shirtless at home becauseholy fuck. I’ll never get used to seeing him like this.
Banks steps onto the porch as I climb out of the car. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was intentionally trying to fuck with me.
His hair is unruly, like he just woke from a nap. A pair of gym shorts sit lopsided around his hips and highlight the sex lines that are a rarity in real life. They’re usually only visible on Greek statues and Henry Cavill.
“I’ve never had a landlord meet me half-dressed before,” I say, holding tight to the car door.
He smirks. “I’m not changing the way I live for you.”
“I wouldn’t dream of asking you to do that.”Especially when the perks are free porn.
“Do you still have stuff at Maddox’s?”
I shake my head. “No. I threw it all in the car before I went to Sabrina’s.”
He leans against a post by the steps leading down to the sidewalk and, without realizing it, I lean against my car.
A bubble of anticipation flutters in my stomach as reality sets in. I’m staying with Banks Carmichael.
I’m. Staying. With. Banks.“Frigging hot.”Carmichael.
The idea was brought forth last night by Maddox and I only had five minutes to think about it before Banks walked in. But it was quickly put to bed after our little spat, and I began my search for temporary digs elsewhere.
His text this afternoon was a surprise—one that I didn’t think he was serious about until he kept pressing the issue for me to come by. Even when I showed up, I never expected him to invite me to stay. And I expected even less that I would say yes and show up here this evening.
But here I am with my stuff in tow, ready to carry it into his home.
Breathe, Sara.
Banks’s forehead wrinkles. “Are you all right?”
“Me? Yeah. I’m fine. Why?”
He shrugs it off, but my answer wasn’t satisfying.
My phone rings, interrupting anything he’s about to say. I reach into my middle console and grab it. The number on the screen is generic.Probably a salesperson.I click the button to send them to voicemail.
He jogs down the steps, and it takes every bit of self-restraint I can muster not to watch his muscles ripple in the sunlight.
“Let’s get your stuff,” he says. “I bought new sheets for the guest bedroom.”
He did? “You did? That was very nice of you, and you didn’t have to do that.”
He grins. “Well, I shopped at Mom’s. She has a closet full of clean linens that she never uses.”
My phone rings again and the same number flashes on the screen.What the heck?
“Let me grab this real quick,” I say. “They’ve called twice back to back and I don’t know who it is.”
“Go for it.”
“Hello?” I say, walking toward the front of the car.
“What are you doing, Sara?”
The words are sarcastic, filled with exasperation and misplaced self-grandeur.Joshua.
A knot forms in the pit of my stomach.How did I ever think this guy was fuckable?
