Page 127 of Gym Bros
“I’ll try,” he says sincerely.
I’m about to close my screen but a text comes through as my thumb hovers over the button.
Marcus
At the airport. I’ll be in town for the night. Busy?
I nearly throw up.
“You okay?” Sam asks.
I have the distinct urge to throw my phone across the room or swallow it whole. “Um…one second,” I say shakily, tapping out a reply.
Me
I’m on a date.
Marcus
Will you be free later?
Jesus fucking Christ.
Me
No. Gotta go.
I close the phone and clear my throat, forcing a smile for Samuel like nothing is amiss. Like his father isn’t giving me aliteral booty call. “Do you have anything planned for after dinner?” I ask.
“If it goes well, I’m planning to invite you back to my place. Who was that? You look pale.”
“Just Rachel. I’d love to go back to your place.”
His eyes sparkle as he stares at me, something both hot and generous in his gaze. “Good. Can I ask you something? Like sincerely?”
My breath hitches, but I nod.
For this, his gaze narrows, and my stomach flips. “How muchdoyou like me?” he asks.
Oh good. This one’s easy. Anything not having to do with my phone is super simple. I try to re-center myself in full flirt mode. “If I tell you, will you answer the same question?”
“Sure,” he says.
“A lot. Like—enough that it feels a little stupid.”Understatement.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I say softly.
“What do you consider stupid?” he asks.
The fact that one word from his father could make this blow up in my face at any second, and I think my heart could actually sustain damage. “You just feel risky is all. You’re young.”
“Mm.” He takes this in as though he totally understands. “I don’t change my mind very often if that helps. I’m extremely stubborn.”
“Yeah, I noticed that.”
“Can I tell you how much I like you now?”
