Page 20 of Follow Me Down

“Well, by all means, help yourself to however many you want.” He passes me, pulling open the fridge to retrieve a beer for himself. “Where’s Titus?” he asks, twisting off the cap of the bottle before tossing it into the trashcan.

“Shower.” I press my back against the counter and cross one foot over the other.

“And you’re not in there with him?” He quirks a brow.

“Um, no.” My voice goes up an octave. “I don’t know what impression I’ve given you, but I amnotthat kind of girl.”

“Relax.” He laughs. “I’m just kidding.”

Of course he is.

I really need to learn to read people better. Then again, I don’t know him well enough to be able to read him. For all I knew he was being serious.

It’s not so much what he said that has my cheeks heating pink, but more about the fact that just minutes ago I was thinking about being in the shower with Titus...

“I know.” I lift the beer bottle to my lips and take a drink in an effort to mask my slight overreaction.

“I wasn’t sure what you liked.” Link walks over to the pizza and pops open the top box. “So I got pepperoni and a meat lovers.” He pulls out a slice and tears off a bite with his teeth.

“Either is fine.” I take another drink.

“Plates are in the cabinet over there.” He cocks his head toward a row of cabinets along the back wall of the kitchen.

“You need one?” I ask, crossing the small space.

“Nah. Plates are for pussies.” He smiles when my wide-eyed gaze swings back to him.

“Is that your way of calling me a pussy?” I flip my hair, turning back to open the first cabinet door.

“Next one over,” he instructs. I close the first cabinet and open the second, opting to grab a small plate rather than a large dinner one. “And, if the shoe fits,” he quickly adds.

“I’m going to pretend like you didn’t just insult me.” I turn around.

“No insult, puppet. Most people are pussies.”

“Well you don’t know me very well, so maybe it’s a little early to make that assumption.” I sit the plate on the counter and grab a slice of pepperoni pizza from the open box. “I think you’d be surprised how adventurous I can be.” I drop my slice onto the plate and push the box closed.

“Well, you did hop on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle.” He pauses as he seems to think for a moment. “Then again, I’m not sure if that makes you adventurous or just plain stupid.”

“Let’s go with the former.” I smile when Link drops his head back on a laugh.

“Care to prove it?” He smirks, shoving another bite into his mouth.

“And how would I do that?” I drop a hand to my hip, trying to act braver than I am.

“Well for starters, you can finish off that beer and grab another.”

“That’s it?” I giggle, lifting the bottle to my lips before sucking back the remainder of the contents. Without a word, I head to the refrigerator and pull out another beer before once again knocking the door closed with my hip. Twisting off the cap, I toss it directly at Link. “There. Happy now?”

“It’s a start.” He shrugs unimpressed. “But the night is young.”

“What are you two in here going on about?” I jump at the sound of Titus’ voice, having not heard him enter the room.

“Oh nothing.” Link winks at me before pushing away from the counter. He grabs the top pizza box in one hand, his beer clenched in the other, and then saunters off into the living room.

My gaze swings to Titus as he enters the kitchen area. His hair is damp from the shower and he’s wearing a gray tee and black athletic shorts that hang low on his hips. I swear, he’s downright edible.

Like Link, when he catches sight of the beer in my hand he seems a little surprised.

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