Page 100 of Stabby Little

I make a face. "That sounds wrong."

"Let me reword that."

"You should've done that before you began your sentence."

"You, me, and Finn are best friends. What we do with each other isn't sex because we're so close."

"Make that make sense."

"We relied on each other in the warehouse so we're comfortable with each other's bodies. When Finn and I have sex in the bubblebath, it soothes me. It doesn't get me off."

I shoot Sparrow an incredulous look. "You definitely got off."

"Prove it."

"I have ears. I heard you moan."

"I got off sexually," Sparrow explains, "but not emotionally."

"Now I'm even more confused."

"Quit giving me grief." Sparrow issues me a glare. "You know what I mean. You do it, too."

I let out a sigh. "We hooked up in the warehouse, but not in the real world. I'm too hung up on Grant to get it on with you."

Sparrow scoots closer to me. "Tell me about your meeting with Grant."

"It was fine." My heart swells in my chest as I stare at a fly on the wall. "He made me buttermilk pancakes like he used to when I was a boy. We talked about his next-door neighbors and took a trip down memory lane."

"That sounds nice."

"I freaked out when he asked me about my captivity, though. He got close and his lips were two centimeters from mine. I wanted to kiss him and I could feel myself ruining everything. So I left before I screwed things up."

Sparrow narrows his eyes. "You didn't."

"I did."

"It sounded like you two were about to smooch."

"We were," I say, "but I would've initiated it and I don't know if he wanted it, too. He was moving closer to comfort me, not to kiss me."

"It seems like he'd be down for a kiss."

"You have no way of knowing that."

"I was a psychic in a past life. I can sense these things."

I push my palm in Sparrow's face. "This conversation has gone on too long. I need to respond to Valentin."

"Tell him you'll head back tonight," Sparrow drawls, "but only if he pays you ten grand."

"I don't want to head back for the reasons I already listed."

"Quit being such a baby."

"I'm not being a baby."

"You need to put yourself out there eventually."