I dropped them off and pulled into a spot near the water before turning to face my best friend.
"I'm sorry. Forgive me?" I reached over and squeezed her hand.
"What? Are you kidding me?" She tugged her hand away. "I've known you most of my life. You don't have to apologize. I know you're interested in Brody, and I know that having any desire toward him scares the hell out of you. I was there when that shit went down with Brandon, remember?"
"Yeah." I pulled my hand back and turned the car off, but didn't move to get out. "He's so damn hot. I can't stop thinking about him, and yet...there is no way in all the realms of hell that I'm letting him near me. I don't need the drama in my life, Emily."
"I agree. He's not the kind of guy that settles down, from what I can tell. The guys teased the heck out of him last night for screwing the whole damn city." She reached for her door handle. "But, I will say this..."
"No, don't say it," I chuckled and got out of the car, breathing in deeply and letting my eyes scan the faces around us. As much as I prayed that I wouldn't run into him again soon, I sure was looking for him to pop up.
"Yes, I am." She walked around the car and looped her arm into mine, tugging me toward the bistro. "He's a funny guy. I think there is more beneath the surface than he's willing to show in front of his friends. You know how guys are."
"This isn't about how he acts with his friends." I glanced down at her as I worked to pull my hair from my face with my free hand. "It's about him sleeping around. I don't care if he's cocky. I actually prefer cocky, confident meat-heads. It's that he's the exact kind of guy that would be found sleeping around, no matter what commitment he promised to make and keep."
"You're looking for a fling, though.”
"I'm done talking about this." I pulled my arm from hers, once again fighting the need to turn into a bitch. "I love you like crazy, and I'm stoked that you and Clay might have started something, but I'm not considering Brody for anything more than what he is. A good-looking guy who's part of the friend group that I'm going to be around this summer. Nothing more."
"Alright. Suit yourself." She shrugged and held the door open for me. "I guess I won't tell you how many questions he peppered me with last night."
"Questions about what?" I walked in as my chest constricted.
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Don't say questions about me. Don't say-
"Questions about you." She walked by me and shrugged as I stopped dead in my tracks. "You might not be interested, but I can tell you one thing for damn sure: he is."
Chapter Eleven
Brody
"You guys want burgers for lunch again?" Clay walked into the living room and crossed his arms over his chest.
I glanced up from playing a game on my phone and shrugged. "Whatever is easiest."
"Burgers it is." Daniel got up and rolled his shoulders. "Come on, buddy. You know you're the best at grilling."
He tapped my foot and stepped over my extended legs.
"I think Clay should have to cook seeing that he's the only one that got laid last night." I smirked and pulled my legs down before standing up and tossing my phone onto the couch behind me. Something about Clay sleeping with Cora's best friend left me feeling far more jealous than I should. The sexy waitress from the burger hut had been a fun lay that afternoon, but I was left wanting more than she provided. Typical disappointment. I was starting to think that swearing off sex until I found the right girl might actually be a good idea.
I'd never say it out loud in a million years to my friends, but entertaining the thought kept my emotions on an even-kilter.
"Just call me Grill Master." I popped Clay in the chest as I walked to the kitchen.
Derek was on the phone, the smile on his face wide and a little cheesy. I couldn't help but eavesdrop.
"Naw, you don't have to do that. I mean, if you want to, I'll eat that shit up, but..." he chuckled and glanced over at me. His expression hardened just a little as the smile slipped from his lips. "I'll see you tonight, alright? We're all looking forward to it." He put the phone down and smirked. "What? She's making me a dessert."
"Who?" I picked up the plate of raw burger patties and grabbed a spatula. "Come open the door, big guy."
"Cindy." He moved up beside me and opened the door.
"The girl with red hair from Friday night?" I walked out, trying to ignore the new wave of jealousy that washed over me.
"Yeah. She's gonna be a chef. Open her own restaurant and such." He held the door and walked out languidly beside me before dropping down into my favorite lawn chair.