The drive to his parents’ place is quiet, but not uncomfortably so. He leaves his hand palm up as his arm rests on the center console. Part of me thinks he’s waiting for me to make a move to show him that this is what I want, but all I can do is stare at said hand from the corner of my eye. When we pull into his parents’ driveway, I exhale in relief. We need his brothers and the rest of his family as a buffer between us.
I rush to exit the truck. I have the back door open and am reaching for the cupcake holder when Sterling gets me. I thought this was a good plan. I was wrong. I didn’t anticipate that he would crowd me, aligning his body with mine.
“Let me get that.” His lips are next to my ear, and his hot breath causes a shiver to race down my spine.
I open my mouth to tell him that I’ve got it, but words never come. Instead, I nod and slip my hand out from under his, letting him grip the holder. Sterling lifts it from the floorboard and steps back. I duck and move away from him while he closes the door of the truck. Seeing he’s got it under control, I turn on my heel and head for the porch.
Distance.
I need distance.
No way am I giving him a chance to grab my hand again. Not only is the action confusing, but if anyone in his family were to see us, they’d run with it. Sure, they’ve seen us hold hands before—it’s not uncommon—but my reaction isn’t. I know I’m not that good of an actress.
“My girl!” Ryder pushes open the door and holds it open for me.
“She’s not yours.” I hear Sterling growl from behind me.
“Not yours either,” Ryder quips.
I step inside with Sterling hot on my heels. Ryder tosses his arm over my shoulders as we make our way into the kitchen. “Look who I found,” he announces. Everyone waves hello, and I do the same. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I’m sure it’s Kennedy because she’s smiling down at her phone. Her gaze rises to mine, and she nods. Just as I thought.
Sterling places the cupcake holder on the counter and, to my surprise, slides his arm around my waist just as I reach for my phone, knocking it to the floor. Not a big deal, except for the fall activates the app from the book I was listening to. The male narrator is asking the heroine to tell him she loves his cock. Of course, like thegood girlthat she is, she tells him.
“Oh my God!” I shriek, scrambling for my phone. I drop it twice as Sterling and I try to pick it up. I manage to elbow him, grab the device, and punch the Stop button.
“Fuck,” someone says. My blood is whooshing in my ears from embarrassment, so I couldn’t tell you who.
Knowing that I can’t hide behind the kitchen island forever, I slowly stand and power off my phone, sliding it into my back pocket. It’s then that I look up and find Carol watching me closely.
“Is that the new Lacey Black novel?” she asks.
“Yes.” I nod as well because my words are muffled.
“I finished that one last night. It’s my favorite of the series.” She winks at me.
“Wait, it’s out already? I thought that was next week,” Palmer chimes in.
“Is this what you’re always reading before bed?” Brooks asks his wife.
Palmer shrugs. “Usually. Romance is my favorite genre.”
I can feel my heart rate start to settle, and the heat leaves my face as I watch Brooks reach into his back pocket. He pulls out his wallet and grabs what looks like his credit card, and hands it to Palmer.
“What’s this for?”
“You’re… um… extra attentive those nights. Go crazy. Buy all the books you want.” He smirks as the room erupts in laughter. Even me.
Sterling slides his arm around my waist and kisses my temple. “Not a bad idea,” he mumbles. I don’t ask him to repeat himself because Carol tells us it’s time to eat while she and Palmer talk about the book I was just listening to.
Keeping his hand around my waist, Sterling leads us to the dining room and pulls my chair out for me. All things he’s done before, but again it feels different.
Everything is different, and I don’t know that I can ever go back to convincing myself that I’m not in love with my best friend.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Sterling
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Brooks says.