Smelled light and floral, so he declared it the perfect present for his mom, who was notoriously hard to shop for. Not because she was picky, but because she was content with most anything, insisting her children not spend their money on her.
Too bad, since Gavin had also bought her a diamond necklace—he still wasn’t sure whether or not he should admit it was real. For his father, he’d picked a spiced bacon crate—he claimed food didn’t have enough flavor if your tastebuds didn’t tingle a little—and whiskey of the month club subscription.
His parents had done so much to get him to where he was, and they deserved the best. Gavin had never been great at shopping for other people, though.
“Have you bought anything for Julie yet?” Niki asked.
The sigh came out for a number of reasons, but the first one was the easiest to address. “Why won’t you let that drop?”
“Dude, it’s the first time I’ve mentioned getting her a present.”
He tilted his head the same way she’d done to him, adding a no-nonsense glare to convey there was more to it than that, and they both knew it.
Niki trailed her fingers across the top of a clunky dresser and then frowned at the mirror. She listed toward her distorted, smoky reflection and used her fingernail to separate a clump of mascara on her lashes. “Fine. I’ve been harping on it because I’m an undercover spy for Mom and Dad.”
She clasped her hands together, both of her pointer fingers coming out as a faux gun barrel, and spun as if she were clearing the room—someone needed to. He could hardly move. “And the CIA.”
“Wow, I’m surprised you have time to study and play basketball, Miss Sleeper Cell.”
“I’m that good.” Niki wiggled her eyebrows, and he rolled his eyes.
“I should’ve known I’d never get a straight answer out of you.” He picked up a cat-shaped salt and pepper set. Would Jules like that? Was it cheesy? Salty?
Shit, he didn’t know. There wouldn’t be extra pressure if they hadn’t kissed, but he also refused to take back that moment.
“Here’s the thing. I thought I’d leave this small town and just be swimming in dudes. But it’s hard to find someone who not only gets you, but also cares about you just as you are.”
“It’s also hard to maintain a relationship with a nonstop schedule. Especially if that person lives a couple states away, and the size of Texas makes it more like three.”
A grin spread across Niki’s face, her pearly whites flashing. “So it has crossed your mind.”
Clearly, he wasn’t a spy. “No. I mean…” He ran a hand over his face. “More like I thought about how far away my best friend lives.”
“Sounds like that cookie frosting session got to you.” Niki quickened her pace, stepping ahead of him only to turn around and block his path. “How was the kissing?”
“No one said anything about kissing.”
The wattage on her grin cranked higher. “You would’ve denied it if there hadn’t been any.” She rubbed her palms together, like the evil genius she was.
“Fine. We got a bit carried away during our cookie frosting session and kissed, but it was a mistake.” His chest twanged, calling him a liar. “Not the kind that you regret, but one where you know better. I have to focus on healing and playoffs, and I can’t ask her to wait for me to be ready to date, or to move for me, and”—his breaths shallowed until he could get only sips of stagnant air—“everything’s automatically more serious because of our history, and it’s too much. I can’t go there right now.”
To her credit, Niki didn’t mock him or insist it’d be easy to pull off. The smug pinch of her features morphed into the sort of tenderness they rarely showed each other—not because they didn’t care but because they’d never been overly mushy. Hazard of affectionate parents who went overboard embarrassing their children with all their PDA, he supposed. “Just because you two have been friends forever doesn’t mean you can’t take your time.”
“I don’t know, Nik. I’m afraid it does. With Jules, there will always be more at stake, and what I need right now is a clear mind and my best friend.” He rounded the next aisle. Nothing in particular caught his eye. “I did buy her a present already, by the way. Although I’m starting to worry it’s not as awesome as I first thought and am searching for a little something to add. Something she’d love.”
“The same way you love her?” Niki asked, proving she had the same problematic listening skills as the parents did.
“Yes. Platonically. No banging the antiques.”
Niki laughed, and it made him chuckle as well. As much fun as he’d had playing Reindeer, every time he went to help Julie line up her shot, he’d catch her perfume or his attention would snag on her lips, her hips, or every other dangerous body part she had.
In other words, all of her.
It blew his mind that after decades of friendship, he could go from familiar yet unaware of her body to curious and semi-obsessed. What’d suddenly changed? And why now? In a lot of ways, it was easier to pretend it was merely a matter of going too long without.
But it went beyond sex, and he should really avoid thinking that word, regardless.
As if to spite him, his gaze landed on a bronze statue of two lovers, and while it was hardly graphic, most of the pertinent bits covered up, his brain filled in the blanks. Big surprise, it chose him and Julie as inspiration.
“Oh. I didn’t realize there was anyone…”
Speaking of familiar—tension coiled as the voice and who it belonged to clicked, tightening the line of his shoulders, and his heart stuttered as he glanced at the woman coming down the aisle. She was holding a basket filled with homemade soaps, and as their eyes met, she paled.
“Gavin.”
He swallowed and forced out her name in return. “Kristin.”
Chapter Eighteen
Julie dropped the spool of ribbon and scissors and wiggled her head from side to side to help release the tight muscles in her neck.
“Oh, wow,” Grandma O’Neill said. “Those packages look so beautiful. A lot prettier than I could do with these gnarled, arthritis-riddled fingers.” She held up her crooked, swollen knuckles as if Julie would need proof.
Tingly needles attacked Julie’s legs as she unfolded them and pushed to her feet. Apparently her limbs had drifted off after spending so long wrapping presents on the floor. “Did you make an appointment for steroid shots yet?”
Grams swiped a hand through the air. “Ah. I’m already so buff that I intimidate your grandfather.”