Christ, why was I thinking about this shit right now? Ridiculous.
Just as I was about to back away, Seth’s eyes sprang open, and his hand reached out to encircle my wrist. His fingers were small and delicate compared to mine, and I stood frozen in place, wondering if he needed me to stay—and I would if he asked. Maybe he felt like the room was spinning and I needed to move a bucket toward the couch in case he got sick.
“Sorry if I put you out.” His words were a bit garbled, so I leaned closer to hear him. “Bonnie is like a mom to me. Not that I’m trying to steal your mom. Just…I really like her, and you’re not too bad either.”
My pulse started beating erratically. “Yeah…you’re not too bad yourself.” The hugest smile broke across his face as his eyes became slits. Jesus, this guy. “And Mom obviously thinks your pajama parties are a hit. I’m sure she’ll want to have more when she gets into her new place.”
“That’s good,” he murmured, “because it’s too quiet in my apartment sometimes.”
He looked so vulnerable right then, I wasn’t sure he would’ve confessed such a thing if it hadn’t been for the booze in his system.
“It’ll be quiet for me too, soon enough,” I admitted, and whoa, what the hell was happening?
He squeezed my wrist, likely in support. “Look at us. Our own little lonely-hearts club.”
I burst out laughing because he was too damned much, plus it helped ease the weird tension swirling between us. “For whatever it’s worth, if you ever need anything—after Mom’s gone, I mean—I’ll be around.”
He grinned and mumbled a thanks before his hand fell away and his eyes closed again.
“Night,” I said, then shut off the light and got the hell out of the room before I said something else I couldn’t take back.
It took me a bit to fall asleep, as I replayed our conversation, making sure I didn’t say anything stupid or leading. Not that he’d remember. Yeah, I was banking on that.
9
Seth
I started to wake at the sound of water turning on in my apartment. My heart immediately dropped to my gut because I lived alone and no one should be there, but then, robbers didn’t typically take the time to wash their hands…
My eyes opened slowly, my surroundings unfamiliar for a moment, and then it all clicked. I was at Jake’s. I drank wine, lots and lots of wine, and ate food, and did makeovers with Bonnie.
Then Jake had come home, and oh God, please don’t let me have made a fool of myself in front of him. I didn’t think I did, but things were a little murky, and there was a dull throb in my head. I did remember trying to get him to say an actor was hot, which made me want to try and sneak out, to be honest. Why had I asked him that?
I sat up quietly and tried to peek over the back of the couch. The movement must have caught Jake’s eye, because he looked at me and smiled, and oh, the view was nice. The smile was nice, of course, but he was also wearing shorts, with the waist of his briefs showing, and no T-shirt. There was a dusting of hair on his chest, his abs were nice but not overly cut like he spent his whole life in the gym, and I wanted to cuddle him. Wanted to feel his arms around me and see what he smelled like, and maybe what he tasted like, and, oh, now he was frowning. Why was he frowning at me?
“Hmm?” I said.
“Are you okay? You’re staring at me funny, and I said your name twice.”
Because of course he had. I was such a creeper. My cheeks heated. “Yeah. Fine. Sorry.”
“I didn’t mean to wake you. I have some coffee going, and I’m about to put breakfast on. I figured you and Mom could use some food in your stomach after the night you had.” The right side of his mouth kicked up.
“Please tell me I didn’t make a fool of myself.” I buried my face into the couch.
He chuckled. “You didn’t. You were adorable.”
My head snapped up so quickly, I was pretty sure something popped in my neck. “Oh. I…yeah…um…thanks?” Why, why, why was I such a dork?
He chuckled again, and I couldn’t help wondering if I was still adorable.
“So, breakfast. I’ll make it.” Was it me, or was Jake blushing? No, it couldn’t be.
“I should go. You don’t have to make me breakfast.” I stood, and my legs felt wobbly.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m feeding you. How’s your head? I’ll get you some water and pain meds.” Blood rushed through my ears. My head was really thudding now, and I wanted nothing more than to savor this moment and his sweetness, to wrap up in it like a warm blanket. The look on my face must have changed because he said, “Sorry. I don’t mean to sound pushy. You can obviously leave if you’d like and—”
“No!” I rushed out. “I mean, it’s fine. You’re not pushy. I’ll eat breakfast. I just…need to go to the bathroom first.”
Jake smiled. “Go for it.”
I went in and locked the door behind me before leaning against it. I still felt wobbly, which I didn’t think was from my night, but from Jake. He made me feel off-balance. It was one thing to be gorgeous, which he was, but another that he was so kind and caring, and God, I wanted to spend more time around someone like that. Chill out, Seth. Don’t get in over your head.
So I tried to push those thoughts aside, took a leak, washed my hands. My makeup was a mess, so I opened a cabinet and thankfully there was a washcloth inside. I totally should have taken this off last night.
I cleaned my face, used some of their mouthwash, then made my way back to the front of the house. I heard Bonnie’s voice and smelled coffee and bacon.
“Hi,” I said softly, walking into the kitchen.
“Tylenol and water are right here. You can take Tylenol?” Jake asked.
“Yeah, I can take it.”
“My son is a bit of a papa bear. And I’m not as young as I used to be. I feel all foggy.”
We all laughed.
I took the medicine and drank the whole glass of water before asking, “Can I help?”
“No, I got it.” Jake had put a shirt on, likely to keep his chest from getting popped with grease, and I’d never hated bacon more than I did in that moment. His chest was so, so, so sexy. I really wanted to see it again.
“Make yourself some coffee,” Bonnie told me, and I did. Then the two of us sat at the table, where we could still see Jake while he worked. I must have been staring hard—duh—because she said softly, “He’s a good man. I’m lucky to have him.”
I jerked my eyes away from him and toward the table. “Yeah, I can see he is. But he’s lucky to have you too.” They were lucky to have each other.
Bonnie reached over and placed her hand on top of mine in support. “A bit later we’re going to do some shopping to get things for my new apartment. I’m moving in next weekend. I’d love to have your opinion on things.”
“Oh, I’m not that gay guy. Makeup and hair I’m good at, decorating not so much.” My own apartment wasn’t even styled by me.
“Well, we’d still like your company.”