Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“What?” Declan cut me off, his eyes bugging out of his head adorably.
“How did you not realize that? I basically said as much back then, and then again a few minutes ago—that you’re the first person outside of an app who knew.”
“Jesus Christ.” Declan stopped walking and dropped his head back.
“Is it that big of a deal? I’m not saying I’m in love with you because of it. What I’m trying to say and clearly failing is that when I think of a friend, I think of you, even though we’ve never been that. And like I said, I just really want a friend right now. I want to have fun and spend time with someone who’s real, someone I can trust.” When he didn’t reply, I teased, “If you run, I’ll chase you down and tackle you in the sand. I do a lot of my own stunts.”
He grinned. “I can take you.”
“Well, if you want to test that theory, just try and run.”
He shook his head, but there was a playful smile on his lips. “If you asked me to hang out again, I’d probably say yes. Just not too often. I’m a bit of a loner. People kinda suck.”
I laughed. “They really fucking do. They’re the worst.”
We started walking again. “Thank you. I appreciate it…friend.”
“Yeah, well, you might regret this.”
I didn’t tell him that I knew I never would.
CHAPTER SIX
Declan
It probably wasn’t normal for sleeping with someone for years to feel less intimate than being friends with them, but there hadn’t been any commitment before. It hadn’t been this thing we had to continue doing. There weren’t strings, and while friendship was a different kind of strings, we were now tied to each other nonetheless.
It might not make sense to most people, but that felt weird to me. I didn’t know how else to explain it. Outside of Parker, Marcus, and Corbin, no one in my life had ever stuck around. They’d never given a shit. My dad didn’t back then, and he didn’t now, except for how I could help him. Others had ignored me when I’d needed them, when I wore dirty clothes to school or no one picked me up afterward, because I hadn’t been important enough. They’d let me fade into the background, and fuck, it was pretty comfortable there now.
But apparently, Sebastian and I were going to do friend things. The kind of stuff Parker and Corbin tried to force me and Marcus into doing, and I was going to let him.
I’d clearly lost my mind.
And my three friends could never, ever find out. They’d never let me live it down. It would be the topic of conversation every time we were together, and I sure as shit didn’t want to deal with that.
Like I did a few times a week, I started my day at Beach Buns. Parker was the kind of friend who needed that consistent check-in. He had a big heart that was easily bruised.
Beach Buns was within walking distance of my apartment. Park was outside when I arrived, with an oversize cinnamon roll and an iced coffee waiting for me. He hadn’t expected to ever have his own bakery. Life in Santa Monica was crazy expensive, and we were blessed to live how we did. We all had our careers, of course, but again, life wasn’t cheap in SoCal. Marcus had helped us all at one time or another, and now the revenue The Vers brought in helped. Between ads, sponsorships, and our merch, it was a nice supplement to our income.
“I added apple to the cinnamon roll,” Parker said. “It’s really good. You’ll like it.”
I kissed his cheek and sat across from him.
“What’s wrong, Declan?”
My gaze snapped to his. “Huh?”
“You’re brooding over something.”
How the fuck did he do that? “I’m always brooding over something.” He nodded in agreement, so I added, “Fuck you very much,” because I wasn’t that bad, was I?
“I think you have a secret. I hope you don’t expect me to have forgotten that conversation from Sunday.”
“And I think you’re projecting and casting me as one of the heroes in the romance novels you read.”
“Hey, they’re hot.”
“You don’t read them for the sex, though.”
Parker sighed because we both knew he didn’t. “Anyway, this isn’t about me. This is about you and your extra-thinky thoughts, and also about my apple-cinnamon roll because it’s a new recipe and I want your opinion.”
“I think this should be all about your food.” I pinched off a piece of gooey goodness, took a bite…and moaned as it melted in my mouth. “Fuck, that’s good, Park.”
“Thank God.” He glowed under the praise. I was pretty sure my friend had a praise kink he was unaware of, because otherwise he would have shared it.
We chatted for a few minutes. I couldn’t help wondering what he would say if he knew I was going to Sebastian Cole’s house later today. That I’d been there before, with my dick inside him and his inside me. That he considered me a friend, which I couldn’t wrap my head around. Why me? Why would he choose me?