Chapter 5 #2
While I noticed her beauty first, I wasn’t interested in pursuing her.
When she approached me, asking for business advice and sharing that she would be moving to Roseville soon, I gladly took her under my wing.
Our business relationship morphed into a genuine friendship.
It was only recently that I started to wonder about us romantically.
Robyn poured the drink into glasses then handed one to me. “What is it that you want to know, Nadir?”
My cheek lifted into a half-smile. “When we met, you said it was bittersweet.”
“Bitter because I was slightly attracted to you for like two seconds.” She held up two fingers, emphasizing her point. “After getting to know you and seeing how easily we connected as friends, the crush ended. We met at a point in my life where I needed a friend like you. That’s the sweet part.”
I couldn’t help the smile on my face.
“You didn’t have any ulterior motives behind helping me start Brie mischief danced in her eyes. “Neither of us are ready for that conversation.”
“If you’re scared, just say that.”
“I’m terrified,” she said, tacking on an impish smirk that softened the blow of her rejection.
“Yeah, okay. We’ll tackle that subject another time.”
“Good because all I want to talk about is these good ass tacos.”
“They’re aight.”
“Right,” she droned.
The playful grin on her face made my chest tighten.
Everything about her ignited a visceral reaction in me.
I hated how affected I was by her these days.
Before it was easy to keep her in the friend zone box, but over the last couple of months, I found myself thinking about her more, yearning for her presence.
When we’re together, I want to hold her and kiss her pretty lips.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t realized I was still staring at her.
She widened her eyes and tilted her head, meeting my gaze with a fiery one of her own.
“Nadir, stop.”
My eyebrows wrinkled as I feigned innocence.
“You know what you're doing.”
“Do you want me to stop because you like it or…”
“Eat your food,” she said, cutting me off. The lilting warning in her tone was humorous, but I stifled my chuckles. Her eyes were fixed on me, daring me to laugh out loud.
“I’ll do whatever you want, Goldie.”
Robyn groaned before taking another bite of her taco. I smirked, then continued eating my food.