Chapter 8 #2
“Why did you spend so much time at our house growing up?” I was determined to find out something. When I thought back to it, he spent every holiday at our house. I had never even noticed it at the time, it was only now I was beginning to see how unusual it was.
“I like your family.”
That wasn’t what I was expecting. He was side-stepping every attempt on my part to find out more about him.
“Why Jack?” he asked, taking me by surprise. “If you get to ask questions, so do I.”
“I liked him,” I answered with a one-arm shrug. “He said all the right things in the beginning.”
Maybe it was my need to have someone in my life that had pushed me to date someone who hadn’t made me feel the right thing.
Besides, the only guy I felt anything for felt it would be betrayal to his best friend.
It was all so confusing. How was I supposed to get it right when my heart belonged to the wrong guy?
“Maybe next time you should be a little more cautious. Don’t rush into things.”
“You’re starting to sound like my brother.”
“Then maybe you should listen to him.”
“Enough, Mark. You’re starting with another lecture. Besides, I’m not taking dating advice from the guy who wouldn’t know a relationship if it hit him over the head.”
“You’re lucky to have people who care about you.” There was a faraway look in his eye, like his thoughts had taken him elsewhere.
“But that doesn’t mean they get to tell me what to do.” I settled my hands on my hips.
My head throbbed. I rubbed my temple. I’d developed a slight headache from lack of food and sleep. It was late afternoon already and, other than the apple, I hadn’t eaten much.
“You ready to eat something?” He raised a challenging eyebrow.
“Yes,” I relented. There was no point in starving myself.
He went into the kitchen and I followed. He took some menus out of the drawer and put them on the counter.
“You choose and I’ll order.”
Feeling more ravenous, I sifted through the take-out menus and settled on pizza.
“Your usual?” he asked.
I nodded. That was the difference between us.
I knew very little about him and he knew so much—including all the little inconsequential details, like how I drank my coffee and what type of pizza I liked.
Was there something more to it or was that just how he was, noticing all the small things other people overlooked?
He placed the order while I watched. Every now and then he would shove a hand through his hair as he leaned against the counter.
It lifted his shirt and I got a glimpse of his taut stomach.
I swallowed. I didn’t have to imagine how it would feel because just the day before I had run my hands lightly over those same muscles.
He caught me staring and I felt the heat of embarrassment burn my cheeks. Nothing like lusting after someone who wasn’t going to do anything about it. That’s when I decided to leave the room to give myself some much-needed space from him.
Besides, I had to finish picking out the pictures for Marshall and send them to his mom.
I took a seat on the sofa, pulling my laptop onto my lap so I could finish going through the photos.
I rubbed my eyes before stifling a yawn.
When I heard Mark enter the room, I ignored him, determined to finish my work.
The muscles in my neck ached and I rubbed it while I sent the last of the photos to Mrs. Corbin. I sighed before shutting my laptop and moved it to the coffee table. Mark walked in with the pizzas and plates.
The delicious smell hit my nostrils and my stomach growled in response. I shifted to the edge of the sofa as Mark took the seat beside me and opened the pizza boxes. He handed me a plate.
“Thanks,” I murmured when our hands touched briefly, sending a shiver of awareness through me. It was like a touch of static electricity.
When he left to get us some sodas from the kitchen, I took a deep breath and released it to calm the effect he had on me. When he set down my favorite soda beside my plate of pizza, I frowned. “Am I that predictable?”
“I notice the little things. It’s what makes me good at my job.”
The pizza was divine, and I sighed when I took my first mouthful, closing my eyes briefly as I savored the taste.
“Good?” he asked.
I nodded, finishing the mouthful to take another bite.
If I believed things were awkward when I was just harboring feelings for him, it was a lot worse now that he knew about it.
This was going to be tough being around him while knowing we had no chance of making it past the kiss we had shared in the kitchen.
My toes curled at the memory. My cheeks flushed and I tried to think of anything else but the irresistible guy eating pizza beside me.
I finished two slices of pizza and I was stuffed. I wiped my mouth and hands with a napkin.
“That was awesome,” I said, filling the silence between us.
He nodded, finishing off the pizza he was eating .
His phone started to ring, and I watched as he stood to fish it out of his jeans. He frowned when he saw the caller ID. “I’ve got to take this.”
I nodded before he strode in the direction of the study.
I should have taken that chance to catch up on my emails but I was too curious about who the phone call was from.To keep myself busy, I moved the pizza back to the kitchen and threw away the empty cans.
It wasn’t long before Mark appeared in the doorway, wearing a leather jacket.
“I’ve got to go out.” He looked rattled. I wanted to ask but I knew whatever was going on, I would be the last person he would confide in.
“Sure.” I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I didn’t.
“Promise me that you won’t leave the apartment.” There was something in his voice that made me nod.
“Say it.”
“I promise I won’t leave the apartment.”
The tension eased from his features. “I might not be back for a while.”
“I’ll be fine.” I assured him so he wouldn’t worry about me. Whatever was going on needed his full attention.
I wanted to say something more but I didn’t. He left, and I stayed fixed to the spot as I listened to the front door close.