I groan. Fuck him. He can’t tell me he’s in the fucking shower. Now I’m just picturing that incredible body all wet and slick, and goddamn it. No, no, no, he’s not for me. It’s been two months of pining after him and it’s killing me. I sigh, telling my dick to calm the fuck down and be good, before I type out a reply.
Me: will do
“Okay, I’m off,” I tell Marble, turning to face her where she’s sitting on my bed, licking her paw. “See you later, queen.” I pet her quickly and then grab the gift I got for Peyton, before I head out of my apartment and across the hall to Bentley’s.
Just as I step inside and close the door, he steps out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Holy fuck, not good. Look away, Alex, look away! But I can’t stop staring. His body is fucking gorgeous. All that luxurious blond and brown hair is loose and falling around his face, water droplets dripping onto his toned pecs and sliding down to bead on his nipples before continuing to his six pack and disappearing underneath the towel.
“Hey, I’ll be ready in a few minutes,” he says, and I finally move my gaze to his eyes. Jesus, Alex, way to be subtle.
“Yeah,” I croak, then clear my throat. “Okay.” I take a seat on the sofa while I wait for him, beating myself up for being so fucking stupid. If I don’t want him to know that I find him insanely attractive and want to jump his bones, probably not a good idea to stare at him like he’s a slab of meat while fucking drooling. He’s so damn pretty. But his looks aren’t the reason I want him. He’s also kind, and tender, and so damn sweet. He’s caring, generous, thoughtful, soft, but also funny. He makes me laugh like no one everhas before. He loves my family, he adores Marble. He makes me happy in a way I don’t think I’ve ever been, just by being him.
“Ready,” I hear, and turn to see him standing there in tan colored chinos that hug his thighs and ass, a white button down, and a jean jacket. Damn, I still say he’d look amazing in a cowboy hat. He’s giving me all the sexy cowboy vibes right now, that silky soft hair up in a messy bun once more, his beard neatly trimmed. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to feel that beard against my skin, under my palms, against my cheek, between my thighs.
In his hand is a rather large gift bag which I am assuming has Peyton’s present in it; the blanket he’s been knitting for weeks now. It turned out amazing and I know she’s going to love it. My gift is a candle because Bentley says she’s obsessed with them.
I stand and we make our way to his car. It’s about a fifteen minute drive to the karaoke bar we’re meeting at and I do my best not to gawk at him the entire time. When we get there and make our way inside we spot Peyton sitting at a table, a handful of people already seated around her. She freaking squeals when she sees us and launches out of her seat, throwing her arms around Bentley like she hasn’t seen him in weeks even though they work together. Honestly it’s pretty cute how excited she is.
“Hey, handsome,” she says to me after letting go of Bentley. “Glad you could make it.”
“Me, too,” I say, and she beckons us to the table where we join the others. She makes introductions, telling us the three other people there, Sarah, Gabe, and Natalie, are from her book club, and I perk up at that. She squeals again when I start asking questions about it and she finds out how much I love to read.
“Omg, how did I not know this? We’re going to bebesties,” she tells me. “I’ll text you the info so you have it and you can decide if you want to come. It’s super chill.”
I notice a small smile on Bentley’s face. He seems relatively at ease, and seems to know everyone else at least a bit, but he’s also sitting between me and Peyton. I honestly don’t mind sitting next to a stranger, especially if it will make Bentley feel more relaxed.
Two more people show up in the next five minutes and the table is pretty packed now. There’s two women on stage singing a Taylor Swift song together and they aren’t bad. Plus they’re obviously having fun which is even better. It’s a lively place, and I can see why Peyton likes it. I also know that Bentley loves his friend because this is definitely not his type of thing, but he’s still here.
We order food and take time eating and chatting as more patrons make their way to the stage. When Peyton turns to Bentley and gives him puppy dog eyes and a pouty lip, saying “Please, best friend,” I wonder what on earth she’s talking about, and watch as Bentley flushes.
He grumbles and then slides out of his seat, and I turn to Peyton. “What’s going on?”
Her eyes go wide. “Oh, you didn’t know?”
“Know what?” I ask.
She grins. “Our boy can sing.”
I blink. What? How did I not know that?
“He’s good, too.”
I turn my attention back to Bentley as he makes his way onto the stage and picks up the microphone after saying something to the DJ.
I swallow when I hear the music forWhen You Say Nothing at Allby Keith Whitley start to play, and then Bentley opens his mouth and I fucking melt right there on the spot. Goosebumps erupt over my entire body as his voice fills the space. It's smooth and silky, like whiskey and sinas it washes over me, and I can’t look away. Holy shit, he sounds amazing. He closes his eyes as he sings, and I notice that the entire room is quiet except for him.
“Good, huh?” Peyton says, leaning closer to me with a huge smile on her face. I can’t speak, so I just nod, and then swallow when Bentley opens those big blue eyes and stares right at me.
Shit. If I wasn’t already smitten with this man I sure as fuck would be now. Stacy was a fucking moron to let him go.
I don’t even realize tears are sliding down my cheeks until Peyton whispers, “Hey, you okay?”
Fuck. “Yeah, of course,” I lie, wiping the tears away. I’m so screwed. And I have to do something to get my mind off of Bentley because I can’t keep doing this, waiting in the wings for something that will never happen.
Bentley gets a huge round of applause when he’s done and he’s blushing furiously when he makes his way back to the table, sliding into his seat between Peyton and me. She kisses his cheek.
“Thank you,” she says. “Best birthday present ever.”
I end up leaving shortly after, telling Peyton and Bentley I don’t feel well and I’ll catch an uber home. I can tell Bentley doesn’t like the idea but he lets me go.
