“It’s fine.” He waved his hand at me. “I didn’t mind picking you up. Plus, how were you supposed to know I’d become an old man?”
“You were, though.” I groan and put my head down on the counter. A warm hand presses between my shoulder blades and rubs small circles on my back. I bite my lips to keep from making any sounds.
“I’m glad you called. I would much rather be woken up than find out you spent the night outside in the freezing rain.”
I didn’t dare move. My skin tingled under his touch. It’d been a while since I’d been close to anyone who wasn’t part of my family. That’s my only explanation for the sparks shooting through my body each time his thumb ran a circle over my back.
“Plus, it means I can go shopping with you today.”
I sit up and look at him. I hold his gaze for a fleeting moment. I remember the soft, gentle look on his face from childhood. I melt under his attention. The way he looks at me like I’m the only thing he can see. “Okay. Let’s go shopping.”
Chapter Six
NATHAN
“It’snice to see a couple so invested in the pieces they’re picking out.” The saleswoman smiles at me as Colt flips through fabric samples.
“Oh, we’re not—” I struggle to find the right words.
“I’m sorry. I assumed you were a couple.” Worry spreads across her face as she turns a bright shade of purple.
“No problem.” Colt waves her off and goes back to flipping through the fabric swatches.
I gape at him momentarily before turning my attention back to the salesperson. She gives me a knowing look and a nod. Maybe I’m not as subtle as I think. Great. I swear everyone at our high school knew about my crush on Colt. Well, except for Colt. At least until I kissed him. His lack of awareness allowed us to maintain a friendship over those years. Maybe it’ll let us rekindle one now.
“What do you think of this one?” He holds out the booklet to show me a dark gray swatch with flecks of white and black throughout.
“It’s a little bland.”
“If I let you have your way, I’d end up with something bright pink.” He flops on the model couch we’re looking at, tossing the samples aside. My clothes are a tad big on him, but the look suits him well. He pulls it off and makes it look like part of a trend rather than someone playing dress up. Even wearing one of my hats—because he deemed his hair unmanageable—his deep features are apparent.
“First of all”—I sit next to him and pick up the swatches—“pink is amazing. Second, I would never force that on you.” I leaf through the various colors until I find the one I want. “What about something like this? It has a bit more character while still being neutral.” The one I hold up is a lighter gray with subtle multicolored flecks. It matches everything but isn’t extravagant. He’s right; I tried to tone down the big pieces in my home. But, given complete freedom and a lack of caring about others’ opinions, my whole place would be done in bright colors.
“What if I say no and go with a standard black?”
I gasp. A big, mischievous grin spreads across his face. “That’s just mean.
“You thought I was serious for a second, didn’t you?”
“Nope.” I shake my head and toss the swatches back on the showroom couch.
“Come on, Nathan. You can admit it. You thought I might want a boring, black couch.”
“You’ll never prove it.” Colt grabs my arm and pulls me toward him. I fall onto his lap, my body draped over his thighs. I stare at him, those big brown eyes I still dream about.
“What if I torture the truth out of you?” He shifts slightly to move his hands out from under me. His right-hand rests on my upper thigh and burns into my skin. I swallow and try to maintain my composure. I need to think about anything else. Anything to get my mind off how close he is to my dick. The lastthing I need is for the salesperson to come back to find us in a compromising position and me with an erection. Or worse, for Colt to feel it.
Instead of answering him, I roll off with a heavy groan, landing on my hands and knees on the floor. It looks like I’m trying to escape, and honestly, I am. It’s too much contact. I want to be his friend, but while my mind is on board with thejust friendsplan, my body hasn’t gotten the memo. “Okay, so I think this is the one. Let’s take a few pictures so you remember later when you are online.” He takes my change of topic in stride and pulls out his phone to capture the details on the couch tag and color. I’m not sure he’ll go through with it, but I like the idea of something in his place reminding Colt of me.
“I can’t manage more shopping until we get some food.”
“I made you french toast for breakfast.”
“That was hours ago, and shopping makes me hungry.”
“Okay, there are plenty of places around here. Let’s find somewhere before you get cranky.” He feigns hurt over my words, but the sparkle in his eye gives him away. “Unless you’ve changed a lot, I suspect you still go from hungry to hangry in a few minutes. I donotwant to be on the other end of that.”
“In that case, we have about five minutes remaining.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I stiffen before relaxing into his touch. Yep, I’m killing it at this whole just friends thing.
