“You already know he’ll love the idea, Ash.”
“Exactly. Even more reason for us to do it.”
When we step inside, we’re greeted by a basketball game on the wall-mounted TV. Two grown men in jerseys shout at the screen as the door falls closed behind us. Their hollering bounces off the floor-to-ceiling windows at another bad call.This has to be another setup. I glare at Kayla suspiciously, and she shrugs, evading my eyes while she hangs her bag on the hook by the door. Without a word, she walks across the maple hardwood and perches on the gray sofa arm. Chase instantly reaches around her waist, pulling her onto his lap like the doting fiancé he is.
“Are we winning?” I ask once I reach the couch.
Trevor pops his head out from behind the other two with a smile. “Hey! You like basketball?”
“Basketball, football, it all came with the territory.” I walk around the couch, arms settling across my chest when I stop next to him.
“Did you play…?”
“Cheerleader.”
Trevor stands, motioning for me to take his seat. The jolt that zings up my arm as I brush past him is certainly welcome.
“Hey, Trev.” Kayla smirks at her phone, clearly avoiding my scrutiny. “You staying for dinner? I’m ordering Mexican.” She knowsIknow what she’s up to. I glance at Chase, and he mouths the wordstold youbefore moving his attention back to the game.
“Sounds good.” Trevor tucks his hands in his pockets and turns back toward the TV.
“Well since you’re staying, you might as well sit back down.” I scoot to the middle, but with the other two next to me, it only leaves a narrow space for him to squeeze into. The heat of his thigh smashed against mine sends my lower lip between my teeth. When he slides his arm across the back of the couch out of necessity, the spiced orange and clove notes on his skin tempt me to curl into him. I don’t, but it’s like being snuggled up next to a warm holiday TV special.
After dinner,I take up residence in the kitchen, tackling the dishes. I have an early morning flight, so the least I can do is handle cleanup tonight. I’m elbow deep in hot soapy water when Trevor comes over, dish towel in hand.
“Need any help?” he asks. “I’m pretty good at drying.”
“Is anyone ever bad at that? It’s the easiest part.”
He grabs a plate from the drying rack, brushing my arm in the process. My cheeks heat, and he gives a knowing smile. “You got me there…”
“So, you’re from the Midwest?” I ask, hoping the shake in my voice isn’t obvious.
“Yep, Nebraska.”
“Nebraska has Black people?”
“A few.” He chuckles, and it puts a smile on my face. “Heritage has more than other small towns in the area. Still hated it though.”
“Too much corn?” I tease. That earns another laugh as he swipes the towel over the plate in his hand.
“You’d think, but no. I got tired of being around the same people all the time. Everyone acted like we lived in some perfect little bubble where learning about the real world was unnecessary. I tried to go back when I got out of the Coast Guard, but I couldn’t stand it. California is good for me.”
Attractive and genuine?Yes, please! With my track record, it’s refreshing to have a conversation with a guy who actually seems interested. We stare at each other for several seconds before I snap out of it and look back into the greige dish water. “They planned this, you know…” I jut my chin toward our friends snuggled up on the couch.
“I do know. I asked them to.”
My eyes snap to his, and the smile on his face has fallen into a cute little crooked grin. “Oh?”I raise an amused brow. “Why’s that?”
“Because I want to get to know you.” His deep voice scatters tingles through me, and I glance away.
“Do you, now?” Plunging my hands back into the water, I fish around for the last few utensils. My heart thumps from his forwardness, but I’m not sure if I’m nervous or excited.
“Very much.” He steps closer, giving me a clear view of the green scattered through his hazel eyes. “I’ll be in LA for New Year’s. I know it’s a couple of months away, but can I take you out?”
Pause.Planning a date for two months from now?Who does that?What’s his motive? This is the kind of early enthusiasm men hook me with all the time. I consider saying no, but then I catch a glimpse of my friends watching us from the couch. Kayla shoots me an obvious look with her eyebrows, while Chase gives a sly thumbs-up. They think Trevor would be good for me. Something inside me wants to trust that.What if he’s the “something new” I’ve been looking for?
“Yeah, I think that would be fun,” I say with a smile.
