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“Look, I appreciate the concern, but it’s really okay. I’ve been friends with Tyler for the past couple of years. Yeah, I admit that I have a bit of a crush on him. But that’s all it is. A crush.”
I think back on my friendship with Tyler. It’s no secret that I’ve thought he was hot from the get-go. I mean, he’s the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. He’s just past six feet tall with the tan of a surfer and the leanly muscled physique of an Olympic swimmer.
And yeah, I was definitely smitten by his flirty nature. From the moment we met, he was constantly smiling, teasing, and complimenting me.
At first, I thought he might be into me…but then Becca and her boyfriend Gage warned me. Tyler is a ladies’ man. He’s never been a relationship kind of guy. He only ever dates casually and hooks up. They told me that if things ever got romantic between us, it was pretty much guaranteed that I’d get my heart broken.
I smile at Becca. “Tyler is hot and charming. Who wouldn’t have a crush on their hot and charming guy friend?”
She starts to smile. “Good point.”
“It’s all totally harmless, Bec. I swear.”
A family walks into the ice cream shop, and Becca and I turn to help them.
As we work, I can’t help but think about Tyler. I can’t lie to myself. A small part of me wishes that things were different…that in a perfect world, my best guy friend and I could actually have a shot at something romantic.
But then the logical part of my brain catches up.
No way. All it takes is one hook-up and that’s your entire friendship ruined. And it would never last. He’s a player, remember? Besides, if things ever got physical between you two, then he’d find out just how broken you are…and you don’t ever want him to know that about you…
A pang of sadness lands straight at the center of my chest. I feel myself start to wilt before I stand up straight and refocus on working.
Enough of these ridiculous thoughts. Tyler and I are just friends. We will always be just friends. And that’s perfectly fine.
I spend the rest of the work day silently repeating that to myself.
Chapter 2
Tyler
Istop the Se’bon work van at the traffic light and pull a U-turn. As I drive back in the direction of Sweet Cheeks, I shake my head. This is the second time I’ve forgotten my wallet after picking up an order from there.
But that’s what flirting with Tori does to me. It throws me off my game completely. It always has. It probably always will.
I huff out a breath, feeling my cheeks heat.
We’ve been friends for almost two years, and every time I see her, it goes like this. She flashes that gorgeous smile, and my brain turns to actual mush. She’s just so damn cute. And playful. And funny. And she can go tit for tat with me when I joke around. Everyone else gets annoyed with me for my ridiculous sense of humor. Not Tori though. She actually likes it, actually thinks I’m funny.
That’s attractive as hell…
Not to mention, she’s really fucking pretty. Beautiful, actually. That long, auburn hair, that dusting of freckles on her nose and neck and chest, right above the swell of her…
I huff out a breath, annoyed with myself that I’m having dirty thoughts about my best female friend.
I’m such a creep. Tori would probably be grossed out if she knew that I was thinking these thoughts about her.
There’s a weird squeeze in my chest when I think about just how badly I messed things up with her.
I think back to when we met and the first few times we hung out, how I liked her instantly. I could tell she had a bit of a thing for me too. I was even planning to ask her out, but then my brother Gage stopped me. Said that I had no business starting anything romantic with Tori. He said that given my romantic track record—specifically the fact that I’ve only ever done hook-ups and never actually dated anyone seriously in my entire life—Tori was off limits. He reminded me that his girlfriend Becca was Tori’s best friend and coworker, and that when I inevitably screw things up with Tori, it would make everything awkward in our friend and family group.
Even now when I think about it, I feel that familiar sting.
As hurt as I was to hear my younger brother say all that, I couldn’t be mad at him. Because he was right.
I guess this is what happens when you let your dick call the shots your entire dating life. Ever since high school, I was only ever interested in playing the field. Even just hearing the word “boyfriend” had me running for the hills.
But that was when I was young and immature and only interested in a good time with whoever was into me.
