“Not even a handshake?”
“You know what I mean,” I said with a glare. “No touching me where you wouldn’t touch a family member. No arms or legs or chest. If you want to stay friends, you have to take this seriously.”
“Iamtaking this seriously.” Grey straightened. “And I accept your terms.” He held out his hand. “Friends?”
I looked at his hand for a long, ponderous moment before taking it in mine. A strange thunder of electricity coursed through my arm. Already it felt as if something had shifted. Instead of being vibrant and hot, it was dingy and dull. Maybe this would actually work.
“Friends,” I replied.
Chapter 12
It’s Fine, Everything Is Fine
“Someone’s in a better mood,” Kellan said when I walked into our apartment that evening. “You get laid or something?”
He was sitting on the couch in nothing but his boxers. His right leg was propped up on the coffee table next to a pizza box, and he held a PlayStation controller in his lap. On the TV screen, he was murdering zombie hordes.
“God, can you please put on some clothes?” I grabbed a shirt off the floor. A quick smell check told me it was good enough. “Especially if you’re talking about me getting laid.”
“Why? Does it turn you—hey!” he yelled in surprise as I launched the shirt at his head where it blocked his view of the screen. By the time he’d reached up to remove the article of clothing, he’d already been killed. “Thanks a lot!”
“Maybe you’ll learn to dress yourself,” I said.
Kellan glowered at me as he tugged the shirt over his head. “There, happy?”
“Better.” I set down my school stuff and joined him in the living room. “So, I have some news.”
“Uh-oh.” Kellan sat up and tossed aside his controller. “What did you do?”
I scoffed. “Ididn’t do anything.” I paused for a guilty beat then, “Grey did.”
“I think I’m going to need a drink.” Kellan got up and stalked to the kitchen. “You want a beer?”
Before I could answer, I heard the hiss of two bottles opening. I waited until he came back into the living room, handed me a bottle, and sat back down before continuing our discussion.
“All right,” Kellan said with a hefty sigh. “What is it now? I thought things were done after the barn party.”
“I thought so too.” I took a swig of my beer, hoping for a bit of liquid courage before the oncoming interrogation.
Kellan glared at me.
“Don’t look at me like that. I really did.”
“Okay.” Kellan held up his hands. “I believe you.”
“But he found me while I was working on homework today.” I took two more gulps of beer. “He said he wanted to be friends.”
“I’m confused. Didn’t he also say he had a crush on you?”
“Yes, but we’ve decided it would be best to try just being friends,” I said. “He’s not leaving Carina. I refuse to be a sidepiece, so it’s either leave each other’s lives completely, or be friends and stop thinking we’ll be anything more than that.”
“I need something stronger.” Kellan downed his beer then went back to the kitchen. He returned with vodka and a shot glass.
I watched him toss back a shot. “I think you’re being a little dramatic.”
“Ethan, I love you like a brother.” Kellan leaned forward to stare intently into my eyes. “And as a brother, I have to say this will royally fuck you in the end.”
I frowned. Knowing he was coming from a good place was the only thing that kept me from snapping at him. I knew it wasrisky, playing games with my heart, but I’d done the work to lay down ground rules with Grey.
