“Are you guys for real?” Adam asks, appalled. “He’s been pining for the woman foryears. They’ve steadily been becoming friends. The sex is off the chain. Why should he walk away?”
“Because she asked me to?” I answer, feeling more unsure with each argument they offer. Is Adam right? Am I getting schooled by my little brother?
“The key word beingasked. Past tense. A lot can change once the clothes come off. You should’ve just asked her.” Adam lowers his gaze for a moment, looking somber. “Trust me when I say that communication is key if you want to go the distance. Don’t let something minor get in the way of something great.”
“Baby bro!” Cory says, shocked.
“Again, I hate to agree with Cory,” Henry starts, dodging the used sweat towel Cory launches at him, “but that was deep, Adam. It’s the kind of thing a best man might say for a wedding toast.”
Adam’s expression turns smug, and the conversation devolves into bickering over who Henry should choose as his best man. It’s pointless—we all know Noah’s the obvious choice—but an arm-wrestling tournament as a tie-breaker would be fun. Or maybe a trivia night about all things Henry; winner gets to be best man.
I leave the park with no more answers than when I arrived, but I feel better. My brothers might have their own things going on, but they’re still there for me. And Adam’s right; Kendra and I need to talk.
Once I’m back at my apartment, I dial her number before bothering to shower.
“Hello?” she finally answers after the fourth ring. She sounds guarded even over the phone, but she still picked up, and I lean heavily against the back of my couch in relief.
“I, uh…,” I start, unsure what to say. “I wanted to call to…explain? Things felt really weird when I left last night, and I couldn’t let any more time pass before we talked about it.”
It’s silent for what feels like an hour before she responds.
“I—” she sighs. “I don’t know what to say, really. We had a great evening, followed by an amazing night, and then you left me naked in the living room.” Last night’s hurt is now laced with anger.
“See, in my mind,” I counter, “I wasn’t walking out on you so much as respecting your wishes. We laid out the ground rules before I even came over; I was just playing by them.”
“Playing huh?” she asks, sucking her teeth. “So, does that mean last night was a game to you?”
“No!” I demand. “Last night was…” I take a breath. Yelling won’t solve anything.
“Last night was incredible,” I continue, my voice calm. “Fireworks. Shooting stars. All that mushy shit. But I felt that way last time too, and then you rushed me out the door and said you didn’t want anything serious. How was I supposed to know this time was different?”
“Shit,” she groans, sounding embarrassed. “You left…so I wouldn’t kick you out again?”
It feels like a trap to admit she actually hurt my feelings last time. Men are supposed to grin and bear it, no feelings required. But if I’ve learned anything over these past months, it’s that she won’t judge me. She has my back, even when I don’t.
“Well…yes,” I confess. “But it wasn’t all bad. You did agree to be friends,” I say with only slight sarcasm. She groans again.
“Double shit. I sound like such a jerk,” she mutters, clearly frustrated with herself.
“You’re allowed to not be ready for something serious,” I offer, trying to comfort her. “You just came out of a marriage, after all.”
She laughs weakly.
“That may be true, but I didn’t need to take it out on you.”
“You didn’t,” I insist. I didn’t call to beat her up about it. I wanted to clear the air.
“So,” I hesitate, trying to keep my hope in check, “you wanted me to stay last night?”
“Yes!” she says adamantly. I can’t contain my smile. “If I’d had my way, you’d still be in bed with me right now.”
Ugh!Sexy as hellanda natural domme? How could I possibly resist?
“At the moment, I’m in desperate need of a shower. I could be down for lunch and a walk in the park tomorrow, though.”
I hear her smile through the phone, and feel right for the first time since leaving her apartment.
“I’d like that.”
