I see his significant look at Rowan, who catches on at once. “Of course! My treat. But only this time, guys. I can barely keep the shelves stocked this time of year as it is.”
“Thanks, man,” Dex says. “I’ll have one of those chocolate croissants.”
“Cinnamon roll for me,” I say.
We claim our pastries and drinks—black coffee for me, vanilla latte for Dex—and make our way to the least visible table in the restaurant, which is tucked between the frosted glass portion of the front windows and a shelf with a library of mismatched mugs that you can use for takeout coffee.
The table is tiny, and I’m suddenly aware of how close Dex is to me.
“Are we gonna do this or what?” he asks.
I turn toward him, and our knees knock together under the table. I quickly shift to the side to avoid touching him unnecessarily.
“Do what?” I ask innocently, even though I was the one who came up with this stupid dare. I really hadn’t thought it through. I was just thinking about how nice it would be to get a cup of proper coffee for once, not about the public humiliation that would result.
Dex leans forward and puts both hands on the table. “Are you chickening out?”
With a dramatic sigh, I shuffle my chair closer with a screech of metal against wood. Then I lay my hands in his.
I’m surprised by how not-weird this feels. Probably because I’ve gotten used to holding hands with a guy on our way to work.
“Look in my eyes, baby,” Dex croons.
I give him an evil glare.
“Is that the best you’ve got?” Dex asks. “I’m not even halfway convinced you deserve that cabin.”
“Well, it’s not exactly easy to fake it when you keep acting like a dick.”
Dex snorts. “How about this. I’ve got something that might distract you.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sick of living in that cramped house with too many of my cousins, so I asked my uncle if I’m allowed to stay in the cabin for now. He says I can’t have it by myself, but I’m allowed to dare you to move in with me. So.”
This takes me completely by surprise. “Is that an official dare?”
Dex gives me a searching look. “It is. I dare you to come live with me in the cabin.”
I haven’t lived with anyone since I left home. I’ve dated a couple girls, but we never got to the point where our lives started to overlap in significant ways, and I guess I’m a bit scared of commitment, because I was always wary of taking that next step. Of letting someone into my personal space.
“You scared?” Dex teases.
I am. I’m fucking terrified.
“I’m not sharing a bed with you,” I snap.
“I know. You can have a mattress in the living room.”
“Fine.”
Thankfully Rowan is here with our coffees, so I’m allowed to let go of Dex’s hands and lean away from him.
Rowan keeps glancing between the two of us as he sets down our breakfast.
“So you two really aren’t dating?”
“It’s another dare, asshole,” Dex says. “So you just shut up and walk right back into that kitchen and stop watching us like a total creep.”
