Kean tilted his head back as I reached the last few buttons, Adam’s apple bobbing.
“I guess so. It’d be … nice if someone I liked bid on me.”
“Yeah,” I said with a nervous chuckle, fingers shaking as I finished the last button. “That’d be nice.”
Kean’s hand wrapped around mine, holding them against his chest and tilting his chin down to look at me.
“Would you bid on me?”
My brain was no longer forming coherent thoughts. Instead it was just playing TV static.
“If I had the money … maybe.”
“Maybe?” He squeezed my hand tighter, one eyebrow lifting.
“Well, bidding starts at 500. So …” I trailed off, visions of Kean’s ass dancing around my head like cartoon stars.
“You have my card.”
I heard a gasp from the couch, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Kean to see which of the boys reacted. It didn’t really matter, all that mattered was that Kean was hot and sweet and I think he just said he liked me in a roundabout way. I was suddenly a teenager, picking up on the vibe that my crush was trying to make a move but was too nervous to actually say the words. And if I just initiated, just took one more step, I’d get what I wanted.
Except maybe that sort of behavior was just reckless impulsiveness. Maybe those decisions are all connected to how I’m never taken seriously.
Or maybe they’re unrelated.
I wanted them to be unrelated.
“I guess,” I started, voice shaky. “If you’re in trouble, I could do that.”
“If I’m in trouble?” he repeated and I nodded. His eyes narrowed, looking into mine, searching for something. I don’t know what he saw, if he could see anything beyond the nerves and heat, but he eventually nodded and let go of my hand.
Kean went back to the changing room, leaving the door open as he put on the suspenders, tie, and jacket. I stood there, feet like lead, and watched him dress like it was the last thirty seconds of the World Cup. Every second, every movement, was important.
“Does it look all right?” Kean said, turning back to face me, straightening out his jacket collar.
And fuck, the heat between my thighs was too hot handle. HowdareKean look so good in a suit? It should actually be illegal to look like that. To have thighs that made the fabric of his slacks conform tohim. Seriously, if I ever got on my knees for this man, my teethwillbe sinking into those legs.
“Yeah. Looks great.” My voice was a pitch too high and I turned on my heel so Kean didn’t see the way my face reddened. “I’ve gotta go, but if you leave it at your place, I’ll come by and take it to the dry cleaners. And … yeah, see you later.”
Then I got the fuck out of there.
An Addendum to the Plan
Olli
After Kodi ran out of the shop, I turned to Brooker and Taylor, speechless. I thought it was going well. I thought I gave her just enough context to understand and not get spooked.
And yet she literally ran out of here with as much speed and panic as when she pushed me out of her room.
“What did I do wrong?” I asked them.
“Well, having her open the door with your ass out probably didn’t help,” Brooker said.
“My ass wasn’t out,” I argued.
“Dude, boxers don’t count as coverage in these situations,” Taylor said. “This isn’t a locker room, she didn’t expect to see your ass like that when she opened the door.”
“Kean, have you ever lived with a woman other than your mother?” Brooker asked and I shook my head. He looked back to Taylor with a knowing glance. “That explains a lot.”
