And I didn’t know how to be one of them.
I stepped back.
“I shouldn’t have come,” I croaked.
“Luka, what is it?”
I shook my head, unable to release the words.Does this mean as much to you as it does to me?Then I realized I had to give him some kind of answer.
“Nothing.”
His expression sharpened. “It isn’t nothing.”
I looked toward the desk again.
That was all it took.
“Oh.” The sound carried equal parts disbelief and exasperation. “Luka.”
I kept my eyes on the floor.
“That’s what this is about?”
I jerked my head up.
Dean stared at me, his eyes wide. “You saw those, didn’t you?” He gestured to the desk, then let out a breath that sounded like sheerfrustration. “Jesus…” He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck, pacing up and down in the limited space as if he needed the movement just to get his thoughts in order. “One of the guys shoved them at me earlier. Village restock. He thought he was doing me a favor.” His gaze snapped back to mine, steady and intense. “Is that really what you think? That I’d kiss you like that—” His voice caught on the word, as though even saying it out loud still landed somewhere new “—and then turn around and plan to invite someone else over?”
The question hit me in my gut.
He shook his head. “You’ve got me all wrong.”
I stopped breathing for a second.
“I don’t know what this means yet,” he admitted.
The tightness in my chest eased a little.
“I don’t know what box it fits in.”
Despite the butterflies in my stomach, I forced out a laugh. “Very romantic.”
“Give me a second.” Dean scrubbed a hand through his hair. “This isn’t about me trying to figure out whether I like men.”
I stared at him. “It isn’t?”
“No.” Dean blinked, as though hearing the answer aloud for the first time. “Actually, no.” He stepped closer. “It’s about you.”
For a moment I could only look at him.
“What I do know is that I haven’t spent the last two weeks thinking about every guy I walk past.”
I couldn’t hold back my smile. “I am relieved to hear that.”
“So am I.” His amusement faded, and he held my gaze. “It’s you, Luka.”
For a moment I couldn’t think of anything to say.
He took another step, close enough now that I could feel the heat of him again.
