Except there are times when my crush flares up. Like when he does something especially swoon-worthy and sweet. Like tonight, when he pretends to be my boyfriend to get rid of a guy who won’t take a hint. And like freshman year of high school when my first boyfriend and I broke up, and Blake took me out for tacos to cheer me up.
I get these tingles all over my body, and my skin feels hot. My heart beats faster in my chest. I’m totally overwhelmed by how much I like him.
So I try to counteract it because I know he doesn’t like me in that way. I’ll tell him how much his friendship means to me. Or I’ll say that he’s like a brother to me.
Even though he’s not. Not even close.
I just say that to remind myself that Blake isn’t interested in anything romantic with me. He just wants to be my friend.
We walk up to the taco truck and get in line. When it’s our turn to order, I greet the guy in Spanish.
“Could I have two carnitas tacos, please? With extra onion and cilantro too?” I say in Spanish.
His brow raises like he’s impressed. “Yeah, of course. Your Spanish is great, by the way.”
“Thank you. I’m majoring in Spanish at Hollis. And French.”
He turns away and hollers something to the cook in the back. I chuckle.
“What did he say?” Blake asks.
“He said, ‘This blonde girl speaks better Spanish than you do.’”
Blake laughs, then turns to the guy to order.
“Could I get ten steak ranchero burritos, please?”
The guy’s eyes go wide. “Sorry, how many?”
“Ten, please.”
He speaks quickly to the guy in the back before turning back to Blake. “We have enough to make three. That okay?”
Blake just laughs. I’m laughing too.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” Blake says.
He pays with his credit card, and we step off to the side to wait for our food. I hand him cash to pay for my food and his, but he shakes his head.
“Blake, come on. Take it.”
“Nope.”
I tilt my head at him. “You’re already letting me stay at your place for free. At least let me pay for this.”
He crosses his arms over his broad chest. My gaze snags on his forearms. So thick and muscular with a million veins popping out…
“I’ve got it, Briar. Put your money away.”
My tummy flips at the slight growl in his low tone. His voice doesn’t normally sound like this. So…rough. And bossy. I like it.
“Okay. Thank you,” I say softly as I put my cash back in my pocket.
As we stand on the sidewalk, I think about how this is yet another thing that makes Blake irresistible. His generosity.
He’s been letting me stay in his bedroom for free while I hunt for a new apartment after the place I was supposed to move into fell through.
I think about when I called him sobbing after ending things with my ex-boyfriend, Logan.
