“It was a one-time thing. We haven’t spoken of it since and, as far as I know, no one knows.”
He flinched.
What the?—?
“Did you justflinch?” I hissed.
He scrubbed his face with his hands. “Kev knows.”
My mouth gaped, unable to say the profanities I wanted to. He sensed my rage, because he immediately tried to reassure me that Kev swore he wouldn’t say anything.
“But… Why?”
“I disappeared on him just after the fair and he saw me catching up to you.”
I rubbed the deep crease in my forehead, muttering more curse words.
Josh watched me process, probing in disbelief that I hadn’t shared what happened between us with anyone. “You didn’t tell anyone?” he pressed. “Not even Nora?”
I slowly shook my head, which earned his mocking pout that irritated me even more.
“Why not?” He pretended to be insulted, despite his lips twitching to a grin.
“Are you insulted that I didn’t tell anyone?” I couldn’t believe his arrogance.
“Yeah.” Josh shrugged. “If I’m honest.”
I blew out a breath. “I can’t even.”
“Okay. Now that that’s settled. Let’s figure out how to make this work.”
Settled? Work? “You’re insane.”
He leaned forward, grinning at me. “We’re friends, April. We can help each other out here. Give me one good reason why it won’t work.”
There were onethousandreasons. My insecurities crept up. To begin, Josh looked like he stepped out of a fitness magazine and I…I didn’t. I wasn’t shy about my body, but I wasn’t ready to be compared tohimand every fan looking to be Mrs. Davidson. Josh was also an ass, cocky, rude, and ruthless when it came to winning.
He sipped on his freshly delivered latte, watching me expectantly.
I huffed and added, “I’m not your type.”
He sat straighter in the chair; his eyes narrowed at me. “You’reexactlymy type.”
Rolling my eyes, I quipped. “Not according to your track record.”
“You’re my track record,” he deadpanned.
It was hard to argue that since he was right. “That was behind closed doors. Last I checked, it was the supermodels you took out in public.”
His jaw ticked. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. As much as I appreciated his offer and I needed it, I doubted we could pull it off. Josh and I were anunlikely match in the eyes of the people we were trying to fool.
“I appreciate your offer, but my answer is still no.” I sipped on my latte, avoiding his stare over the rim of his oversized cup.
“If you change your mind, I’m your man.” Something about the way he statedI’m your manmade my insides flip.
He dropped the topic, grabbed a book from a nearby shelf, and returned to the chair across from me. We sat in comfortable silence, indulging in lattes and pastries, reading against the window being pelted by the rain, and it was somehow the best coffee non-date I’d ever had.
When we had our fill and the rain slowed into a light shower, we walked home together. We chatted about the upcoming games and some strategies. Topics that felt safe to discuss. My head was swimming with possibilities. He’d offered exactly what I wanted and yet, I was too damn nervous to accept it.
