“Mom has a bookshelf she promised to pick up for a friend, and it won’t fit in Kit’s car.It will fit in my station wagon, though.”
“It’s okay.I can ride my bike.”
“Don’t be silly.”Dandy shakes his head.“You’re not riding in the dark.”
I rode to work today and was planning on leaving my bike chained out back, but I can ride home.It’s not an issue.
“Dandy,” I deadpan.“I’m not afraid of the weirdos…”
“’Cause we are the weirdos!”Dandy finishes off for me while we burst out laughing.“But seriously, I would feel better if Kit drove you home, and that’s saying something.”
With a sigh, I agree.“Fine.”
We finish cleaning up and getting the shop ready for tomorrow.Dandy is balancing the register while I refill the napkin holders.I’m doing this to keep busy and avoid making small talk with Kit.
Kit sits at the counter, scrolling through his phone.As he is preoccupied, I take a moment to look at him, something I don’t usually do because it feels weird.It’s been an unspoken rule between Dandy and me that his brother is off-limits—not that I would ever go there.
But looking at Kit unguarded, I can see what the hype is about.
The boy who gave me a ride home when we first met is now a grown man.He’s tall, his shoulders remain broad, and he clearly has well-defined muscles.He’s also gotten more tattoos, including some on his fingers.
He keeps his hair longer on the top, while the sides are cut shorter.The top curls gently, falling over his brow.
His attire just adds to his bad-boy reputation, one that I doubt he even knows about.That’s what happens when the girls around town start talking.Whether what I’ve heard is true or mere speculation, I don’t know.What I do know is that Kit Rivers doesn’t give a fuck about what others think, and I am kind of envious of that.
Kit Rivers is the definition of the bad-boy stereotype.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been staring for, but it’s long enough for Kit to notice because when I stop studying him, I realize he’s looking at me with a lopsided smirk on his stupid face.
Has that dimple always been there?And why do the fluorescents have to bring out the incredible amber in his eyes?
I can’t pretend I wasn’t just caught staring, so I meet his eyes, arching a brow in a silentwhat are you gonna do about it?
This is the ultimate stare-off because neither of us will budge.If he thinks I scare easily, then he has another think coming.
I am annoyed by him, but I also feel some foreign feeling in the pit of my stomach.I feel like I want to vomit.
I’ve never experienced this before.So I am confused by it.
I don’t like it.
I look away first.
“Soooo…” Dandy says, “can you wait a few minutes while Kit helps me move the boxes from my car?”
I nod, words escaping me after whatever the fuck that was with Kit.
Kit coolly slides off the stool with that damn smirk still painted on his stupidly handsome face.He and Dandy exit from the front door.Once they’re outside, I grip the edge of the counter, bend low, and take three deep breaths.
Whatwas that?
Suddenly, anxiety creeps in, and I know being alone in a car with Kit is a bad idea.
I grab the notepad and scribble a note to Dandy.
Rode home.
Don’t follow.
