Page 12 of Never Forget

I’m not sure that Scott was much of a romance enthusiast before he started having to follow me around. He started asking for recommendations one day when he noticed I usually pack a handful of paperbacks and always have my e-reader on standby. He’d ask so many questions about what I was reading that I just fell into sharing with him, or he’d interrupt my audiobooks so often that I started just handing him one of my earbuds so he could listen along. For whatever reason, it’s not as annoying as it should be. I was never much for buddy reading, but he keeps up and always keeps the conversation interesting.

And then there’s the stuff that happens when what I’m reading is on the spicier side and he gets all boned up. That’s pretty fun. I may or may not have picked up a series called Leather and Lattes so we could act out some of the scenes, but it got a little too real when one of the main conflicts hit a little too close to home. Now Scott likes to joke that I’m going to fall in love with him against my better judgement, and I can’t quite tell if he’s trying to tease me or assure me.

“Anyone want another beer?” Scott asks, standing and picking up the empty bottles from the table. He counts all the raised hands and walks back into the house, depositing the bottles in the recycling on the way. The entire time, he avoids eye contact, going the long way around the fire pit so as to not get too close.

I can’t decide if he’s upset that I slept on the couch last night, or if he realizes we crossed a line yesterday morning and is trying to give me space. I suppose it could be a little of both.

“So how’s that going?” Shawna asks, watching me watch Scott disappear into the house.

“How’s what going?”

“You are so full of shit.”

I like Shawna. She’s Luc’s best friend, but since we met her, I’ve kind of claimed her for myself. We have a mutual love of all things smut and sarcasm. But while I like Shawna a lot, I also kind of hate her because she’s easily the most direct and invasive human being on the planet. The girl pulls zero punches and does not bullshit.

“How’s AJ?” I asked pointedly, trying to change the subject.

“Why would I know? Ask Luc.”

“You know that man has it bad for you, right?”

“Please, I would break that boy in half.”

“He’s twice your size.”

“—Snap his spine like it was nothin’…”

“Uh-huh. What about Dez Carter? Or was it Alonso? Are they related, or is it just coincidence that they’re both gorgeous and share the same last name and have both been witnessed sniffing around you like they’ve scented their fated mate?”

“Are you slut shaming me to get out of talking about you and Scott?”

“What is with everyone this week?” I throw up my hands. “There is no me and Scott.”

Shawna lifts an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.

Tilting my head back, I groan at the darkening sky. “Okay, obviously there’s something going on there, but it’s just a physical thing. A simple exchange. Nothing more.”

She mouths the word exchange like it’s foreign, then lurches forward in her seat. “Wait wait wait wait wait… This wouldn’t have anything to do with your sudden interest in BDSM books, would it?”

“What? No. Mind your business.”

“Oh my God, you’re blushing!”

“I am not.”

“Nazli Marianna Lester, you’d better fuckin’ spill or I’m going to cause a scene.”

“The fuck? That’s not my name.”

“Stop deflecting.”

Exactly two point four seconds go by before Shawna starts overdramatically shoving her feet into what I’m pretty sure are a pair of Luc’s slides, and heaving herself out of the excessively reclined Adirondack chair.

“Oh, sit the fuck down, woman. Jesus you’re nosey.”

“Come on, Naz. You know you wanna tell me.”

“I really don’t. It’s none of your business or anyone else’s.”