Page 114 of Lucky Mother Pucker

Anna looks down at my hands on Lucy’s waist and pulls her lips into her mouth, like she’s trying not to laugh. “Sure you did.”

She rests her hands on her hips. She looks between Lucy and me again before focusing on me.

“So my friend Danielle is here,” Anna says. “She likes you.”

I lean back, surprised. “Oh…”

Anna points out a tall blonde in a skimpy pink dress. She’s definitely pretty. But I’m not interested.

I pull my hand from Lucy’s waist and rub the back of my neck, trying to think of a way to decline this without sounding like an asshole.

“Danielle is really interested in you,” Lucy says.

I glance down at her. She’s gnawing at her bottom lip, like she’s nervous.

“Um, okay?” I’m confused. Why does it feel like she’s trying to get me to go out with this random girl?

“You should go out with her,” Lucy says softly, like she’s making herself say this.

I shake my head in confusion. “What are you…Wait, why?”

“Because you’re single and she’s single, and she thinks you’re hot,” Lucy says.

I grab her by the waist with both hands. “Lucy. I’m not interested in her.”

That sad look in her big, blue eyes fades. “You’re not?”

“No. I don’t want anyone except…” I stop myself before I say what I shouldn’t say. Because we’re friends, and we can’t cross this line.

“Well, it sounds like you two have some things to talk about,” Anna says.

We both look over at her. I forgot she was standing here.

“Sorry, I…Look, I’m sure your friend Danielle is great, but I’m not interested.”

Amusement flickers in her eyes as she looks between us. “No worries. Forget I asked. It’s not a big deal at all,” Anna says.

When she walks off, I turn back to Lucy.

“Why did you push so hard for me to go out with that girl?”

Lucy shrugs. “I just thought it was the right thing to do,” she says shyly. “We’re friends, right? We should help each other get lucky. Hook up.”

Her words hit like a punch to the gut. I don’t want to hook up with anyone but her. And if we can’t hook up, I’d rather not do it at all.

I hold her gaze and pull her closer against me.

“I don’t want you to hook up with anyone, Lucy.”

Her eyes widen. Her pretty pink tongue traces along the seam of her lips. Just seeing her do that makes me ache.

“Does that make me a bad friend?” I ask.

I know the answer. Of course it does. I’m a shitty friend because I don’t want Lucy to be with any guy but me…and if I can’t have her, I’m sure as shit not going to help some other guy get with her.

It’s all sorts of messed up, but it’s the truth. It’s this weird limbo we’re in. We’re attracted to each other. We both want each other. But we’re not willing to put our friendship at risk to cross that line.

Her chest heaves with the breath she takes. “You’re not a bad friend, Leo.” She swallows. “I don’t want you to hook up with anyone else either.”