AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We’ve texted. He sent me that concert ticket. I have to have his number.
I type Carlton’s name into the search bar.
Nothing.
How could it––
Nero.
Obviously, it was Nero.
My phone starts to ring in my hands, and I nearly scream again, catching myself before I wake the dog again.
At this rate Nero won’t have to worry about how dangerous his world is, because I’ll surely die of a heart attack within the next three months.
“Hi!” I answer, my voice too bright.
“What’s wrong?” Nero’s voice is immediately on edge, and I sigh.
“Nothing. I was just startled by the ringtone.”
“Hmm,” he hums. “What are you up to today?”
“Not much.” I try my best to not sound ungrateful. “Played with Toto, who’s currently dead to the world. Read some. Picked out fabric to replace the perfectly good drapes in our bedroom.”
“That’s good.” Nero doesn’t ask me detailed questions about the fabric and I wonder if he’s having a bad day too.
“Everything okay with you?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
Oookay.Clearly, he doesn’t want to elaborate, which is fine. We talk every night, so I have a pretty good idea that he’s cranky because he’s not home yet.
“Can we find me a hobby when you get back?” The question sorta blurts out.
“A hobby?” His voice sounds a little more engaged, the idea of a hobby attracting his attention. “What were you thinking?”
“That’s the problem!” I slouch back into the couch, letting my head tip back until I’m blinking at the ceiling. “I don’t even know what my options are.”
“It’ll be okay, Payton. We can talk it through.”
“Well, that’s the thing too, I need someone to talk to. Because when you’re not here, I don’t have any friends.”
“I’m not yourfriend, Payton.” Nero uses his serious voice.
“I know, I know.” I wave him off even though he can’t see me. “You’re my best friend. But what I mean is, I don’t have anyotherfriends. And now that I’m not at work all day, I don’t have any human interaction. I mean Robert’s great. But he won’t ever just stay and talk to me. Because he’sworking.” I deflate a little more. “Sorry, I’m whining.”
“When I said I wasn’t your friend,” Nero’s voice is suddenly full of what can only be described as smugness. “I meant that we’re more than friends.”
“Oh. Well.” My cheeks start to heat and I’m glad he can’t see me. “You’re still my best friend.”
Nero lets out that rumble that vibrates in his chest when he’s feeling pleased. And it annoys me, because he didn’t tell me I’m his best friend back.
“Speaking of friends,” I snip. “I noticed you deleted Carlton’s number from my phone.”
There’s a beat of silence, and it suddenly feels as if Nero is here, in the room with me. His roiling, male energy so thick I can almost feel it. “You’re not seeing that prick again.”
“He’s pretty much my only friend!” I argue, not even sure why. I didn’t mind Carlton, but it’s not like I would actually have pursued a friendship with him.
