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“Don’t, Celia. You and I both know they could have done more.”
She shook her head, but he’d already climbed out of the truck, coming around to her side to open the door.
He grabbed her bag after she hopped down. “Owning this place was one of the reasons I didn’t suggest you stay with me. I thought it would be weird for you to come back here.” He unlocked the door, gesturing for her to go inside.
Celia glanced toward the other truck parked at the curb in front of the house. “Do you have a roommate?”
Malcolm sighed. “No. Blake wouldn’t leave me alone last night and slept on the couch.”
“I was worried about you, jackass.” Blake grunted as he pushed himself up from the couch. He had a bad case of bed head, his brown locks sticking straight up as he shuffled toward the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“It’s in there. I made some before I left.” Malcolm set her bag by the wall, following his friend into the kitchen to pull down some mugs. “Want some?” he called over his shoulder.
Celia felt a pang. She hadn’t had any since moving in with Trenton. “Sure.”
Malcolm made two cups, black for Blake and with cream and sugar for her. That was like him, remembering how she liked her coffee.
Celia glanced at Blake, who gulped down a large sip. “I’m sorry I made a scene last night,” she said.
Blake shrugged. “No worries. I cause scenes all the time.” He rubbed a hand over his rumpled hair with a yawn. “Did you and Trent work things out?”
Celia winced, looking away. “Not yet.”
Malcolm leaned back against the counter. “You left before he woke up, didn’t you?”
He really knew her too well. “I’ll talk to him soon. I need to apologize.”
Blake set his cup down on the table with a thump. “Look, he wasn’t saying you were crazy or any shit like that last night.”
“Blake,” Malcolm warned.
“No, I hate this type of misunderstanding bullshit. He was just scared because you were making him feel things he’s only felt with his wife. That was why he was talking about running away or whatever.”
Celia tried to process the words, but Malcolm looked just as confused. “What?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Blake said, shrugging. “It must have been the sex. Three years of abstinence isn’t normal.” He lifted his mug again, toasting in her direction. “I don’t know how you got to him, but way to go.”
Heat creeped into her cheeks at his wink. Then what Blake was hinting at settled into her chest. There was warmth from it, but also a sense of panic.
“Well, shit,” Malcolm said, closing his eyes. “I should have realized.”
“No!” Celia burst out, startling them both. Malcolm’s eyes softened, and he started to open his mouth to say something, but she shook her head hard. “It’s not like that between us. He promised me, no relationship. It was just sex.”
Blake snorted. “Trent would never be able to do that.”
She blinked at him. “But the other night, you said…” She trailed off as his smile widened.
“Well, one of you needed a nudge in the right direction.”
Malcolm straightened from the counter. “God damn it, Blake.”
Blake shrugged. “I’m not sorry. You’ve got to admit, they’re perfect for each other.”
Malcolm frowned. “I don’t have to admit to any such thing.” He paused when his phone rang. His frown deepened as he saw the number. “That’s strange.” Answering, he started walking toward the living room. “Katie?”
Blake stared after him.
Celia’s fingertips dug into her sides. “Listen, Blake, you’re wrong. I wouldn’t be good for Trenton at all.” She stared down at her feet.
