AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey.” I nudge him. “What’s wrong?”
His mouth twists as if he’s trying to find the words. “You don’t just like me for my face, do you?”
Damn it, I shouldn’t have said that.
“No. I mean, you’re gorgeous Lucas, but you’re also my best friend. When we were kids, you were so cute and sweet, and you’re still like that, deep down. I saw it when you ate my burned pancakes and when you helped those kids play volleyball.”
Lucas looks at me. “My dad used to say I was a difficult kid.”
“Are you kidding? You were the opposite. You were the kindest. Maybe you’re difficult now, but…I still like you.”
He shifts in his seat. “But why?”
“I just told you why. You’re usually so arrogant, and now you can’t believe me when I say I like you. Do you think I kiss you for the hell of it?”
His gaze flicks down. “You’re so decent, Charlie. I’m not a good person.”
“I’m not as decent as you think I am. I lose my temper, I get resentful, I’m constantly doubting myself. Okay, fine, sometimes you’re mean. But you’re not a pushover. You don’t take people’s bullshit, and you don’t care about what others think, and you do what you want, and sometimes, I wish I could be more assertive like you.”
“You’re assertive with me.”
“Yes, well… It’s because I’m comfortable with you.”
After a moment, he nods. “I want to be your boyfriend,” he says, sometime later.
I smile, my insides turning gooey. “Good.” I love his rare earnest moments. It clashes against the image he projects out to the world, with his frowns and eyes that glare daggers.
When he says those heartfelt things, it’s only for me.
*
One day to go.
We have our final exams tomorrow afternoon, and the knowledge that I’m so close has renewed me with energy to push through the last stretch of studying.
We stand side by side at the sink. He washes, and I dry and put away the dishes and cutlery we used for dinner. And usually I hate chores — god knows I do at home — but with him it feels fun.
“I need to take a shower after this,” I think aloud. “Then I’m going to try and complete a practice exam before bed. I should try and sleep about…let’s think…ten?”
“You’ve been taking a lot of showers this week.”
“Yeah, it’s this thing called hygiene. Ever heard of it?” I bump my hip against his teasingly. Lucas always smells incredible.
“Long showers,” he adds, raising a brow at me.
That’s all it takes for me to turn tomato red. “Shh. I need to focus my mind, you know?”
“Mm-hmm.” He passes me a saucepan.
I take it and dry it with the towel. “How did you even know about that anyway? I was so embarrassed when you found out.”
“Every guy wanks. It’s not like it was a Sherlock Holmes level deduction.”
“No, I mean…”
I recall his words from the day I returned to Melbourne.
I’ve seen the toys you’ve accidentally left in the shower.
