Page 42 of My Brother’s Best Friend

I grimaced. Two nights ago, I’d been convinced mindless, nameless, irresponsible sex was what I wanted. But now? Now, Cam had gotten so deep inside my head and heart that the idea of hooking up with anyone else was just depressing.

But I was the one who’d suggested meeting up again. I couldn’t very well back out now, especially when I was the one who’d missed last night. I’d just have to go and explain things in person.

MILLER: Yeah, sounds great

I sighed and put my phone away.

“Uh oh, what’s that face for?”

My head snapped up, and I saw Aiden and Nolan walk into the coffee shop. Nolan looked kind and concerned, as usual. Aiden, on the other hand, was grinning evilly.

“What face?” I asked, flushing a little.

“The one that looks like someone’s about to swing a sledgehammer at your kneecaps,” Aiden said.

“Maybe not your kneecaps,” Nolan clarified. “Maybe just a finger. Or your pinky toe.”

“Big toe, at least,” Aiden countered. He looked at me. “What happened? Did one of your shameless hookups turn into a candlelit dinner with a deep discussion of your hopes and dreams?”

“Why would that make him grimace?” Nolan asked. “There’s nothing wrong with a nice dinner and conversation. I happen to love eating by candlelight.”

“Yeah, but when all you want to eat is someone’s ass? When all you want them to talk about is what a slut you are?” Aiden arched an eyebrow, and Nolan laughed.

“Fair enough.” Nolan looked at me. “Just because Aiden’s a degenerate, though—” Aiden elbowed him in the ribs, and he amended, “I mean, just because Aiden and I are degenerates, doesn’t mean you have to be. If someone’s asking you to dinner, I think that’s really sweet.”

I couldn’t help laughing. “Sadly, it’s the opposite. I have to tell a hookup that I don’t want to hook up, because I want to take someone else to dinner instead, only I embarrassed myself so spectacularly in front of that guy this afternoon that there will be no dinner, in addition to there being no hookup, and basically, I should just throw myself into the harbor.”

“Oh, boo.” Aiden pouted. “That’s the worst of all possible outcomes.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Unless, you know, you threw yourself into the harbor, then climbed out all shivery and wet, and both hookup guy and dinner guy took one look at you and realized they wanted to put their differences aside and double-team you,” he said thoughtfully. “Then it might be okay.”

I snorted. “Hookup guy and dinner guy don’t even know each other. And I would very much like to keep it that way. Honestly, the sooner I can get off this island, the better.”

“Wait, really?” Nolan’s eyebrows rose. “What happened this afternoon that was so embarrassing?”

“And what happened to hot, mindless, anonymous sex?” Aiden put in. “When we said we would come back for details, these were not the kind of details I had in mind.”

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it turns out, when given the choice between anonymous sex or hopeless crushes, my brain chooses the latter every time. And once I have a hopeless crush, anonymous sex seems way less tempting.”

“But I don’t get it,” Aiden said. “We talked to you two days ago. How could you develop a crush that fast?”

“Technically, I developed the crush like, twelve years ago. I just hadn’t seen the guy in a long time. But I guess those feelings never really died.”

“Why is it hopeless, though?” Nolan asked. “Was whatever happened this afternoon really that bad?”

“I don’t know, you tell me. How embarrassing is it to moan like you’re getting fucked in the ass when your crush accidentally brushes against you while fixing some plumbing? And that’s not a euphemism, by the way. That’s literal, actual plumbing.”

“Well, that’s not great, but—”

“And your crush is straight.”

“Okay, not ideal, but still—”

“And his grandparents are in the room too.”

“Yikes. Are you sure they—”