Page 25 of Detour

“You’re right.” Coty drops his head, then lifts it again meeting my eyes. “I was irritated and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.”

I buy some time glancing around at the various windows all draped in different coverings.

“You should be. You were completely out of line.” I pull a long breath. “But, going forward I think we should keep things cordial. We’re neighbors and I don’t want things to get messy.”

He tilts his head slightly, practically whispering, “What if I want messy?”

“Haven’t you ever heard the expression ‘don’t shit where you eat’?”

I expect him to laugh, instead he leans in even closer and says in a husky voice, “Yes, but I’ve got a big appetite.”

My face heats as I run my gaze down his body remembering what it felt like to be wrapped snugly around it. His dark hair is slightly wavy and looks like he just ran his hands through it. He’s wearing a plain white tee giving him a casual look. It’s slightly baggy but still clings to his lean muscles in all the right places. His slim waist tapers down to gray athletic pants with a hint of his boxers peeking out of the top. How he makes a simple outfit look so sexy, I don’t know.

Wetting my top lip, I say, “I bet you do, but some things aren’t on the menu.”

I climb out with my arms full, walking toward the stairs, noticing Beckett’s no longer lingering. Coty matches my every step, not ready to let me off the hook quite so easily.

“Why are you always running, Angela?”

I scoff. “I live next door. I couldn’t run if I wanted to.”

At the first stair Coty grips my elbow, begging me to look at him. His big brown eyes hold mine for a beat. Softer, he asks, “What were you doing with Beckett?”

“The jerk jumped in my car when I was leaving. We grabbed a bite to eat.”

“Like a date?”

The thought of Beckett on a date makes me smile. “If you consider drive-thru a date.” I shrug his hand off.

“Go out with me. Let me apologize for Sunday.”

“You just did. And I…can’t.”

“Why?”

My phone pings with a text just as Drew pulls in, honking. With Beckett’s earlier distraction, I forgot Drew was taking me to the movies tonight. Jamie returned to Portland and he wanted to catch up. He’s even letting me pick the movie.

I toss him a wave, breaking the intense moment with Coty.

“I told you, let’s just keep it cordial, okay? It’s better.”

Walking to greet Drew, I hear Coty murmur something else but ignore it and rush over to the only person I’ve ever truly trusted. He pulls me into a big bear hug, kissing my cheek before setting me down.

I’m not surprised when I find the stairwell empty.

* * *

“Is it always like this?” Drew asks as he searches for a parking space.

One look at the boys’ balcony full of people and I grimace.

“They’ve had a couple parties, but this…I’ve never seen it like this.” The parties were getting better, or so I thought.

“Do you want to stay with me tonight?”

I shake my head, keeping an eye on the party-goers spilling out onto the sidewalk. “I’ll be fine.”

Just then someone lets out a high-pitched squeal making Drew whip his head over to me wide-eyed.