Page 175 of Never Not Friends

This time, I’m the one who catches him by the shirt and brings him back.

Because that’s something I can do now.

VINNY

I remake my bed, smoothing out the sheets better than the first time I made it.

I stare at it.

Why the heck did I remake my bed?

Emma isn’t coming into my bedroom.

I mean, technically, she could come into my bedroom, lie on my bed, and we could⁠—

I grab the comforter and tangle it in my arms, messing the whole thing up.

There.

Now she can’t come into my bedroom.

Solved that problem.

I walk out of the room and close the door. Another boundary.

Because after that kiss last night, I need some boundaries.

All my mind wants to think about is Emma.

Her asking me if I was ever going to kiss her.

Her hands sliding around my neck.

Her kissing me back.

Dude, I’m screwed.

Before last night, I was already in trouble with how I felt about her. I knew that I wanted Emma. I wanted dates and documentaries and her falling asleep against my shoulder, but now I want all of that and her hands in my hair and her lips on mine.

I want her grabbing my shirt again and pulling me in for a desperate kiss.

I’m a complete goner.

The doorbell rings, and I’m already rushing toward it, like a puppy excited his owner is home. Actually, this is nothing like that. Strike it from the record.

“Be a gentleman,” I tell myself right before swinging the door open.

And every thought about being a gentleman goes flying out the window, because Emma’s wearing that green summer dress with her hair pulled into a messy bun, and I’m struggling.

“Hi.” She smiles.

“You look incredible.”

“Thank you.”

“Come on in.” I step aside so she can walk past me.

But she doesn’t.