“Oh,” she said, moving slowly. “You don’t have to –”
“Get your ass in there, Honor. It’s just dinner.”
She hesitated for a second before stepping past me into my place. Stopping just inside, she looked around as I closed the door behind me. It was a good thing I was neat, I thought, as I looked at my place with her. It wasn’t as homey looking as her place, but I was a guy. I wasn’t one to go out and buy knick-knacks and shit.
The layout of our places were the same, except flipped. My bedroom shared a wall with hers, while my kitchen sat on the opposite side. The living room had a simple leather couch and chair in it, with a dark coffee table, and a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. It wasn’t much to look at, but it was comfortable for me.
Walking past her, I went into the kitchen to drop the bags of groceries I was still holding on the counter. I heard her move to the other side of the breakfast bar, her eyes watching me as I started to unpack.
“You good with tacos?” I asked, looking up at her.
She was biting her damn lip again. This girl was going to kill me one day. She nodded, seeming slightly uncomfortable. I didn’t blame her. Things were always strained between us. There wasn’t much I could do about the kiss we’d shared before, or how I found her undeniably attractive. But I could try to smooth things over so we could at least be friends.
“You look like you’re about two seconds away from bolting,” I teased, switching the stove on as I placed a pan over the flame.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t,” she replied.
I snorted. At least she was honest. “I’m sure we can manage to hang out without things being awkward, Honor.”
“Okay,” she said, sounding unconvinced. She sat down on one of my bar stools and watched as I got the meat going before turning to the counter to start chopping veggies.
“It’s just two friends having dinner together,” I said.
Her brows lifted as her lips twitched. “Is that what we are now, friends?”
“Sure, why not? We have mutual friends, so we might as well try to be. It will make things less awkward when we all hang out.”
She hummed under her breath. I didn’t know what that meant.
“Do you always cook dinner for friends?” she asked.
“When I see them standing alone and dejected looking out in the hall, yeah.” I glanced up at her, that furrowed brow back. “Want to tell me what’s really bugging you?”
“Not really.”
I chuckled. “Fair enough. What class are you teaching tonight?”
Her shoulders relaxed a bit. “Acro,” she answered. “And then I have to practice my solo.”
“Do you have a competition coming up?”
She nodded. “At the end of November.”
“You’re an amazing dancer,” I said, my hand faltering. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. When I looked at her, she simply smiled at me.
“Thanks,” she said.
The tension left me as I continued to chop the tomatoes. “Are you going to try out for a dance school like Perrie was talking about? I bet you would make it.”
“I don’t know,” she said, settling back. I liked that she was slowly becoming more comfortable. “Mom always wanted me to, but I already got into BU. If I tried out for any of the larger dance schools, I’d have to transfer and move further away. It’s just a lot of hassle.”
“Yeah, but you’d be doing what you love,” I pointed out.
“I’m fine doing what I’m doing now,” she said.
“It wouldn’t hurt to try. Maybe if it was an option, you’d think differently.”
She tilted her head side to side, as though weighing the idea in her mind. Those perfect teeth peeked out again to nibble on the corner of her bottom lip. “Maybe,” she said, snapping my attention away from her mouth and back to her eyes.
“Is Jeanie in your class tonight?” I asked, grabbing some plates for us.
“Yes she is,” she said with a warm smile. “She’s an awesome little girl.”
“Of course she is,” I said. “She’s related to me.”
She chuckled. “Right. That must be why.”
I gave her a quick wink, not missing the way her cheeks blushed slightly. I set out the food, letting her build her own taco. We stood side by side in the kitchen, stuffing the shells in the first companionable silence between us since the night I first met her. It was…nice.
I led us to the living room, turning on the TV as we both settled in the couch.
“What do you want to watch while we eat?” I asked.
“Doesn’t matter to me.” She sat beside me, surprisingly. I had half expected her to pick the chair just to keep some distance between us. Crossing her legs, she placed her plate in her lap and wiggled until she was comfortable.
It was only when her gaze lifted to meet mine that I realized I was just sitting there, watching her. I couldn’t help it. It wasn’t often that I had girls over to my apartment like this. Actually, it was unheard of, before Kelly. Seeing her here though made a strange feeling blossom in my gut.
Clearing my throat, I looked away, and focused on finding something to watch. I settled on Dateline: Real Life Mysteries. I knew it was the right choice when she expressed her love for the show, and the two of us ate as we watched shit that I was sure would probably freak her out as soon as she was home alone again.
She got up half way through. “I’m going to make another one,” she said, surprising me again. It was nice to see a girl who wasn’t afraid to eat seconds in front of a guy. Kelly ate like a rabbit.
It’s because you’re just friends, I reminded myself. She’s not trying to impress you.
“You want one?”
I looked up at her as she reached out a hand, waiting. “Sure, thanks.” I passed her my plate and watched as she walked back to the kitchen. She didn’t sway her hips like some girls did, or try to be overly flirtatious. She was just – her. It was…refreshing. Most girls her age were all about putting on a show.
Just friends, G.
Right.
When she came back, we settled back in and started to discuss who we thought really did the murder. It was an argument. One I was sure I was winning, except when the end came, it turned out she’d been right all along.
“You watched this one before,” I accused.
“I didn’t, I swear,” she said with a laugh. “I can just see when people are lying.”
“Is that so? You’re some kind of human lie detector, are you?”
“I guess you could say that.”
“Sounds like you should be working for the police, not the dance academy.”
She laughed again. “I don’t think so. Those uniforms aren’t really my thing.”
I nodded. “A tutu is definitely more your thing.”
Shit. Was that flirty? Her cheeks reddened slightly, but she didn’t appear uncomfortable. My phone dinged, saving me from saying or doing anything else stupid.
Kelly: Hey :) what are you doing tonight?
I let out a long sigh.
“Is something wrong?” Honor asked.
I shook my head. “No, it’s just Kelly.”
“Oh.”
I turned to look at her, and wanted to curse as I saw that stiffness in her shoulders back. There was nothing for us to feel guilty about, and yet I could see it on her face as she stood.
“I should be going now,” she said, pointing her thumb toward the door. “I have to get ready and catch the bus.”
“Okay,” I said, leaning back on the couch, stretching my arm along the back of it where she’d been only moments ago. Part of me wanted to offer to drive her, but I knew that would be stupid. This little “friends” trial of ours had gone pretty well, and I didn’t want to push it. Plus, I needed to get a move on myself. Mom and Dad needed my help cleaning out the shed, and I knew it was only a matter of time before they started calling me to see where I was.
“Thanks for dinner,
” she said, grabbing her backpack.
“No problem.”
She paused at the door. “I’ll…see you around.”
I nodded, staying silent as I watched her slip out, leaving me alone in my suddenly quiet and empty apartment. I looked back down at my phone.
Me: I have to go to my parents for a bit.
A second later my phone dinged again.
Kelly: okay, cool. Mind if I stop by later??
Me: Sure
Kelly: Good. See you then xoxox
I placed the phone back down on the table, my eyes falling on our empty plates sitting beside each other. It occurred to me then that I’d never cooked dinner for Kelly before, or just chilled out and watched TV like this. I shook my head. This shit was too confusing for me. I liked to keep things simple, and that was what I would continue to do. There was no overthinking this evening, or anything else that had to do with Honor Jacobs.
Getting up, I dropped both plates in the sink and headed out. I’d clean-up later.
Chapter 11
Honor
I stopped just outside the dance studio, my arms on my hips.
“You can’t pick me up every Friday night you know,” I said.
Perrie smiled. “Says who?”
I shook my head with a sigh, walking over to her car and getting in the passenger side. “I’ll feel bad if you keep this up,” I told her.
“Don’t. We’re family, we’re supposed to do things for each other. Plus, I wanted to share some exciting news with you.”
I twisted in my seat so I could look at her better. “Oh? Do tell.”
“I got that internship I told you about,” she said, her excitement practically vibrating off her.
“No way! I thought you said they never take first year law students?”
“They don’t. That’s why it’s so amazing.”
“Wow,” I said, leaning back against the seat. “That’s really awesome, Perrie. I’m so happy for you.”
“I knew you would be,” she said, glancing away from the road to smile at me quickly. “So, you see? I had to come and share the news in person. Not to mention I don’t want my hot, young cousin riding a bus alone at this time of the night.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up her hand.
“You’re forgetting I’m about to be the best defense attorney this city has ever seen. I know all about criminals.”
“Right,” I muttered. “So what was the firm called again? It’s the big one downtown, right?”
“Hamilton and Gordon. And yes, it’s the biggest firm around. And I’ll be the youngest intern they’ve ever accepted.”
“Amazing. Auntie Grace must be freaking.”
Perrie chuckled. “Mom wants to take me out for a steak dinner tomorrow night to celebrate. She said we were going to go somewhere fancy.”
“So, Kelsey’s?”
We both laughed.
“Probably. The woman wouldn’t know fancy if it walked into her leopard printed room, and smacked her upside the head.”
“Your mom’s fashion and decor sense is the best.”
“You can only say that because she’s not your mom. It was embarrassing when she’d show up on parent teacher night dressed in a huge leopard printed fake fur jacket,” she said, her face scrunching up. “I remember Jack Tellsman asking me if my mom was a hooker.”
I chuckled. “I remember. You punched him right in the nose and got detention for a week.”
She snorted. “He deserved it. And Mom grounded me for two weeks because I wouldn’t tell her why I did it.”
I reached over and squeezed her hand. “Auntie Grace is lucky to have you as a daughter.”
She squeezed mine back, sitting up straighter. “Don’t I know it.”
We pulled up to my building, Perrie stopping just in front of the entrance.
“Speaking of our crazy mothers,” she said, putting the car in park and turning to me. “They wanted me to tell you that they demand you come for brunch on Sunday. Your mom says you haven’t been calling her either. I think she’s close to storming down here and banging on your door.”
I grimaced. “Tell them I’ll be there.”
All I could picture was my mom waltzing into my building in her fluffy slippers and pink bathrobe. She might not have a love for animal print like Perrie’s mom, but that didn’t mean her fashion sense was any better.
“I will contain her until then,” Perrie said.
“Thanks. I appreciate it. See you Sunday.”
“Love you, cuz,” she called out as I walked up to the doors.
“Love you too!”
***
I let out a relieved sigh as I sat down on the couch, covering myself with a blanket. Netflix was on, a fresh bowl of popcorn was in my lap, and no one was knocking on my door to beg me to go out. This was a good Friday night.
Turning on the episode I’d left off at, I wiggled into the cushion at my back and got comfortable. Mindlessly popping pieces of popcorn into my mouth, I watched the show without really hearing what was going on. It was the unfortunate truth, but my mind had other things on it.
All throughout class I’d done my best to focus on what I was doing. Every move I’d done afterward by myself was with half the energy and effort it would normally have been. Thankfully Perrie had distracted me enough on the ride home, but now that I was by myself again, I couldn’t help but think about Grey.
I didn’t know what to do when it came to that man. He wanted to be friends. That was…nice. It made sense of course. We had mutual friends, not to mention we lived beside each other, so it was logical to assume we were going to have to hang out with each other now and again. Which meant we couldn’t keep going on with this awkward tension between us. I had gotten that. I really did. It didn’t mean that it was easy.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to pay better attention to the show, but I just couldn’t. Even Frank and Clair’s dramatics weren’t enough to rip me from my own musings. I gave myself a good mental shake.
We kissed. So what? It was a while ago, and it wasn’t as though it would be happening again anytime soon. I certainly didn’t want it to.
Liar.
I didn’t. Grey was not my type, and I could tell I wasn’t his. Kelly was closer to his age, and seemed like the better fit. The kiss was just a mistake. One I still didn’t quite understand, but a mistake nonetheless. We just weren’t compatible. Tonight we’d gotten along, but that was just because it was a platonic hang out. I did better with those than with romantic situations.
If anyone asked my past boyfriends, they’d confirm that I wasn’t one to really indulge in alone time. I had too much on my plate to spend any of my spare time with someone else. Relationships just weren’t on the top of my “to do” list. One day it would be, but I was young and still trying to build a future, and I’d always considered that my top priority.
So why did it feel like Grey threatened that? He didn’t. He didn’t. Not only was he already dating someone, but there was also…there was…Okay, I didn’t know what else there was, but there were things. I was pretty certain there was a whole list of reasons why it wouldn’t work between us, I was just having a hard time thinking of them.
Him having a girlfriend alone was reason enough for me to stay away. I was no mistress. And I liked Kelly, so the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her in any way.
I leaned my head back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. The show was officially forgotten as I replayed the evening in my head. Grey had just been so…I didn’t know. Nice? Gentlemanly? Actually interested in what I had to say? Unlike most guys my age, Grey asked me about my life and listened when I answered. It was as if he actually cared about what I had to say, instead of just asking because that was what was expected.
It was the first time a guy had made me dinner, and then when we sat and watched TV together, it was actually comfortable. The awkward tension between us that I’d grown use to hadn’t been there. It was strange. Bu
t I’d actually liked it.
I groaned out loud into the silence of my apartment. What was going on with me? Could I actually be crushing on Grey Anderson? How stupid was that? It was ridiculous really. I had more sense than to lust after someone who was too old, too rough, and too far out of my league, like Grey was.
He was just so good looking. How could any girl really ignore that? Those blue eyes could make any girl fall for them. Even someone like me, who was damn good at ignoring the opposite sex.
Shaking my head, I set the popcorn aside, and turned off the show. It was useless. I wasn’t going to be able to truly relax when all I could think about was his perfect face and the incredible way he kissed.
My hand lifted on its own to touch my lips. The memory of the feel of his was still so strong even though it had happened months ago. Was any girl able to get over Grey once they had a taste? Somehow I doubted it. The man should have come with a warning.
“This is ridiculous,” I said, angry at myself for even dwelling on these thoughts. I just needed a good sleep and then I could go back to ignoring him. Walking to my bedroom, I slipped under the covers and tried to get comfortable.
It didn’t go well.
I tossed and turned for what felt like hours. When I looked over at the clock on my night table, I saw it was already past midnight. Kicking the covers off me with a huff, I stared up at the ceiling above my bed as if the answer to sleep lay there.
A faint giggle sounded from somewhere in the quietness surrounding me. I froze, listening closely. Another giggle followed by a throaty, female moan reached my ears. What was that? I sat up, looking around. Another moan filled the tiny space of my bedroom. I heard the deep rumble of a male voice before the worse thing ever began.
Mortified, I turned to the wall behind me, my mouth open in shock as a rhythmic thumping started. The female moans grew in frequency and volume as it continued.
Holy-mortifying-shit.
“Yes, Grey. Yes.”
No. No, no, no, no. I was not listening to Grey and Kelly have sex. I was not.
Young Love (Bloomfield #4) Page 7
