by Kelsie Rae
“Which would leave the brunette,” he notes.
I grit my teeth at the mere mention of her, but he just can’t leave it alone. “Who’s she?”
“Natalie,” I grit out. I haven’t let her leave my sight and probably seem like an asshole to Luke, but I don’t really care. I’m just happy she’s done talking to the bartender. I watch as she makes conversation with the two guys who just ditched me and Luke, choosing their significant others, instead.
“And who’s Natalie?” Luke continues. He’s either extremely dense or has a death wish with the way he keeps probing.
“My little sister’s best friend,” I grumble.
“Ah,” he states like a little light bulb just went off in his head. In fact, the sound is enough to distract me from the gorgeous girl across the room.
“What do you mean, ah?”
He shrugs. “Nothing. It just…all makes sense now. That’s all.”
“What makes sense?” I’m annoyed, and my tone is defensive, because I still don’t know this guy well enough to call him a friend or foe.
“Why you can’t take your eyes off her. And yet,” he taps his forefinger against his chin, “you didn’t walk over and greet her the way any normal guy would in your situation, which leads me to believe you have feelings for her, and you don’t know what to do about them. The question is…why are you not over there kissing the shit out of your little sister’s best friend, when it’s obvious you want to?”
I feel like I’ve been sucker punched by the time he finishes speaking. My head pulls back defensively as my mind tries to come up with a rebuttal to his ridiculous accusation.
“I’m sorry…but what the hell makes you think that?”
He leans a little closer, as if he’s about to reveal a secret. My curiosity overpowers my annoyance as I follow suit.
“Because I used to be in a similar situation,” he confesses. I look up to find his expression somber.
“And what situation was that?”
“I was in love with my best friend’s girlfriend.” He releases a dry breath of laughter before sobering.
“Shit,” I state. I’m stunned.
“Yeah,” he agrees. “We were all friends before they officially hooked up. But by the time I finally got my head out of my ass, it was too late. She was with someone else. I let her slip through my fingers, because I was too afraid to ruin the way things were, when in reality, I was miserable watching the girl of my dreams live her life from a distance, instead of being the reason she woke up in the morning.”
I swallow thickly. “So what happened?”
“I lost her. I lost her because I was a coward.”
His bluntness burns like a tall shot of whiskey, but I let the heat soak into me instead of pushing it away.
“That’s it?”
I thought Nathan said he was happily married?
He shakes his head before picking up his glass and finishing its contents. “No. By some miracle, I was given another chance. One that I refused to screw up, and I thank whoever the hell is watching over us every single day for the second chance I was given. Without it, I wouldn’t have my wife, Liv, or my little boy and baby girl.” He smiles in awe, like he still can’t believe he’s such a lucky bastard. Looking at me, he pins me with his stare. “My advice? Don’t count on a second chance coming along. Don’t miss out on that girl that you obviously want, because you’re too much of a coward to take advantage of the hand you’ve been dealt. I can guarantee you’ll regret it more than anything else in the world.”
His sage words are enough to rock me to my core as I turn back to the girl I’ve been attracted to for as long as I can remember. I watch as she smiles flirtatiously at the bartender again before she grabs her drink and laughs at something Sophie says.
My lips tilt up in amusement as I watch their exchange.
“But what if it doesn’t work out?” I sober immediately. “What if I ruin their relationship? What if my little sister never forgives me for hurting her best friend?” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Luke looks up at the ceiling as he considers my questions. After a brief moment, he asks one of his own. “And what if you have to sit on the sidelines as she falls in love with someone else and invites you to her wedding? What if you’re left asking yourself about what could’ve been if you’d had the guts to go for it?”
My jaw clenches.
“Trust me, Marcus. The regret you’ll feel if you don’t give it a shot is a hell of a lot worse than the regret you’ll feel if you do.”
Glancing back toward Natalie, she finally catches me watching her from the corner of her eye. Her generic smile that was originally painted across her face transforms into one that looks like it’s just for me. I hold her gaze for a few brief seconds that aren’t nearly long enough, until she turns away from its heat and steps toward Sophie. Disappointment fills my gut. Natalie whispers something to my little sister then heads my way. I try to ignore the effect she has on me as her hips sway back and forth. She’s in black skinny jeans, with an off-the-shoulder top and heels that make her legs go on for miles. She looks like a tall glass of water to a dying man in the desert. And boy am I thirsty.
The waitress takes that moment to drop off my burger and beer, barely distracting me from the vision walking toward me.
Luke watches Natalie for about two seconds before standing, grabbing his phone from the table, and sliding it into the front pocket of his slacks.
“It was nice meeting you, Marcus, but I think I’m going to call it a night.” He sends me a knowing smirk before disappearing into the crowd.
And for a split second, I wonder who I just met, and how the hell he knocked me on my ass with a few choice words?
Chapter Twelve
Natalie
“Hi,” I greet Marcus. “What are you doing sitting here all by yourself?”
He shrugs one shoulder then picks up his glass of pale ale and downs its contents.
“Thirsty?” I joke, quirking a brow.
He laughs deeply. The sound wraps around me like a warm blanket.
“You have no idea. How was work?”
Now it’s my turn to shrug one shoulder. “Good. I think Sophie’s addicted to the eclairs, though. Just sayin’.”
“I don’t blame her. Those things are the best. I’ll have to stop by one of these days to grab a couple.”
“You should,” I encourage. “But only if I’m the one who made them. Indie’s a great little baker and all, and she’s got the cronuts down to a T. But the eclairs? Those are starting to become my specialty.” I wink dramatically to show I’m teasing, which pulls another deep laugh out of him, and I find myself grinning from ear to ear.
“Does Indie know you’re trying to steal the show right out from under her?” he jokes. I look over at the girl in question to find her wrapped around her new hubby like he’s a stripper pole.
“I think she’s cool with it.”
He chuckles before picking up his untouched burger and taking a giant bite. My stomach rumbles as the smell wafts over to me.
“That looks amazing. I need to order mine.”
With his mouth still full, he lifts the burger toward me in a silent offer to share. If we were a couple, I would totally take advantage. But we’re not, so I settle for a fry, swiping it off his plate before he has a chance to argue.
Placing the salty, deep-fried slice of potato into my mouth, I moan on the spot. “Mmm…sometimes I forget how amazing the food is at this place.”
He chews for a brief second before swallowing his bite. My eyes focus on his Adam’s apple as it bobs up and down.
Why does he have to be so attractive? Even his throat is good looking!
“You’ve been here before?” he asks, distracting me from my not-so-appropriate thoughts.
With shaking hands, I reach for another fry, trying to calm my nerves at being caught checking him out. “Yup. It’s actually where Sophie and Nathan met.”
>
He follows my lead, grabbing a fry from his plate. “Ah, then it all makes sense.”
My brows furrow. “What makes sense?”
“How we’d all end up at the same pub on a Friday night.”
“Meh. We come here a lot. Sophie was craving a burger, but I don’t think she knew you guys would be here. It was supposed to be a girl’s night and running into your baby daddy, and your husband,” I motion to the girls and their significant others, “kind of ruins the whole girl’s night vibe, ya know?”
“Does that bug you?” he probes.
Popping another fry into my mouth, I chew slowly and look toward the ceiling as I contemplate my answer. “Sometimes it does. Lately, I’ve always been the fifth wheel, but...” I pause, turning my attention back to Marcus. “I guess it’s not so bad now that I have my new roommate to hang out with.”
He smiles at my honesty, and I’m surprised I just laid myself out in the open like that. I guess he brings it out of me. Although, I think he’s always had that effect on me.
Tossing a fry at me, he teases, “Nah. You just like eating all my fries.”
I giggle before popping another one into my mouth as he waves over the waitress and orders another burger with a side of fries so that I stop stealing all of his.
We spend the rest of the night laughing, talking, stealing fries and curious looks before my friends join us and kick the boys out so we can continue our night on the town.
It’s a blast, and I find myself curious if I’m the only one that notices the lingering looks he gives me, or if maybe I’m not crazy. What if he can finally feel the connection I’ve been avoiding with him for years?
It’s probably just wishful thinking.
Chapter Thirteen
Natalie
“Hey, Chef Thomas!” I make sure to use the proper accent, pronouncing his name like Too-mah, instead of Thomas.
He smiles in response as I grab my black apron from the hook near the door and tie it around my waist.
“What are we cooking today?”
“Today,” he starts, “we are celebrating by making Limón soufflé. Please, grab the eggs, and we shall begin.”
I do as I’m told, balancing a carton of eggs with a handful of lemons and a cube of butter from the pantry. “What are we celebrating?” I ask, while spreading out the supplies on the counter.
I stop what I’m doing when he doesn’t answer right away, my hands hovering near the scale that we’ll use to weigh the ingredients.
Turning to him, I find a giant grin plastered on his handsome face. “I spoke with mon ami.” My mind searches for the translation of mon ami, before remembering it means my friend in French.
My heart skips a beat. “Like…the friend?” I enunciate the word the.
By some miracle, his smile widens. “Oui.”
My hands start to shake as I wait for him to put me out of my misery. “And?”
“And she would be honored to have you participate.”
I’m squealing and jumping up and down before he’s finished telling me the good news.
“Are you serious?” I chant over and over again. I feel like I could run a marathon with the giant burst of energy that pulses through me.
My arms are around Chef Thomas as I pull him in for a big, giant hug of gratitude. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I just…I can’t believe it!”
He returns my embrace with enthusiasm, sharing his pride at my accomplishment like a father would. “I am so happy for you, mon apprenti. You will do great things. Of that, I have no doubt.”
“Thank you,” I repeat for the hundredth time. Pulling away, I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. I don’t know what else to say.
“Do not thank me, Natalie. It is your own hard work and determination that has brought you to this path, comprenez vous?”
My heart is racing as I consider the opportunity, as well as its drawbacks. “Oui,” I whisper.
I need to work on my French more if I’ll be using it soon.
“Bien. Let us begin.”
And with that, we make the best damn Limón soufflé that New York’s ever tasted, while I ignore the swirling indecision that makes an appearance in my lower stomach.
This is an amazing opportunity. I’d be a fool to turn it down.
I won’t admit to myself that the first person that comes to mind when I consider telling someone the good news happens to be my roommate.
And the guy I’ve been in love with since I was five.
Instead, I decide to bury my head in the sand by ordering twice the amount of food I could ever eat in one sitting from the Thai place down the street. After picking everything up, I head home while praying that a certain someone might be interested in helping me eat it.
When I open the front door, I hear noises coming from Marcus’s bedroom down the hall, and my heart begins to race.
He’s home.
Quietly, I tiptoe toward his room to see what’s going on. More talking ensues. Is he not alone? Peeking into his room, I find Marcus sitting in front of his computer. He must be having a video chat with his teammates. I pull away before they can see me through the camera as I debate whether or not I should interrupt him.
“Seems like a nice little room you got there,” a vaguely familiar voice mentions. I have a hard time placing it until another voice says his name.
“Stop giving him shit, Ronny. At least he’s got a hot roommate.”
“You mean like you, Jonah? Living with your mom and all…very classy,” Ronny rebuts, and I can almost picture him giving Jonah a big, sarcastic thumbs up through the screen.
I’ve only met Marcus’s teammates once or twice when Sophie and I went to the gaming championships for Gateway Guardians a little while ago, but they seemed really nice.
“Shut up,” Jonah moans. I can only assume he’s used to getting crap for living with his mom, so he doesn’t put up much protest to Ronny’s teasing.
“But I do agree on the hot roommate part,” Ronny continues, giving Jonah a break. My ears perk up. Are they talking about me? “You ever gonna hit that, Marcus?”
A deep growl emanates from the room. “Shut up, Ronny.”
“Oh, come on, man. You’re a red-blooded male. You can’t act like you don’t see what the rest of us do.”
“Hey! I’m offended!” a feminine voice interjects. That must be Quincy. She’s the only female on the team and likes to remind them that she’s in on the conversation too.
“You know what I mean,” Ronny whines. “Plus, I’m pretty sure you’d tap that too, Q.”
Quincy stays quiet for about two seconds. “Probably,” she laughs. “Natalie’s gorgeous, Marcus. What’s going on with you two?”
“Nothing,” Marcus grits out. His tone is sharp and brooks no argument.
“Why?” a voice probes. I think it’s the other guy on the team…Trevan?
“Because she’s my little sister’s best friend.”
I shouldn’t be listening to this.
“So?” Jonah adds.
“So, I’m not going to cross that line. Ever.”
“So, you’re telling me that if you were the last guy on the planet, and she was the last girl, you still wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole?” Ronny asks.
I hear Marcus groan as his teammates wait for him to answer the question.
I should so not be listening to this.
My heart feels like a jackhammer, and my breathing is shallow. I know it’s a bad idea to stick around. But, in a matter of seconds, one of my lifelong questions will finally be answered. The problem? I’m not sure I’m ready to hear it.
“Look,” Marcus starts. “I don’t look at her like that. She’s not my type.”
Sure. I’ve heard him say things like this before to Sophie, but I’ve always hoped that it was because he was talking to his little sister and was afraid she’d say something to me if he felt differently. But chatting with his friends? I can’t really deny their truth.
&n
bsp; The words are like a knife to the chest, confirming what I’ve always known. But that doesn’t make it hurt any less. My silly crush is officially dead. Buried. Never to survive.
I can’t listen to another word. I know I’m seconds away from breaking down, so I rush past the entrance to his room and head to my own before closing the door quietly behind me. My teeth dig into my lower lip as I try to hold back the gut-wrenching sob from slipping past my lips.
He can’t know I heard that. That I eavesdropped on a private conversation I had no business listening to.
Shit. I really am the immature girl he always accuses me of being.
A tear slides down my cheek as I stumble to my bed. I need this day to be over. The Thai food, and my good news, are completely forgotten.
Shocker.
Chapter Fourteen
Marcus
Getting shit from my teammates isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but discussing my love life, or lack thereof, is a change of pace I’d rather not repeat. We discuss strategy for another ten minutes before I decide to call it a night. I’m starving and need to get something to eat before my stomach starts eating itself out of pure rebellion.
Heading into the kitchen, I’m surprised to see a plastic bag on the table along with Natalie’s purse.
What the hell?
I approach it cautiously, as though it might jump out and attack me before discovering its contents.
It’s enough Thai food to feed a village, but it looks a little cold.
“Natalie?” I call out to the empty family room.
No answer.
Looking around the apartment then down the hall, I notice Natalie’s door is closed. Cautiously, I take a few steps down the hallway before wiping my sweaty palms against my jeans. A sense of foreboding overwhelms me. I lift my hand to tap my knuckles against her door.
“Natalie?”
She doesn’t answer, but I do hear movement on the other side.
“Nat? You in there?” I repeat.
