Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Like telling me that musician guy is too old for me and being concerned about getting me home safely. But it kinda sucks that him being decent only makes me lust after him more.
I groan as we hit the street. Going home with Rainn isn’t going to help me get over this stupid crush. Maybe I can sleep in the cab of my truck and drive in a few hours.
“What’s up?” Rainn asks.
“I … I don’t want to impose.” Look, I’m a good old farm boy with manners and everything.
Though I have to say, the thoughts running through my head about what I’d do to Rainn if he let me are anything but polite.
“You’re not imposing, jackass. We’re friends.”
Eww, he went and used the F word. Friends. Even though it’s what we are now, I guess.
“Where’s your car?” I ask.
“Car heaven. May she rest in pieces. I need a new one, but my last car cost more money in repairs than it was worth. I couldn’t keep sinking money into that lemon, and I’m terrified the next one will be the same.”
I take out my keys. “Here, we’ll take my truck. You drive.”
He doesn’t protest, and a short, silent ride later, he pulls up outside an old red house that’s been converted into apartments.
Before we can climb out of the truck, I pull on his arm. “Are you sure? This isn’t weird, is it?”
He pauses. “Is it weird for you? Have you never stayed at a friend’s place before?”
“I have, but …” But I was never crushing on any of them. Ugh, I’m the one making this weird. “Never mind. Lead the way.”
I follow him up the walk and through the front door. I shove my hands in my pockets because I’m trying to remember what I usually do to occupy my hands when I’m walking.
Rainn opens his apartment at the back of the building and gestures me inside.
The space isn’t much. It has hardwood floors and a small kitchen. There’s what I presume is the bedroom to my right, and in front of me is the “couch” I’ll be sleeping on. The futon looks about fifteen years old and not big enough to hold my two-hundred-pound frame.
Rainn strips out of his oversized coat and beanie. “It’s not much, but I can afford it. That’s the main thing.”
He’s not wrong. Then again, I’m used to a large farmhouse, barn, and hell, even our livestock have more space than this.
“It’s … cozy.” Even I don’t believe myself.
“That’s a polite way of saying small, but hey, it’s only me, so it’s not like I need much more room.”
“I’m guessing this is a rare thing, having a friend over.”
He thinks about it. “I don’t think any of my old friends have even seen my apartment.”
“Aww, way to make a boy feel special.”
Something happens to Rainn’s posture. It tenses, but I can’t tell if it’s because he likes what I said or it makes him uncomfortable.
Of course it makes him uncomfortable, you damn moron.
He stares at me with such intensity that now I’m the one who’s uncomfortable.
I clear my throat. “Do you mind if I get some water?”
“Not at all.” He moves toward the kitchen, but I cut him off.
“I can get it. You’ve been serving me drinks all night.”
“It’s my job. And it’s the social expectation for a host to offer food and drinks to guests.”
“Ooh, you got food here?”
“Hmm, well, no.”
I gasp. “But the gods of social expectation will smite you! You better run along and get me some pizza.”
He ignores me and gives me the water.
“Fine. No pizza.” I drink down the cool liquid. “Mm, tasty water. It’s definitely better than pizza.”
It’s amazing how he can say so many things with one look.
I take another sip and sense him watching me as I swallow the rest. He’s still watching me when I place the glass on the counter, and it makes me self-conscious.
“Uh. Thanks.” I rub the back of my neck. “I guess we should …” I gesture to my bed for the night.
“Right. I’ll get you some blankets.” He pauses. “Unless …”
My heart picks up a notch. “Unless?”
“Unless you want to watch something first? I usually take a while to wind down from shifts at the bar.”
“I could watch something. I might fall asleep halfway through it, but I’m down.”
“I’ll make it something you can’t sleep through.”
Honestly, he could put anything on the TV, and I probably wouldn’t be able to sleep. Not with his presence right beside me on that tiny futon of his.
It’s weird to think a few weeks ago, Rainn Richardson was a campus legend in my mind, a hockey idol for Moo U, and now he’s here with me. Or, I’m here with him, more specifically.
I glance around his small space. There’s a typical entertainment center that’s filled with a PlayStation and games, the futon, and a bookcase under the window on the far wall that is surprisingly full of books, but the room lacks personality.