Chapter Twenty-Two

Knox

I ran my hands through my long hair and stood in the middle of the room. A feeling of nostalgia hit me so hard and fast that I had to lean against the wall before I could catch my breath.

Leo and Finn were sleeping with their mouths open.

And Slater?

Slater was spooning the damn unicorn.

Maybe if I was still enough, the universe would right itself again? Maybe she wouldn’t be dead. We would all still be friends? Maybe it would be different.

I sighed.

It was enough for Slater to jolt awake; he always was a light sleeper. His green eyes zeroed in on mine. “She okay?” His voice was gravelly from sleep.

I nodded. “She’s embarrassed, still swears up and down she only had two drinks. I think someone saw an opportunity and took it.”

Slater gritted his teeth.

I knew that look.

He wanted to pummel whoever thought to drug her.

Get in line.

“I, uh, told her she needed a buddy to go with her next time she goes out. You know, like a sober sexless buddy.” I added in the sexless part just in case Slater got it in his head he was a suitable candidate.

“Sexless,” he repeated. “So, you three are out then? Is that what you’re saying?”

Somehow, Finn had picked up on the conversation and held both hands in the air with his middle fingers high.

Leo yawned and said, “My dick’s bigger than yours.” Then turned over on his side and went back to sleep.

I wondered if he missed it.

Slater looked away then slowly started getting out of my bed. “Thanks for letting me crash and for taking care of her.”

Finn was watching us with wide eyes as Slater sidestepped me and went across the hall, dragging his giant unicorn across the carpet with him.

“No bloodshed?” Finn asked out loud. “You sure he wasn’t drugged too?”

“Shut it,” I groaned. “Both of you pay attention. Shawn needs anything, you give it to her, all right?”

Leo grinned seamlessly.

“Anything but that,” I said through clenched teeth. “Look, I like her…” I grumbled. “I mean, we’re friends.”

If Leo’s and Finn’s smiles get any bigger, I am tossing them out the window.

“You mean you like-like her?” Leo joked.

“He super likes her a bunch,” Finn said in a giddy voice. “Think she’ll come play Legos later?”

“Out.” I pointed at the door. “Both of you, dead to me.”

“Hey, we just like seeing boss man happy.” Leo winked. “Don’t we, Finn?”

“By Legos, I meant your penis. Sorry if that was confusing.” Finn slapped me on the back as he grabbed a towel and his flip-flops. “But seriously, the friend-zone plan only works for so long.”

“Come again?” I hissed. “What do you mean the friend-zone plan?”

Finn shook his head. “Don’t play dumb. You can only friend-zone for two months before your balls fall off. It’s been documented to happen—”

“To Canadians.” Leo nodded slowly. “But maybe it’s just because they don’t have big packages, and all their police are Mounties?” said the actual Canadian of the group. The guy even had a flag on the wall.

I groaned. “It’s too early for you two.”

Somehow, I was getting led to the chair and pushed into it. The minute my ass hit the seat it rolled backward, only to be stopped by Finn a second later.

“Rule number one.” Leo cleared his throat and grabbed the armrests, leaning in. “Be the trustworthy TA, be the friend, friend her so damn hard that when she looks up friendship in the dictionary, it’s your face with a heart around it.”

“Friend her hard,” Finn repeated from behind while Leo placed his hands on my shoulders and continued.

“Once the friendship and trust are established, she’ll find it easy to touch you, a light jab here, a playful kick there.” He laughed then said in a high-pitched voice, “Knox, you’re so funny. Stop it, Knox. That tickles!”

“Are you supposed to sound like the creepier version of Tickle Me Elmo?” I wondered out loud.

Leo slapped me across the face.

I almost broke his wrist.

He winced. “Listen up, it’s been a while since you’ve been in the game, so this is how it’s going to go. Eventually, you’re going to have a moment somewhere between the touching and the witty banter. The moment’s going to feel serious. You’re going to start sweating, and that’s how you know you need to go for it. That’s her sign, man. The universe’s tell that she’s ready for more than the friend-zoning.”

I gulped. “You guys are acting like I don’t already know this shit.”

“Oh, you know it, but can you actually handle it?” Leo rolled his eyes. “We do this shit for a living, but you’ve never lived it. Good luck out in the wild, my man. You’re going to need it.”

“I don’t need it.” I needed it. I needed all of it.

Holy shit, I am already sweating. Is this what normal human guys feel like when they like someone? I’ve only had it happen once, and it didn’t feel this strong.

Which just made the fear that much more real.

“I can’t,” I whispered. “Not again.”

“This is different, and you know it is,” Finn said in a serious voice.

I stood. “Maybe.” But my mind was already made up.

I’d protect her, I’d be her friend, but that was all I could offer.

That was all I trusted myself with.