Page 32

“Oh, come on, Ro. I haven’t seen a jaw as tight as yours since that dude from The Vampire Diaries was on TV. You forget I know you very well, and today, you are the epitome of tension.”

There was no point lying to Eve. Pretending that it was only my crochet that had me frowning. I gathered up and tossed the bird nest of yarn to the side, throwing myself back on my pillows. “If you must know, it’s Brody Flockhart.”

Eve’s eyes lit up like sparklers, and she crossed her legs like a yogi. “Oooh. My favorite subject. What intel have you got for me? Any nighttime comings and goings? Any hints about his movements? His kinks?”

I huffed out a breath, coming back up to sit. How could I tell my best friend that most of his movements seemed to involve me at the moment? She’d read far too much into the situation.

“Are you serious? Are you really interested in Brody? Inthatway.”

Eve tossed her eyeballs heavenward. “Alas, I don’t think I’m what Flock is into.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I bumped into him at the diner earlier.”

Something pricked the skin at the back of my neck. It was Wednesday. I’d told him Eve and I met at the Easy Swallow every Wednesday for breakfast. I hadn’t mentioned that we’d agreed to meet at my place today. Yet, according to Eve, he’d been at the Swallow right when he expected me to be there. I ran a hand through my sleep-mussed hair.

“Bumped?” My voice rang out into the room, its tone unnaturally high.

Eve grinned. “Well, I may or may not have faked a trip into his arms, and although he caught me, there was nothing but genuine concern for my safety in his eyes. Even when I suggested I might need mouth-to-mouth, he just laughed.”

I snorted a laugh, too, shaking my head. My best friend was all kinds of crazy.

“Hey, I had to try. But I’ve given up on my hopeless quest now. I’ve decided that Brody Flockhart and I won’t be a thing. I’ve moved on. But when I fell, man, those arms. I swear he could fold me into a pretzel in one move.”

Heat steadily crept up my face as my mind drifted back to the gym last night. The achingly vivid memory of him grappling me into hot submission at the ropes. His breath on my neck. I swallowed, afraid of what would come out of my mouth if I opened it.

Eve leaned over to retrieve the brown paper bag she’d placed on the bed. The sweet smell of warm cinnamon filled the air when she opened it. She tore open the sides and laid it between us. As she pulled apart one sticky bun, her brow creased like I’d asked a calculus question in Swahili. “You must have noticed how unnaturally big he is?”

Indeed, I had. He was so large I swear he cast a shadow almost as big as Mount Condor, Tuft Swallows’ only hill. I weighed my words carefully, hoping not to give too much away. I couldn’t help it, though. For some insane reason, all I wanted to do was talk about Brody. “I probably shouldn’t say this because he’s staying here, and we’re old friends, but he is quite impressive. Physically.”

Eve’s eyes widened, and I reached for a bun. Perhaps I could use it to cram any more revealing words back down my throat.

“That’s an understatement. I never remember him being that big before, but I guess that’s what playing professional sports will do for you.”

Again, memories of the gym torpedoed into my brain. The jabs, the taunting, the fire in his eyes as he’d pulled me into his chest. I took a breath.

“He works out. A lot.”

Eve’s eyes glowed, and a grin spread on her sugary lips as she scooched herself closer. “You’ve seen him? In all his sweaty glory, I mean.”

I crinkled my nose. “Eve, that’s gross.”

“Not when it’shissweat. Have you? Seen him working out, I mean.” She sucked in a breath with a little “whoosh.” “Oh, please tell me you’ve installed a spy camera down in the basement. Coop has a gym set up down there, right?”

Okay, so things were taking a slightly darker tone. “No spy camera, but I have seen him in the gym. At Odd Duck’s place.”

Eve tipped her head to one side. “What on earth wereyoudoing there? Fighting’s hardly your scene. You’re such a pacifist. You’re the one who’s always rescuing bugs from the sidewalk or keeping the peace at the town bake-offs. Who knew brownies could be so controversial? I swear you saved lives last fall.”

I weighed my options. I could lie and make up a story about researching crochet boxing gloves or I could tell the truth.

“Brody’s training me.”

She took a bite of her bun. “What for? MMA? I admire your spirit, but I don’t think you have the shoulders for it.”

Brody had hinted at the same thing. “No. For the roller derby.”

She stopped mid-chew. “Why would he do that?”