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“I know you’re in there! Now open this damn door or I’ll use my key.”

Al. Her sweet, wonderful, amazing friend. She’d hoped spending a month away from him might dampen some of her feelings, but she was just fooling herself. Absence made the heart grow fonder. And hornier.

Steeling herself, she grabbed her short kimono robe and wrapped it around her body like armor. She could do this. He hadn’t fought her when she called their night a one-night stand. And soon he’d be hooking up with a bunch of women.

“Al, good to see you,” she said as she opened the door, then immediately regretted getting out of bed.

He was shirtless and wearing those stupid baby running shorts, reminding her of all the things she didn’t want to be reminded of.

“Why didn’t you call me when you got back? I would have picked you up from the airport.” He crossed his arms and huffed out a pout. “I wanted to pick you up.”

“Oh, I just figured …” She trailed off, losing her train of thought. It was hard to concentrate in front of all those muscles.

“Figured what, Jeannie? That I wouldn’t want to see my best friend after she left me alone for a month?”

She closed her eyes, not wanting him to see the pain that she felt. That was the longest they had been apart in years. The last time was when he’d left to host a potato farming documentary in Idaho.

She’d made it through knowing he was doing it for them, to change their lives and help her brother. But this time, the separation was because she had to pick through hundreds of women to date the man she loved. It sucked. Like really fucking sucked.

“Well, I’m back now.”

“And thank God for that. A few texts here and there were not enough for me. Now go change, we’ve got five miles today and Christian scheduled a staff meeting first thingso I can’t be late.”

They ran together most mornings when the weather was nice. They took turns making playlists so they could listen to the same music. They’d tried listening to books a few times, but after one little reverse harem mishap, Al put a stop to that. Apparently, running with a boner was not comfortable.

“You still want to do that?” she asked. She could barely look at him without falling apart, and he wanted to just pick up where they left off? Like they hadn’t spent the most magical night together? Maybe her brother’s situation was a blessing in disguise. Clearly, Al had no problem forgetting the intimacy they’d shared.

“Do I still want to go running with my neighbor? Yes. Why wouldn’t I? It’s boring by myself.”

She shuddered.Neighbor.“I’m sorry, Al. I don’t think I can do this. It’s too weird.”If weird meant heartbreaking and soul crushing.

She stepped backward and moved to close the door. Al’s hand slapped against it, and he pushed his way inside.

“I’m sorry. You can’t do this? Can’t do what?” He stalked toward her, matching her step for step until she was backed up against the wall. He propped his hands just above her head, caging her in. Staring into her eyes, he asked again, “Can’t do what, Jeannie-girl?”

“This.” Her voice cracked as she waved her hand between them. “Friendly banter shit. Best friends taking on the world shit. It’s not the same anymore.”

“And why is that?” The smirk on his lips showed he knew exactly what she was talking about.

“You know why.”

“Because you’ve felt the power of Al Junior?” He stepped back and waved toward his crotch.

“It’s too awkward. Once you’ve exchanged, uh, fluids, things just aren’t the same anymore.”

He looked down at his phone and started scrolling while he spoke. “It would be awkward if one of us wanted more than one night. If one of us was pining for the other, desperate to turn our friendship into something more, while the other one was aloof and didn’t care. But that’s not us, is it?” he asked, setting the phone on the side table and walking into the kitchen.

“Definitely not our situation,” she whispered, heart in her throat.

Within seconds, he was back with a broom and “Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake played from his phone.

“Al? Why are you playing a stripper song? And why are you—oh my God. Please stop!”

Jeannie burst into laughter as Al began a ridiculous dance that involved grinding against the broom handle. Oh, howshe’d missed this. Whenever she’d been stressed about her parents, her brother, money, or boys, Al was always there to make her laugh.

“Oh yeah. I know this body of mine is a huge distraction.” He bent over and began what was supposed to be twerking but was closer to a seizure. Jeannie laughed more, feeling the tension ease.

“But here’s the thing.” He straightened and walked back over to where she stood against the wall. “You can’t dothis?” he asked, leaning down until their foreheads touched. “Well, too fucking bad, because I can’t dolifewithout you. We’ll figure it out. We’ll drink too much. Smoke some of Snow’s weed. Whatever. We’ll figure it out, whatever it takes. I can’t lose you from my life. You’re a part of my soul.” He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and stepped back, as if that settled everything. “Now go change your fucking clothes and let’s run.”