Page 36 of Only Between Us

“I know,” Aidan cuts in.

Brooks tucks me into his side and turns an unimpressed look on Aidan. “I’ve got her from here.”

“Yeah, all right. I’ll see you tomorrow, Cee.” Aidan doesn’t even spare me a look. He’s still stuck on Brooks. Awed, like the massive football fan he is. He’s been peppering me with questions since I told him we were together. “It was great to meet you, man.”

Was it?

Maybe you needed to be pressed into his side to feel the arctic chill radiating from Brooks. So much for the charming guy at yesterday’s signing event.

I wait until Aidan is out of earshot before splitting away from Brooks. “What’s with you today?”

“What do you mean?”

With a hand on the small of my back, Brooks guides me to thepassenger side of his car, clearing the seat of his gym bag and tossing my helmet into his back seat. He waits until I’m comfortably settled before making his way behind the wheel.

“The coffees, chauffeuring me around? You looked at Aidan like you were hoping the sky caves in on his head. Youkissedme.”

“The guy looks at you like he’s seen you naked.” He slices me with a look when I open my mouth. “Don’t fucking say it, Pip. Or so help him God.”

Oh my God. He’sjealous.

I don’t even know what to make of that.

There’s an open pack of gummy worms in one of the cupholders between us, and I help myself to one. This guy and his sugar cravings. “Aidan is completely harmless. We’ve been friends since we were kids.”

Brooks rolls to a stop at a sign. “Did you end it with him?”

“We haven’t been together since you and I met.”

He’s silent for a beat. “Since we made the rule about not seeing other people.”

“No. I mean, we haven’t been together since you and I got stuck in the coaches’ booth. We met and Aidan just didn’t… appeal.” I don’t know why I cared enough to admit that, but the moment I see the flash of surprise in his eyes, I know I’ve done the right thing.

Even more so when Brooks holds my gaze and says, “Thank you. For doing that.”

I nod, unsure of why I can’t look away from him. “I said I would.”

His smile comes and goes fast. “Yeah, well. Sometimes it’s easier said than done.”

“What, monogamy?” I stare at his profile. He doesn’t reply, instead going for another gummy worm as the engine roars. “He’s a huge football fan. Trust me, those looks saidfanboy,notfuckboy.”

The corner of Brooks’s mouth ticks up. “You mean I should’ve offered to sign his ass?”

“He would’ve shamelessly agreed, then showed it off to whoever would look. The guy owes you one. He’s been getting laid just by association.”

“Does he always stay back late with you?”

“Only when I need the help with inventory. Everything else I handle myself.”

“And you really run the shop by yourself?”

I fiddle with the zipper on my purse. “Ship Happens was my dad’s baby—I don’t trust anyone else to do right by him. Anyway, hiring people isn’t in the cards. It’s a seasonal business and we don’t have the cash flow.”

“Is that why you agreed to date me? To hire more people?”

I stall with a length of gummy worm, ultimately deciding I’m still not in the mood to share with him. “If you must know, I agreed to date you because of all the crazy rumors online about your huge, monster-sized—”

“Deflection dick jokes? Really?”