Page 44 of Pinky Promises

Cal’s bedroom door is closed when I arrive home, but I can hear the sounds coming from his TV. After a quick shower, I change into comfortable clothes. I sit on the edge of my bed and stare at my door, wishing I had X-ray vision like all those superhero movies he has made me watch over the years.

I know there is no more avoiding. This conversation needs to happen here and now; no more putting it off. I stalk out of my bedroom, not stopping till I’m standing in front of his door. I run my sweaty palms over my shorts.

I lift my hand to knock and drop it back down multiple times.Come on, Brynn, you can do this. Just do it.Finally, my knuckles come in contact with the wood. I have almost talked myself out of it and am ready to turn on my heels and run back to hide when the door whips open.

“Hey,” Cal says, running his fingers through his hair.

He leans against the doorframe, crossing his arms and ankles. My gaze drops from his eyes to his bare chest. Damnit, why couldn’t he be wearing a shirt for this moment? Would it be too much for me to ask him to grab one first?

“Brynn?” I lift my gaze and pray there’s no drool hanging from my mouth. Staring at his body, all I can focus on is the desire to drag my tongue over every muscular nook and cranny.

“Huh?” He smirks, knowing that my focus had been on his body.Asshole.

“You were the one who knocked on my bedroom door. Did you need something?”

“Oh right, of course.”Focus, Brynn, focus.Shit, what did I want to tell him? All coherent thought has entirely left the building as soon as he stepped into view.Quick, say something—anything! “I came here to tell you that this thing—” I move my hand back and forth between us. “—this thing can’t happen again.”What? That’s not what I meant to say. Why did I say that?

“That’s what you came here to say?”

I nod.No! Shake your head no.

“Anything else?”

I twist my lips and pull the corner of my bottom lip between my teeth as I go over everything I had planned to say on the way over—none of which I actually say to him. What happened to “I want to give this a try and see where it goes?” It’s too late to take my words back once they’re out there.

“Nope, that’s about it.”Stop lying, Brynn. What the hell are you doing? Tell him the truth.

“Good.” Before I have a chance to respond or even breathe, he pushes off the doorframe, his hand gripping the back of my neck, yanking me against his chest.

Is he going to kiss me? “Okay, if that’s what you want.” He drags his nose along my cheek, and my breathing stalls.

He lingers for just a moment before he brushes past me and heads down the hall.What the hell just happened? That’s it?