Page 44 of Decidedly Off Limits

I shook my head. “Sorry. But we can be friends.”

He winced, but his eyes held a flash of amusement. “You’re friend-zoning me?”

“Apparently.”

Now it was his turn to laugh. “I guess friends it is.”

No sooner had Josh closed the door behind him, Mr. Kitty Whiskers meowed at it, chin raised. I could almost imagine him saying, “And stay out.” He rubbed against my leg then walked into the kitchen.

“So which was it? My brother or Trent who told you to chase away all single men from my house?” I called after him with a chuckle.

I followed him and groaned at the dishes piled in the sink. I didn’t want to leave them to dry overnight, so I loaded the dishwasher.

As I was finishing the task, my phone pinged from the counter. Trent had sent me a text:Sweet dreams

Sweet dreams to you, I texted back.

And please don’t break my heart more than it’s already breaking.

19

Kelsey

The next morning, I grabbed the sketchpad and pencils I’d bought for my drawing class. Then I made myself comfy on the couch and worked on my shading assignment…only to be interrupted a few minutes later by Holly’s tune on my cell phone. For several seconds, I deliberated if I was better off letting it go to voice mail. She was bound to be calling to share her “great” news about Trent.

Curiosity got the best of me and I answered.

“Good news,” she said. “I talked to Caleb. He had a cancellation for tomorrow at five p.m. Are you finished work by then?”

“Cancellation for what?”

“Tennis lessons.”

Oh. “I’m not—”

“Before you tell me that you don’t think it’s a good idea or tell me you’re busy when you’re not, I promise you won’t regret it. He’s a great instructor…and he’s single.”

“But I’m not—”

“I know, you’re not looking for a relationship, but you might change your mind once you meet him. I mean, unless something happened between you and Josh last night.” The ending came out with a small lilt, a question as to what really happened after she and Trent left.

“Nothing happened. I’m not interested in him that way. What about you?”Shit, why did I have to ask her that?

She sighed, the sound of someone who had hoped for a wild night of hot sex…and had to settle for a cold shower. “Nothing to report on my front. Unfortunately. I drove Trent back to his place and he didn’t even ask me in. Although judging from his foul mood, it was just as well. I don’t think anything would’ve happened either way.”

Being the mature person that I was, I totally didn’t do a happy dance on my couch. “Foul mood? What do you mean?”

“He spent most of the trip scowling like a kid who’d had his favorite toy stolen from him.”

“Did he say anything?”Did he mention the kiss?

“No. He was quiet the entire time. I tried to get him to talk, but after a few minutes I gave up.” She sighed again.

I mentally cheered. I had no idea what last night’s kiss meant to Trent, but Holly’s news gave me a glimmer of hope. As foolish as it was, there was a large part of me that wished the kiss meant as much to Trent as it meant to me.

Shit, what are you thinking? Remember Erin? Your best friend? The one who would disown you if something happened between you and her brother?

Never mind that I was nothing like She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. If things didn’t work out between Trent and me, I would never start rumors about Erin, and I wouldn’t call her every bad name under the sun (and then some).