Page 37 of Hard Rock Love

“It would probably be better for you overall if you did, but no, you don’t have to give up the partying.”

“I guess you didn’t go to too many parties in high school, huh?”

“I never went to any.”

Seth whistled with a wince.

“You really did sacrifice everything for good grades,” he said.

“Only you would consider it a sacrifice to not get stumbling drunk every weekend.”

“Work hard, play hard,” he said reasonably. “Don’t you do anything to let off steam?”

“Bubble baths,” I said. “With all those fancy soaps and bath bombs and oils.” I made a noise of pleasure at the thought. “I’d run the water piping hot and soak for an hour.”

“I haven’t had a bubble bath since I was a kid,” Seth said.

“What!” I sat up straight and stared at him. “None?You’re really missing out. It’s a great stress reliever.”

“Probably much better than getting drunk,” he said. “I even have this huge Jacuzzi tub in my bathroom, but I never use it. I just take showers.”

“What a waste of a good tub. I’d love to have something like that at home. I have one of those standard bathtubs. Nothing special.”

“The perks of being a rock star,” Seth said. “I also have a self-cleaning oven. You jealous?”

“Very. I have to scrub my oven by hand.”

I finished off my burger and washed the last bite down with my milkshake. I leaned back in my seat with a satisfied moan.

“I am so full,” I said. “I can’t eat another bite. That was way too much food.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have stolen so many of my fries, then,” Seth said with an arched brow.

“And here I thought I was being sneaky,” I said.

“I have a sixth-sense for fry-stealers.” Seth’s hand darted out and swiped my milkshake. Before I could cry out, he was sucking back the last few mouthfuls, until the straw made that slurping sound that told me he’d finished it off.

“You stole my milkshake!” I accused. “You’re a milkshake-stealer.”

“I thought you couldn’t eat another bite?” Seth asked.

“That was food. Milkshakes are different.”

“Are they?” he asked, amused.

“They are.”

“Well, I’m sorry then,” he said, not sounding sorry at all. “How about I pay to make it up to you?”

I wondered if this was Seth’s sneaky way of offering to pay in such a way that I couldn’t protest and offer to pay half.

“I suppose that would make it up to me,” I said. “But I’ll get the food next time.”

“Deal,” Seth replied.

As he flagged down the waitress to get the bill, I studied him. We’d had dinner together and had a great conversation with no awkwardness. Things seemed to be back to normal after that ill-conceived kiss. I was happy to know I hadn’t ruined our friendship with my dumb mistake.

My heart ached at that thought.

It had just been a mistake. There was nothing between me and Seth, and there never would be. We were friends, that was all.

Just friends.