Page 22 of Irreconcilable Attractions (Westwend Boys #1)

Colton

Sweat dripped down my back uncomfortably as we walked in the early morning heat through the already crowded lawn of Town Hall.

It was a weekly routine for Chris and I to come by the farmer’s market every Saturday to keep up on seasonal trends and stock Bikini Beans with local wares.

She was currently eyeing some honey at one of the booths eagerly, her all black attire giving me vicarious heat exhaustion.

But, she wasn’t the only reason I was out here today.

Glancing over, I checked again to see if Derek had finally finished picking out the peaches he wanted. He hadn’t.

“Loook!” Chris cooed, pulling my attention back toward her. She was cradling a peached-shaped honey jar like it contained the elixir of life with an overly excited grin plastered to her face. “It’s peach-infused honey! And it comes in such a cute jar!”

She looked at me expectantly, probably wanting just as much enthusiasm. I absently eyed the container, trying to muster some semblance of positivity toward the thing. “Cute. Are there bits of fruit floating in it?”

“Yes!” She practically squealed, bouncing on her heels slightly. “Don’t you think this would be so yummy on some croissants? We could call it Peach, Please.” After a pause where I gave no response, she continued. “Or, or… Peach Better Have My Honey!”

Eagerness radiated off her and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stifle my groan. Peaches were the primary staple at the market this time of year. Everything was peach this, peach that. After twenty-seven years of living through peach-induced chaos every summer, I was over it.

But, peach-flavored this-and-that sold well with the tourist population who specifically traveled to the area to get fresh fruit. And I couldn’t argue against the numbers on our income report.

“Sounds good.” I murmured, glancing back toward where Derek was still eyeing his selection. Seems I wouldn’t be escaping the madness at home, either—that was, if he actually picked something out.

Chris followed my line of sight, then gave me a friendly shoulder bump.

“How have things been going?” She asked, nodding her head toward my roommate.

“Fine.” I shrugged noncommittally, turning away from the man in question. Somehow, I knew if I looked at him too long, Chris and her magic psychic powers would pick up more than I said aloud.

She hummed, pursing her lips as she studied me. Shit, it was hot. I could feel more sweat pooling along my brow—and it totally wasn’t from how she was staring at me.

I let out a small breath of air when she turned her attention to the jar in her hand, inspecting it over instead.

“You know… Someone went out recently. Did that certain someone get their peach devoured?” She asked, glancing up at me with a devilish grin on her face.

I shook my head and glanced back toward Derek who was now perusing some zucchinis. He was scrutinizing them in a totally non-sexual way, but my brain couldn’t help latching onto the innuendo there. Yeah, I didn’t need that visual in my head.

“Weird.” Chris’s voice had me turning back again, a dubious look on her face as she examined her nails. “You looked smoking hot that night. I can’t imagine you didn’t get any offers.”

Fuck, this farmer’s market was a war zone. Everywhere I looked was enemy lines. I was dodging bullets left and right, but I wasn’t sure how unscathed I was.

“What is this, an interrogation?” I joked, my voice sounding flat as I pulled at the collar of my shirt. “Damn, it is really hot this morning.”

She gave me an unimpressed look before staring pointedly at my roommate.

“ He didn’t offer?” She asked, cocking an eyebrow in my direction.

Okay, this was easy. No white lies needed to get around this question.

“Nah, he’s?—”

“Straight, remember?” We said in unison as Chris rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, yeah. You keep saying that, but I’m not buying it.” She said, turning to keep walking along the row of stalls. I followed after her casually, trying to wrap my head around that last bit.

“What do you mean you aren’t buying it? He said he’s straight, so he is. As much as I love your delulu fantasies, this one isn’t going to pan out.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulders when I caught up to her, pressing into her side affectionately.

She huffed a bit, crossing her arms in annoyance before cocking her head to look up at me. “I’m still shocked you didn’t get any action the other night. Just not feeling the club then?”

“Nah, no one there really caught my eye. It happens.” Okay, well, here were the white lies. I wasn’t going to admit to anyone, even my best friend, that I’d skipped out on a potentially fantastic BJ just to wallow in my shower after pity-masturbating.

She gave a noncommittal hum that made me want to punch the air in triumph. I’d successfully made it through the danger-zone.

I was just about to suggest we turn back to get Derek when my arm was forcibly snatched from around Chris’s shoulder. Both Chris and I let out surprised yelps at the intrusion into our space.

“Derek?” I choked out when I looked back at my assailant, surprised by how forcefully he was gripping my wrist and the wild look in his eye.

“Sorry,” He apologized, his expression turning sheepish. “I turned around from buying some stuff and you were both gone. I guess… I panicked a little.”

Chris and I exchanged a glance before she sent a warm smile his way.

“No worries, I get a little freaked out being in crowded places alone, too. I’m sorry we left you.” That seemed to settle whatever was raging in Derek’s head a little because he offered a weak smile back and shrugged.

I glanced between the hand that was still holding onto my wrist and to the bag of produce in the other.

“What did you get?” I asked, hoping to ease him more with conversation.

“Peaches and zucchini.” He let go of my wrist and lifted the bag with a tight smile. Beside me, Chris snorted out a laugh. I shot her a glare before offering a weary smile back to my roommate.

“Am I missing something?” Derek looked like a kicked puppy as he glanced between the two of us.

“No,” Chris offered a sweet grin, patting Derek on the arm. “Colton just hates peaches”

I shot her another glare. “Hate is a strong word. I just…tire of them quickly. Plus, not everyone is into peaches.”

She rolled her eyes, shrugging a little. “I think those people would learn to like peaches a lot more if they just tried them.”

“Maybe, but we can’t force people to… eat things they don’t want to. That’s criminal.” I stressed, squinting my eyes at her.

She raised her hands up in defeat and I huffed out an annoyed sigh.

“Was I not supposed to buy them?” Derek shifted uncomfortably, glancing down toward his bag almost mournfully. I’d never seen him so unsure of himself and it made my chest squeeze with discomfort.

“It’s fine,” I reassured him, patting him on the arm lightly.

“There’s a peach craze every summer. It’s like pumpkins in the fall.

After a while, the flavor just gets…old.

” I concluded, still feeling like the conversation was more loaded than it needed to be…

and not because of the sexuality references tossed around.

My eyes danced over Derek’s taut features for a moment more. Something was off—and it wasn’t his dismay of having purchased stone fruit—but I couldn’t tell what it was.

“You want to keep shopping?” I motioned toward the line of booths before us, deciding it was better to just move on from the conversation altogether.

He nodded and plastered this generic smile to his face that made my belly dip.

Instead of pressing him about it, we all turned to keep browsing, but I was suddenly all too aware of Derek.

The aisles of booths were just barely big enough to allow all three of us to comfortably walk beside each other.

Instead of situating ourselves in the sudo-triangle shape we’d had when perusing earlier, Derek pressed himself between Chris and I as we walked along.

Which was weird on its own, but I chalked it up to not wanting to be left again.

But, when we passed people, he would stick to my side, our arms brushing against each other in soft caresses that made my breath catch each time.

I couldn’t be sure he was doing it deliberately, but it sure wasn’t without conscious thought, either.

At one of the stalls, his fingers kept brushing against my hand ever so slightly, making little sparks of electricity explode over my skin at the contact, as he passed me the groceries we purchased.

By the time the three of us were all collectively finished with our shopping, I felt like my head was going to explode from all the subtle touches and grazes.

Had I been dropped into a teenage romcom?

I knew my brain was probably reading way more into the situation than what was really happening, but, come on!

Someone needed to give a bi-boy’s bleeding heart a break here!

Somehow, I also knew the talk we’d had a few days ago and the subsequent teasing was feeding into my over analysis of Derek’s behavior. I felt like an idiot rushing out of the living room, but I’d known without even looking at my face that I’d transformed into a giant tomato.

But, how could I not? Derek may have been kidding around when he told me he thought I was attractive, but tell that to my stupid brain.

Derek Hammond was bad for my heart. But he was good for my soul, and that was the problem. I could see us being lifelong friends, if I could ever get over this crush. Because while I hated to admit it, yes. I had a crush on my roommate like I was some silly teenager again.

“Why don’t we get lunch?” Chris chirped merrily as we all began the walk back toward our cars. “I brought a cooler we could store everything in while we eat.”

An opportunity not to be stuck in a car with Derek while my brain was still telling me romantic lies? Sign me the fuck up.