Page 4 of Next Thing You Know

I swallowed nervously. “I wanted to do something different. It’s been this color since I was a kid, and... I don’t know. It could be a bad idea. Do you think it’s stupid?”

“What color did you get?”

“Pink.”

Beau’s mouth turned up into a big smile, and goosebumps broke out over my skin. He was handsome. Wait. No. I wasn’tinto dudes. Was I? Could I be into him? Would I let him kiss me if he asked? I might. His lips looked soft and inviting.

“Pink would look good. I think you should try it. Do you want some help?”

“You’d do that?” I asked.

He nodded. “Sure. We can do it here if you want.”

“That would be great. The last time I colored it, I made a mess, missed half of the back of my head, and ended up staining my neck as well as my fingers. Not my best look.” I chuckled softly.

“You don’t get it done professionally?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Nah, I mean, I could, but this reminds me of when I was younger. Like the first time, you know? When Kill and I were just thirteen and stupid. My hands were stained for weeks. I thought my parents were going to fucking murder me when I came home, but they barely blinked an eye. It was usually Maverick who got in trouble.” I grimaced when I realized I said too much.

“You’re close to your brother,” Beau commented. If he noticed I wasn’t comfortable talking about my parents, he didn’t mention it. And for that, I was grateful.

I smiled. “We had a few years where things were weird between us, but we’re good now. What about you? Any siblings?”

“I have a younger sister, Samantha.” Beau didn’t offer up anything else before he reached for the bag on my wrist. “May I?”

I handed it to him. “Nothing fancy. The same shit I always buy.”

“Manic Panic. I didn’t know they still made this crap. It’s been around since...” He stopped to pin me with those blue eyes. “Well, at least since I was a kid.”

“You say that like you’re older or something.”

“I’m older than you think.”

I scoffed. “Whatever, dude. Talk to me when you’re thirty.” But when he didn’t laugh, I stared at him with curiosity. “Uh, how old are you?”

“You want to dye your hair now?” Beau avoided the question.

I did not. “Wait, you’re not going to answer me?” Why was this such a weird thing for him?

“You can Google the answer to any questions you might have about me, Dean.” He started toward what I assumed was the bathroom.

I could, but I wanted him to tell me. When I followed him, I found him placing towels on the floor in front of the bathtub before he glanced over his shoulder to look at me.

“You have more questions?”

“I might.”

I met his eyes in the mirror, my gaze moving over his face. I couldn’t hide the reaction my body was having to him. This strange buzzing under my skin. It was something that had never happened to me before when it came to a man. Or a woman, for that matter, now that I thought about it.

Beau smirked. “I’m sure you do.”

“Why are you being so secretive?” I was more than curious now. Not that I cared. Okay, lie. I did. I was a nosey fucker when I wanted to be.

“I’ll tell you what.” He turned around to face me. “I’ll answer any questions you may have, if you do the same for me.”

I could do that. “Sure, of course, ask anything. I’m an open book.”

“Fine, I’ll go first.” Wait, now? “Have you ever been with a man before?” Beau asked.