Page 3 of Santino (The Camboy Network #4)
But all of that? None of it compares to the real Hayden Summers standing in front of me. Like, not even a little bit.
I’m a very respectable five-eleven-and-a-half, but I have to tilt my head back to see his face.
His wavy hair falls over his forehead like he’s tried to quickly comb it with his fingers, but didn’t succeed.
His lashes are a shade lighter than his hair, so it looks like he’s got feathers lining his eyes.
And those eyes. Holy shit. I swear, they fucking glow.
I’m stunned as Bellamy introduces us in the hallway. This is actually him. Hayden Summers. In the flesh. Looking like a Greek god. That really hot one. I mean, I think they’re all supposed to be really hot, but the hottest of them all. That’s him—Hayden Summers.
They expect me to live with this guy? Share a bathroom with him? Sleep in the room next to his? Shit. I’m going to be walking around with a permanent hard-on for the next few weeks.
“Hey! Welcome!” His voice is so deep, I feel it more than hear it. He holds out his hand and when I take it, his fingers swallow mine up whole. His smile is so bright, it feels like the sun is breaking through the ceiling and shining directly down on me.
I make a strangled sound that’s supposed to be a hello.
He leads us down a long hallway that opens up into a living area.
It’s not huge, but it’s got all the essentials—big couch, big coffee table, big TV—with enough room for five or six guys without feeling claustrophobic.
Two large windows look out on to the street and in one of them is an air conditioning unit pumping cool air into the apartment. Thank fucking god.
Hayden crosses the living room, talking as he goes.
“This is the living room, obviously,” he says with a laugh that sounds a little on edge.
He pushes his fingers through his hair and tugs on the hem of his t-shirt with the other.
Then he hikes up the gray sweatpants that are hanging low on his hips.
“Kitchen’s through here. Help yourself to anything in the cupboards or the fridge. I like to cook, so let me know if there’s anything you want to eat and I can make it for you. Oh, and if you have any allergies or anything.”
He doesn’t seem to know what to do with his hands.
They slip into the pockets of his sweatpants.
Then he pulls them out and clasps them together.
He folds his arms across his chest, then unfolds them again to gesture to an open door.
“That room there is yours. I just changed the sheets and the towels on the bed are fresh. The bathroom’s right next to it.
Feel free to use the shampoo and soap. Most of it is left over from Rhys, so it’s all pretty good stuff. ”
He spins around a bit, gaze darting everywhere, like he’s trying to make sure he isn’t forgetting anything. “Um, I think that’s it? It’s pretty basic. Sorry.”
Okay, so the guy looks like a Greek god, but he’s actually pretty adorable. Real golden retriever vibes. Like he has more excitable energy than he knows what to do with and wants to be everyone’s best friend.
It makes him way less intimidating and I manage to stop fanboying enough to speak. “Oh man, don’t be sorry. This is amazing. Thanks for letting me stay here.”
The smile he flashes me practically melts my insides. “No worries at all. Seriously. I’m not really used to living alone, so you’re like, doing me a favor. And um, sorry, I didn’t get a chance to clean up before you got here. It’s not usually this messy.”
I don’t know what he’s talking about because the place is basically immaculate. There’s one empty glass on the coffee table, a few Amazon boxes broken down and leaning against the wall, and a couple piles of books sitting around the room. “Seriously? You should see my place. It’s never this clean.”
“It’s true.” Bellamy backs me up. “We always had empty takeout containers and greasy pizza boxes everywhere.”
The horrified look on Hayden’s face is so fucking cute. “But you’ll get mice and cockroaches if you don’t throw that stuff out right away.”
Bellamy and I share a pained look. “We might’ve had a mouse or two,” I admit. “But I promise I won’t leave anything out while I’m here, I swear,” I add quickly when Hayden’s expression of horror grows worse.
He nods and murmurs a quiet, “thanks,” but I don’t think he’s convinced.
Great. Way to make a good first impression. Now the Greek god thinks I’m a disgusting slob he’ll have to put up with for the foreseeable future. I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t kick me out the second Bellamy and Noel leave.
“If you’re all done talking about cleaning—” Noel shudders visibly. “Can we get out of here now?”
Ugh, what is wrong with the guy? Does he really have to be such an asshole all the time? Bellamy smacks him again with an indulgent shake of his head, but Hayden doesn’t seem fazed at all by Noel’s attitude.
“Thanks for picking Santino up from the airport!” he says instead. Which like, he doesn’t have to thank Noel on my behalf, especially not Noel of all people.
But he’s being so polite, so now I guess I have to be nice to Noel too. “Yeah, thanks so much.”
Noel’s only acknowledgement is a half-hearted raise of a hand before he turns for the door.
Bellamy’s a little slower to follow. “You guys good to meet us at the restaurant later?”
Hayden nods eagerly. “Yeah, we’re good. I’ve got it covered. Leave it to me.”
“Awesome. Thanks, bro. See you later.”
Hayden sees them out and when he returns, it’s just the two of us standing in the living room.
I don’t usually have a problem talking to strangers, but I must be fanboying again because I can’t think of a single thing to say.
Hayden rakes his fingers through his hair.
He doesn’t seem to know what to say either.
“Do you want something to drink?—”
“I guess I’ll go get settled?—”
We end up talking over each other, then dissolving into nervous giggles. When our gazes meet again, the vision of him takes my breath away. Goddamn, this man is gorgeous. And now I’m living with him. I don’t know if I’m the luckiest bastard alive or if I’m fucked. Both. Both. It’s probably both.