Page 18 of Sunflower Persona (Classic City Romance #2)

Even after hearing it repeated all day, my chest still grows warm from the compliment. Every time we finished a rep, he showered me with praise. I think I could have walked in a straight line and he would have told me I was doing amazing.

“We didn’t actually do that much defending. I thought you were going to teach me how to kick someone’s ass.”

“Unless you are willing to commit to practicing it, all that would do is instill you with a false sense of confidence, and that’s how you end up getting hurt.”

“And if I was willing to commit?”

“I’m more than happy to keep working with you if that is what you’re asking. Next time we can start working on some basic escapes.”

“Next time being…”

“The bar isn’t open on Sunday, so this time works well for me. Is next week good for you?”

“It’s perfect.”

He’s perfect.

What I felt before was barely embers compared to the raging inferno that Coach Gage ignites.

On the mats, he sheds that broody shell of his and becomes this confident force to be reckoned with.

I can’t help but imagine where else he might let this version of himself shine.

My dreams are going to go in a whole different direction.

“Are you going to the game night thing tonight?” I ask as I try to push away the invasive thoughts.

This isn’t the time or place for me to be thirsting after him.

“At Morgan’s place?”

“I think so? Evelyn just sent the address.” I pull out my phone and show him the text.

“Yeah, that’s it,” he confirms. “I’ll be there. Are you thinking about coming?”

“Maybe, I’m not sure. Should I?”

Is it really an invitation if it only comes from one person?

The rest of the group might not even know she offered.

What if I show up and ruin their fun…again?

She could have only asked to be polite, or maybe out of pity.

They all might think I’m a stage-five clinger if I show up there.

I shouldn’t go. I won’t go. Playing Monster Hunter by myself will be just as fun.

“I’d like it if you came.” The soft words snap me out of the death spiral of thoughts plaguing my mind.

“Really?” I squeak.

“Of course. It will be fun, and the others have been asking about you.”

They have…?

Fuck it. Making friends has been my whole mission, and it’s staring me in the mouth. I’d be a fool not to take it—or at least a coward.

“Then I guess I’m in.”

“Good. I’ll see you then.”

With an awkward wave, he turns and walks toward the road.

“Where are you going,” I call out.

“Home.”

“On foot?”

“It’s only a few miles.”

“There aren’t even sidewalks out here. Let me give you a ride. It’s the least I can do to pay you back for today.”

He hesitates for a moment before he relents.

“You don’t need to pay me back, so that isn’t what this is, but I’m not too proud to accept the ride.”

He doesn’t say anything else as he climbs into the passenger seat. The ceiling of my sedan is so low he has to bend his neck to fit, but he doesn’t complain. I toss him my phone to plug his address into my GPS and shift the car into drive.

“Do you walk everywhere?” I ask once we get onto the main road.

“Feels like it right now. My car is fucked, and I haven’t had a chance to fix it.”

“You’re good with cars?”

“Nope. Karis is, though. She told me what’s wrong with it, but it all sounded like gibberish to me. Once she finds a good deal on the parts she needs, she will try her best to repair it. We just haven’t had luck there.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah, but I can’t do much about it now but wait.”

Guilt claws at my throat. How much time did he spend walking here this morning to help me? We didn’t even do anything. I just yelled at him for hours. The lump in my throat makes it too hard to speak. I turn up the radio, letting the cheerful pop hits fill the silence instead.

He doesn’t move as I put the car into park outside his unit. The air between us practically vibrates in anticipation—the question is, anticipation of what? His stare locks on my face again, sharpening with that same intensity from earlier. My mouth waters as a flash of heat sparks in my core.

This is when he kisses me, right?

That’s what always happens in the movies in situations like this.

My tongue darts out, wetting my lips, and he pinches his eyes shut. He takes a deep breath, and when his lashes open, his gaze is fixed on something on the other side of the windshield.

“Thank you for the ride,” he says before climbing out of the car, and he doesn’t look back as he limps up the old wooden steps to his door.

Bitter disappointment washes through me, followed by a wave of embarrassment.

He isn’t into me like that, and he never will be.

I need to make peace with the fact all I’ll ever get from him is friendship.

It’s what I wanted to begin with, and it will have to be enough.

It’s for the best anyway. Relationships kill friend groups.

I’m not sure it would be worth the risk to pressure something with Gage, only to lose this new group of friends if it doesn’t work out.

Resolve fills me as I pull out of his complex. No matter what happens, things between us will stay platonic, even if my heart is begging for more.