Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
I took off my overshirt and used it to cover him, since he’d fallen asleep on top of the covers. Then I put away the food and drinks as quietly as I could before taking a seat at the small table beside the window. The curtains were drawn, but I opened a narrow gap in them and watched the parking lot.
There was a knot of worry in the pit of my stomach. It had been there all day. What if whoever had tried to grab us off the city streets managed to track us down? Would I have what it took to keep Andy safe? I’d been a decent bodyguard back in the day, but all I’d had to do was follow famous people around and discourage their overly enthusiastic fans. This was something else entirely, and I was nothing more than a regular guy with a total lack of special abilities.
I’d tried so hard to be more than that. I worked out religiously to make myself stronger, and I’d gotten training and become a bodyguard so I could protect people—to basically do what my mom used to, but without any of her powers.
It didn’t feel like nearly enough.
It was almost five p.m. when Andy finally woke up. “Sorry,” he mumbled, as he reached for his glasses. “I hadn’t intended to fall asleep.”
“It’s fine. I’m glad you got some rest.”
“I need to make some calls. I want to check in with April before she leaves for the day. I also want to call my family, and my best friend.”
“What about your girlfriend?”
He looked confused. “What makes you think I have a girlfriend?”
“I saw you holding hands with an attractive woman once, on your lunch break.”
“That was Moira. We’ve been best friends all our lives, and even if I wasn’t gay, there’d be absolutely no way we’d date. We’re basically brother and sister.”
“So then, do you have a boyfriend?”
“No. I’m perpetually single.”
As soon as he said that, one thought jumped up and smacked me in the face—maybe I have a shot with him. This flustered me way more than I would’ve expected. I got up from the table and self-consciously crossed my arms, then uncrossed them before awkwardly putting my hands on my hips.
He glanced at me and asked, “What about you?”
“Same, gay and single.” I needed a moment to get my shit together, so I told him, “I think I’ll stretch my legs while you make those calls.”
I hurried outside and started doing laps around the building while I mulled things over. I’d always found Andy attractive, but I’d tried to ignore it when I thought he was a straight guy with a girlfriend.
Suddenly, all sorts of possibilities had opened up—not that I should be thinking about this now. I needed to be focused and vigilant, not daydreaming about what his body would feel like pressed against mine. Plus, what if I made a pass at Andy and he wasn’t into it? That could make our time together painfully awkward.
Then again, what if he felt the same way I did?
I had a decision to make. Should I take a chance and let him know I wanted us to be more than friends? Or was it better to let things stay the same?
CHAPTER 11
ANDY
I opened the curtains and took a seat at the table by the window, and while I made some calls, I watched Sam do lap after lap around the building. He was distracted and talking to himself, including hand gestures.
Once my last call ended, I opened the door and stepped outside. Sam yelped and narrowly avoided colliding with me, and I asked, “What are you doing?”
He seemed nervous about something as he smiled at me and stuck a stray lock of hair behind his ear. As usual, he was wearing a bun, but it was starting to unravel. So was Sam, apparently. “Just, you know, getting some exercise.”
“Are you hungry? I know it’s early, but I slept through lunch.”
That immediately set him into motion. He hurried into our room and started digging through the mini fridge as he asked, “What are you in the mood for? I got four kinds of burritos, some yogurt, and a pack of string cheese. It was hard to find healthy stuff at the mini mart. I also got bottled water and beer.” I perused the burrito selection, and once I’d made my choice he insisted on heating it up for me.
Minutes later, both of us were seated at the table with our makeshift dinner, and I told him, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat anything besides burritos.”
“That’s because they’re the perfect food, no matter if it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And they’re always good. Even though these came from a truck stop, I’ll bet they turn out to be tasty.”
Mine was molten inside, so I tore it in half to let it cool and took a sip of water. Meanwhile, he downed half a bottle of beer before asking, “Did you get ahold of April?”