The Rules of Dating My Best Friend's Sister(30)

I sat up. “No, it’s really not fine. And you know what? I did check you out before. I’m making you sleep on the floor because I think you’re attractive and have guilt over that. But you’re like my big brother, and that’s ridiculous. So get your butt up here.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

I was all bold and righteous until Holden slipped under the covers. Then my body became acutely aware of just how close he was. He rolled onto his side so we were facing each other and tucked his hands under his cheek. I could see his eyes, even though it was dark.

“How was your weekend at home?” Holden spoke softly. “Do anything special?”

“Not really. Just hung out with Warren and my parents.”

“Where do you sleep when you go home?”

“I slept at Warren’s one night, but I stayed at my parents’ the next.”

“That’s right. You were in Ryan’s room when we were texting. But how come you slept at your parents’ on your last night?”

I shrugged. “I guess I just wanted to spend some time with my mom. And…Warren sort of sprung something on me last night, and I needed a little space to clear my head.”

“What did he spring on you?”

“He’s applying for a job in California. He wants us to move there.”

“What? Are you going to go?”

I sighed. “I don’t know that I have a choice. It’s his dream job.”

“But what about you, Lala? What have you always dreamed of?”

“I’m not sure I’ve had a lifelong dream like Warren has. He’s a cancer researcher because his mom died from cancer when he was only seven. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but it’s not the same. When I was seven, all I wanted to do was marry Beast from Beauty and the Beast.”

“Beast? Not the handsome dude he turns into at the end?”

“No, I actually had a big crush on Beast. I thought he was cute.” I laughed.

“Not surprising. You also used to dress up in your communion dress and make Ryan officiate your wedding to your stuffed sloth.”

I laughed. “I can’t believe you remember that.”

“Of course. And you stole that shark tooth necklace I used to wear to dress your sloth up for the wedding.”

I bit my lip. “You know why I did that?”

“Why?”

“Because I was pretending you were the sloth. I had the biggest crush on you back then, and I liked to pretend we were getting married.” I laughed, but Holden didn’t. His eyes were so damn serious.

“I had the biggest crush on you, too, Lala.”

Oh God. I had the craziest urge to lean in and kiss him. My attraction was so intense, stronger than ever. My breath came out in small pants, and I started to fear that if I didn’t rein things in, I might do something stupid. So I feigned a giant yawn, stretching my arms over my head and all.

“Man, I’m so tired all of a sudden. I should get some sleep.” Without waiting for a response, I flipped over, putting my back to him. “’Night, Holden.”

He waited a few heartbeats before responding. “Goodnight, Lala.”

I’m not sure how long it took me to fall asleep, but it was definitely a few hours. And when I woke up the next morning, Holden was…spooning me.

I could feel his dick against the crack of my ass.

Oh.

My.

God.

His gentle snore told me it wasn’t intentional, but that didn’t stop my body from reacting. My nipples hardened, and I felt myself swell and grow wet, as if getting ready for action to come.

What if I pushed back? Rubbed myself up and down the length of him, just once. He wouldn’t even have to know.

Then again, I would know. And I’d probably wind up with a rash every day from stressing over what I’d done. So instead, I forced myself to slip out of the bed. Morning sun was already streaming in through the windows, and a cold shower was in order, for sure.

Inside the bathroom, I turned the water on and undressed. Just as I put one foot into the shower, something buzzed loudly from the other room.

Shit. My phone! That was probably my alarm going off.

Not wanting to wake Holden, I grabbed a towel from the rack, wrapped it around me, and rushed out of the bathroom. But in my haste, I ran smack into Holden standing outside the bathroom door. And he had a massive hard-on bulging from his boxers.

Seeing my eyes grow wide, Holden looked down. “Shit. Sorry. I didn’t realize. I was just bringing you your phone.” He held my phone out, and Warren’s name flashed between us like a lighted billboard in Times Square.

Welp, that worked better than a cold shower…





CHAPTER 8


Holden



Lala disappeared into the bathroom to talk to Warren in private, right after she’d ogled my morning wood, which didn’t help my predicament one single bit.

Why did it fucking piss me off that she was talking to her fiancé?

Was I pissed, or was I guilty? It was probably both. I didn’t feel guilty because of him. I felt guilty because I knew I’d put her in a position where she experienced guilt.

I slipped my pants on while listening to the muffled sound of her conversation, struggling to make out what she was saying over the fan she’d turned on in the bathroom.