Second by Chantal Fernando Page A

and not those of anyone around me. Imagine what Kate and the rest of Ben’s family would say about this. It wouldn’t be pretty.
    “Yeah, that bed is really comfortable,” he says, sipping on his juice. “So you’re going in to work today? I might go catch up with a friend.”
    “Yeah, I have to go in today, but I’ll get a week from tomorrow off,” I say. Luckily for me, we’re overstaffed and the manager is a friend of mine, so it won’t be an issue to take time off. When Dean messaged saying he was coming sometime this month, I warned her about it, so she’ll be expecting it.
    “You should have given me more than a day’s warning when you found out the date you were coming,” I chide, watching as he devours a piece of bacon.
    “I only found out when I messaged you,” he explains. “I was meant to perform at a festival but it got cancelled, so I pretty much just booked the next flight here straight away.”
    “Oh, I see. Well you’ll have to amuse yourself for today, but you’ve got me from tomorrow on. And what friend?” I ask, being nosy.
    “I still keep in touch with some friends from high school,” he says, chewing thoughtfully. “Mainly those who were in my band. Erin messaged to catch up, so I’ll go see her today.”
    Erin?
    “How lovely,” I say, wondering what this Erin looks like. I don’t remember her from school, but because she wasn’t in my grade I probably wouldn’t. “Are we going to talk about last night?” I suddenly blurt out. Why? I don’t know. Do I want to remind him of our kiss before he goes to meet some girl? Jesus, what is wrong with me?
    “We kissed, it was amazing. You saw me naked, it was… big,” he says, unable to keep a straight face.
    I look down into my coffee mug, wishing it would swallow me whole. “Well it was big, okay?”
    He starts laughing, broad shoulders shaking with the force of it. “I wish you could have seen your face!”
    “Yeah, laugh it up, jerk,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Excuse me if I don’t have many hot naked men walking through my apartment! If I wasn’t fazed by it, that’s when you should worry.”
    “Hot, hey?” he says, wiggling his eyebrows. “Nice to be appreciated.”
    I blink slowly a few times.
    “The whole fucking world appreciates you, what are you on about?”
    “Yeah, but I don’t care what the world thinks.” He glances up at me, his green eyes soft. “I care what you think.”
    I want to run my hands through his hair, I want to kiss his lips, but I don’t.
    I can’t.
    This has escalated, and it’s not good.
    Why does it feel so good though?
    I don’t think I’ve ever been so at war with myself.
    “You know how great I think you are, Dean,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “And I don’t just mean because of that body, or that… giant appendage.”
    His eyes dance with amusement, but he doesn’t laugh outright this time. “I’d tell you exactly what I think of you, Sabina, but I don’t think you’re ready to hear it.”
    “That bad, is it?” I joke, tapping my fingers on the table. I just played off his comment. How much of a bitch am I? When I said I didn’t think any woman would be good enough for him, I think that included me too.
    “No, that good,” he says, not letting me get away with it. Our eyes connect and hold. “Aren’t you going to be late for work?”
    Or maybe he is.
    I glance down at my watch. “Shit! Do you want to drop me off so you can take my car?”
    He nods. “Yeah, if you don’t mind.”
    “Of course I don’t mind,” I say, scowling. He bought me the damn thing after all, but even if he didn’t, what’s mine is his. “We have to leave within five minutes though or I’m going to be late.”
    Dean heads to the bathroom quickly while I put my shoes on and tidy up the kitchen. When we’re in the car, Babyface’s “What if” plays on the radio, the lyrics of the song hanging between us. The ride is short and silent, and when he stops outside the