Wanting Reed (Break Me) BOOK 2 by Antoinette Candela Page B

because the waiting area is packed.
    “Good luck with that,” I reply, glancing over my shoulder.
    “No worries. It gives me time to write my music.” She squeezes the guy’s arm next to her. “By the way, this is my boyfriend Link.”
    “What’s up?” I say, extending my hand to him. “You go here?”
    “No, I just came by to keep this pain in the ass company.” He laughs and swiftly moves out of the way to avoid her punch.
    “Link plays in a band. You should check them out sometime.” She recovers and looks back up at me.
    “I’d like that.”
    “Piper Brody and Link Stevenson. Here’s my number,” she says as she scribbles on a piece of paper and hands it to me. “And look us up on Facebook. All the deets are posted for his next gig.” She nudges me with her forearm as they pass me on the way to the office.
    “All right,” I say, thinking I may need to make a whole new bunch of friends since I already lost the ones I had. They seem kind of cool and run in a different circle than I was used to when I first moved to Boston. I’m thinking if I take this job tonight at the bar, I’m going to be exposing myself to a tougher crowd altogether. There will be no more screaming kids to handle, but rather some drunk ass motherfuckers to manhandle, which is fine by me. I haven’t seen the place yet, but knowing Luke’s tastes, it’s gonna be some kind of fucking dive.

 
     
     
    “Are you decent?” Tyler calls out. I hear the door slam and his feet cross the hardwood floors, probably on his way to the kitchen to get the last of the apple pie. My rule about not giving a key was short-lived or never really happened. It’s only been a week, and he’s already made himself at home. I’ve complained to Tyler that giving him a spare key was a bad idea, but he doesn’t think so. He said he needs one in case of emergencies, but he did not really explain what he meant by emergencies. “Are you ready or what?”
    “Holy shit, T. You’re early,” I reply as I button my jeans and tuck in my T-shirt. I take one last glance at myself in the mirror and pull back my hair into a ponytail. The plan is to register for classes today, so Tyler took the morning off from the center to go with me. He’s standing in my kitchen, exactly where I thought he would be, sticking a fork into the middle of the apple pie without cutting a slice or using a plate. “I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to eat my food like that.”
    “Shit, you know you bought this specifically for me.” He smirks as he shoves a forkful of apple pie into his mouth. He then closes his eyes and moans with pleasure. I’m instantly reminded of the kiss we shared the other day and I don’t know why. After kissing, I thought things would be different, but thankfully, they’re not. Since Reed has left and my breakup with Cane, I have relied more heavily on Tyler and everything I feared that would ruin our friendship hasn’t occurred. It was not just a kiss, but crossing that line I drew in the sand. I wonder now if I should have erased it years ago.
    Whasome?” he asks with a mouthful of pie.
    “Someone is lacking in the manners department.” I cringe as I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and stand in front of him. He swallows, places the pie onto the counter and gestures for the water bottle. “God, I’ve become your maid in my own apartment,” I reply as I twist off the cap and hand him the bottle. He takes a sip and throws me a mischievous look that travels from my toes, hovers at my lips and then rests on my eyes.
    “You don’t want to know what I’m thinking right now, do you?” He bites his lip and speaks before I can answer. “Ya know those black and white maid outfits? I think you’d be one sexy little maid.” He smirks, eyeing me without shame.
    “Ugh.” I step away from him, but he grabs me. He places his arms on either side of me, trapping me against the counter. My body becomes rigid and blood rushes to my