Page 4 of Sinful Nights
“I just said,let me get comfortable,” I lie, turning on the gaming console.
As usual, Oak sits behind me, one of his legs on either side of me. It’s a quiet comfort, playing games with him. Sure, there are a few times we’ll yell or get excited, but for the most part, it’s relaxing. We have code words for when we need the other to do something in the game. We tried playing online with others a few times, but damn! Those kids can be intense. All they do is yell and cuss, and it was too much, so I stopped getting on there. Oak doesn’t mind the kids going off on him; hell, he joins in, but he only gets on when I’m not here.
Halfway through the game, Oak quits, putting his controller down next to him. His hands find my shoulders next, massaging deeply as I keep playing. Oak gives the best massages. I keep telling him he should go to school to be a masseuse, but he blowsme off and says he only does it because it relaxes me. I’ve tried to return the favor, but damn, my hands hurt after a few minutes, and I had to keep giving myself a pep talk to finish the ten-minute massage I’d promised him. Whereas Oak can sit behind me for close to an hour and never complain about rubbing my back.
“I’ve gotta piss, and then we can head out,” he tells me, planting a kiss on the top of my head.
“Gotcha. I’m gonna grab my sweatshirt. I’ll meet you at the door.”
A few minutes later, we’re in Oak’s car heading toward the store. I’m not a big driver, so we usually take his car unless it’s an emergency or I have to drive myself. He drives a blue Chevy Camaro, and I’m not the biggest fan of it. It’s not only impractical, but it’s also small as hell. Neither of us is on the small side. We’re both over six feet tall, and while I’m lean but muscular, Oak is bulky. He spends at least an hour a day working out, with thick thighs and a six-pack that girls drool over. And yet, he chose this tiny-ass car that we always have to squeeze our asses into.
“So, I meant to ask you earlier, how are things with Alex?” I ask, wanting to know if I’ll ever have to see her again. God, I hope not.
“Eh, I don’t think things are going to work out with her.” My heart beats fast, a smile wanting to cross my face. He gives me a quick glance before turning his attention back to the road. “I’ve told you before, and I’ll say it again. No one comes between me and my best friend. She wanted me to choose. So, I chose.” His hand reaches my thigh, giving me a quick squeeze, before finding its way back to the steering wheel.
“I’m sorry,” I say as sincerely as I can. As much as I didn’t like her and I’m happy she’ll be gone, I hate that Oak won’t havea girlfriend in his life. He deserves to be loved fiercely and cared for. But yeah, I’m happy as hell it isn’t with Alex.
He shrugs, tapping his fingers against the wheel. “Don’t be. I’m already over it.”
“How?” I ask. “It hasn’t even been a day.”
“She was never going to be the one. I knew that from the start. She was someone I was having fun with… until it became less fun and all fighting. Not worth it anymore.”
“That easy?” Another thing I don’t understand, I guess. Investing time in someone and then being able to easily move on. And I’m not just talking about Oak. Most of the guys at Peaches—outside of the taken ones—are the same way.
“That easy. Now, enough talk about Alex. Let’s go grab some groceries.”
Oak and I walk side by side into the grocery store, stopping to grab a cart on the way in. We spend way too much time in the freezer aisle, snatching up as many frozen dinners as we can. As much as we try to cook dinner, we’re not really the cooking types, aside from breakfast, and our oven gets more work than anything else.
“Grab that turkey HungryMan, I love those,” I tell Oak, as I grab a pack of dino nuggets.
“Cole?” a soft, feminine voice asks.
Turning around, I smile big, seeing Trisha Banks standing before me. I haven’t seen Trisha in a few years. We tried to go on a couple dates during college, but it fizzled out quickly. She’s just as I remember her, with curly red hair, bright green eyes, and a huge smile that shows all her teeth.
“Hi,” I gush, walking over to her and hugging her tightly. “Wow, it’s great to see you. How have you been?”
“I’ve been great,” she beams, patting her stomach I’m just noticing is round. “Six months pregnant and loving it.”
“That’s amazing! Congratulations.”
I can sense him before I see him, a looming presence at my back. Oak drapes his arm across my shoulders pulling me close to his body. “Hey, Trish,” Oak nods.
“Oh hey, Oakley.” Her eyes widen as her gaze drifts from me to Oak. “Oh my god, did you guys finally get together?”
“Huh?”
“What?”
We both reply in unison.
“It’s just that,” her voice trails off, her finger pointing between us. “Ah, never mind. It was great seeing you, Cole. Maybe I’ll see you around again.”
“Good to see you, too.”
Oak and I watch as she walks away before laughing loudly. “Why does everyone always think we’re together?”
“I have no idea,” Oak says, squeezing me tightly before letting go. “They just don’t have a best friend like us. Now let’s go check out.” Oak kisses my forehead, then grabs the cart, taking off toward the checkout lanes.
