Read Online A Little Complicated by Kade Boehme - Free Book Online Page B

I turned back to see him boring his sad eyes into mine. Damn him, he used such a pathetic puppy face that my feet tried to carry me to him. No.
    “Ryan, just … Stay for a while?” Damn those puppy eyes and that sad tone. Between him and Lila I was in serious fucking trouble.
    “I really should go. I have stuff to do.”
    “Please.” Fuck .
    “Why? Why should I, Brady?”
    “Because!” He startled us both with his frustrated outburst. He deflated then went back to that hangdog posture. “Because, you were my best friend. Can’t we at least talk like we used to?”
    “Du de, I knew you for three months. One month longer than you dated my sister. ” He looked as annoyed at me for bringing up that fact as I felt toward him having dated Ellie. I scowled and turned, opening the door to leave.
    “In those three months I talked to you more than I’ve talked to anyone ever, okay.”
    I couldn’t help being disbelieving. “No way, you talk to everyone.”
    “I talk to everyone. I’ve only ever shared with you.”
    “Oh.” Damn him.
    “Please. Just, stay. Let’s be friends.”
    I stared at him for a while, long enough for him to squirm. I knew it was coming so I may as well. He just wanted a friend. How could I deny him that?
    I sighed. I seemed to be doing that a lot lately. “Okay.”
    “Yeah?” He brightened , looking so much like Lila had earlier that in made my stomach cramp with a mix of sadness and joy.
    “Yeah.” I shut the door. And I stayed.
     

 
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
Brady
     
    I couldn’t believe he stayed. He really stayed. Holy balls!
    Oh. Oh shit. I had no clue what to do next though. “Uh, want me to cook? I’m not very good at it. I could call for some carryout?”
    He took sympathy on me and held a hand up to stop my fumbling words. “Do you actually have anything to cook in this house?”
    I had to really think on it. “Well, Vera stocks the fridge so I’m sure there’s something.”
    “Okay. I’ll cook something.” He pointed at me. “But you’re doing the dishes.”
    “I can do that,” I said, probably a bit too eager but I couldn’t help it. This was Ryan. And Ryan was here . He was cooking for me.
    “Well, come on. I’m not standing in there cooking by myself.” He left me to follow. I liked this side of Ryan. He’d been much less assertive, dorkier in college. Never quiet, just never so forceful. To say it wasn’t giving me a boner would have been a lie.
    I watched as he pulled out pots and pans I didn’t know I even owned. He pulled out potatoes and chicken and garlic. I frowned, trying to remember having seen any of that brought in. Vera cooked sometimes because she hated Lila and me eating so much carry-out, and lord knows the woman could cook but we usually let it sit past its expiration date and ordered carry-out anyway. She didn’t understand that we felt we’d put in our time and we enjoyed our carry-out.
    But Ryan cooking for me. That was special and it made me think b ack to him making dinner for us years ago.
    “Were you guys going to have movie night without me?” I asked.
    He peeked over his shoulder at me. “Yeah. She said you’d be late so we were gonna watch Terminator. ”
    I couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. “Do you know how many times she’s watched that movie over the years?”
    “I’ll be back,” Ryan intoned more like a young, toothless Lila than like the Governator. My heart fluttered.
    Just friends . I had to keep reminding myself. That layer of ice had only melted a little and he was convinced that I was dating Ellie.
    Wait. Hadn’t I been telling myself I was done with them both just a few nights ago?
    Then I looked at his ass as he gracefully flicked something from the cutting board —again, something I didn’t know I owned— into a frying pan. I got us both a beer and watched his masterful dance around the kitchen. After the first beer we both lightened up enough for us to discuss safe things like his work and mine.