The Happy Ever After Playlist (The Friend Zone #2)(9)

Josh wandered in from the direction of the garage, wiping his hands on a rag. “All done. Water heater’s in.”

I smiled at him. “Thanks.”

“You should have let us buy it for you,” he said, giving me a look.

Josh was like my big brother. Brandon would have been happy to know that his best friend took care of me like he did. But I didn’t like to take advantage of it. It was enough that Josh fixed half the things that broke around here for free—he didn’t need to buy the things too. I’d bought and had the water heater delivered before I even told Josh the old one had broken. Otherwise he would have just picked it up for me.

“It’s okay. I have the money,” I lied. “Took some extra commissions this week.”

He studied me for a long moment, but I didn’t break character.

“Okay.” He glanced at his phone. “Well, I’m gonna head home and tap out the sitter. Kristen’s already on her way over with dinner.”

They liked to feed me. I think they thought if they didn’t, I’d starve to death. Six months ago I’d put my foot down and only allowed dinner once a week now. They used to be here every day, but it had started to get ridiculous. They had a baby and their own lives, and I didn’t want to feel like their responsibility. Kristen would never say it, but I think it was a relief. Either because she thought I was getting better or because she was glad she didn’t have to schlep over here every day. I’d filled my freezer with Lean Cuisines and shocked them both when I didn’t die from malnourishment.

“See you later.” Josh gave me a hug, ruffled Tucker’s ears, flashed me a dimpled smile, and left.

The dog laid his head back on my lap, and I peered down at him. I took my cell phone and hit the camera icon and snapped a shot. “I bet Jason would like to see some of your vacation pictures,” I said, thumbing a text into the phone and shooting the photo off.

Sloan: All worn out after a six-mile hike!



I set my phone down and lolled my head back on the sofa. Then my cell pinged.

Jason: I bet he loved it.



Another ping.

Jason: No picture of you?



I rolled my eyes. Sexy or not, he was a stranger. I wasn’t going to send him pictures of me.

Sloan: Do you think how I look is going to have any bearing on my ability to watch your dog?



The three little dots started jumping, letting me know he was typing a response. I smiled. I’d kind of liked talking to him yesterday. I sat up and tucked my feet under me as I waited for the reply. “Your dad’s a flirt,” I said to Tucker. He looked up at me with those soft copper eyes and then put his chin back in my lap.

Jason: You’ve seen pictures of me. I don’t think it’s that weird to want to put a face to a name. You’re watching my favorite person in the world and I don’t even know you.



I twisted my lips. He had a bit of a point. But still.

Sloan: You’re a stranger. You could be a pirate.



The dots began jumping again.

Jason: Aye, that be true.



I laughed.

Jason: Do you like games?



Where was this going?

Sloan: It depends.

Jason: On?

Sloan: On whether someone ends up drunk or naked at the end of it. I don’t like those games. I always end up the sober one, driving all the drunk, naked people home.

Jason: Not that kind of game.

Sloan: I’m listening.

Jason: Every day I can ask you one question to get to know you better. And if you don’t want to answer it, you have to send me a picture.



I shook my head while I typed.

Sloan: What kind of questions are we talking about? The yes-or-no, check-a-box kind?

Jason: Lol! No, too elementary school. Real questions. I can ask anything I want, and you have to answer it truthfully.

Sloan: Do I get to ask you a question every day?

Jason: Of course.

Sloan: And if you don’t want to answer it?

Jason: I’ll answer it.

Sloan: How about if you don’t want to answer it, you have to let me keep Tucker an extra day.



There was a pause between texts. The ceiling fan made a steady clicking noise above me while I waited.

Jason: Deal.

Sloan: Deal.



His questions were going to be perverted. I was almost certain. He wanted a picture, so he’d probably ask me things he thought I’d never answer. But the game was too alluring. And I liked the idea of asking this good-looking mystery man about himself. It was kind of fun.

Jason: Ready for my first question?

Sloan: Ready.

Jason: Why don’t you paint what you want to paint?



I stared at the text. I hadn’t been expecting that.

Had he asked it to throw me off? Had my weirdness over my art shone through in our brief conversation yesterday? I let out a deep breath. Now I kind of wished there were just yes and no boxes to check.

I decided to deflect him.

Sloan: Really? This question? Seems like a waste. You get a do-over.

Jason: Don’t want a do-over.



And then,

Jason: Wouldn’t mind a picture though.



My lips pursed. “Fine,” I muttered to myself.