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  Bleu: Don’t hurt yourself, Midge.

  I tossed my phone on the table, pulling the Maykin-smelling blanket over my head. I’d go to sleep, that’s what I would do. That way I wouldn’t be tempted to invite her over.

  I wouldn’t miss her if I wasn’t conscious.

  ***

  I woke to the feel of a warm body sliding close to mine. My limbs registered what was happening before my brain did. I wrapped my arm around Maykin’s front, breathing deeply. “What are you doing here, Midge?”

  She stole most of the pillow from under my head and changed the channel on the television. “Little B and E, little couch surfing.” She snuggled in deeper, pulling the blanket up to her chin and off my feet. “My studio is overrun with canvas. Even my bed has turned into storage.”

  I closed my eyes, not at all bothered by the fact that she’d come in and stolen every comfort from me. “And the sorority house?” I didn’t know why I was even questioning her, I was glad she was here. More than glad, which, if I weren’t still half asleep, would probably concern me.

  “I skipped our chapter meeting tonight, and I didn’t want to get any flack about it trying to sneak into my room undetected.” She shrugged, and I felt the movement. “I saved you a trip, now we can leave from here in the morning to go save the world one angry kitten at a time.”

  “M’kay.” I smiled, sinking down into the couch, more than happy to fall asleep with my face buried in all things Maykin. “G’night fucker.”

  “Good night.”

  Chapter Nine

  Maykin

  I’d gone to Bleu’s last night. I’d painted my ass off yesterday and I’d had every intention of passing out on the couch in my studio. But the second I’d lain down, my eyes had popped open. I hadn’t been able to sleep, and the only solution that had come to mind was to go to Bleu’s apartment. I hadn’t missed him or anything. And it certainly had nothing to do with the new racing heart and sweaty palms I developed in his presence with puppies.

  I simply thought it would save us time this morning. We’d both be able to sleep in. And, uh, my studio smelled like paint fumes. It was really healthier to crash at his place. Sure, I’d basically fallen asleep the instant his arm had wound around my body. But that was neither here nor there.

  And today? Today I was a fucking sucker. Yep, that’s what I was. And maybe, like, glutton for punishment? Because I was, once again, in charge of bathing animals. I could have been working at my studio, or studying for finals. But no, I was here at the shelter. I told myself it was because of my promise to Nicky, and my guilt for Bleu having to be here for community service.

  Yeah. That’s what I told myself.

  “Maykin, Shivers is next.”

  Shivers? Who the hell names a dog Shivers? I nodded that I’d heard Margaret, the middle-aged Bleu fan, using my forearm to push a fallen strand of hair out of my face. These people hated me, and they loved Bleu. Or. They were jealous of me, assuming I was Bleu’s girlfriend. Not that the middle-aged chick or the young dog hairdresser really had a shot in hell at getting with the tattooed prom king. He was friendly, but he didn’t give them the time of day. They weren’t his type. And they were too old, and too young. Still, they tried. And still, they treated him like freaking royalty.

  He was on dog walking and puppy duty while I was covered in suds and dog hair. I vowed, yet again, that I wouldn’t come here anymore this week. I had things to do, and Bleu knew that. He wouldn’t be mad if I skipped out on the next couple of days. And if Nicky gave me shit about it, I’d simply tell him to shove it.

  I bathed two more dogs and then went in search of Bleu. My time here wasn’t court ordered and they couldn’t shackle me to the washing station. Plus, I was really starting to think I needed to put a little distance between me and my best guy friend. Not forever, only until I could figure out what was going wrong with my brain and heart. They were fucked up right now.

  I found Bleu in the large dog area, getting an older-looking lab out of his kennel and attaching the leash to his neck. He smiled when he saw me, and I plucked the wings off the butterflies that tried to take flight in my stomach. Not on my watch, you tiny little assholes.

  “Hey, Midge, how was bath time today?”

  I sent him a sarcastic grin. “Draining.”

  “Funny.” He threw his arm around my neck, forcing me to stroll with him out into an open field.

  “How come I never get dog walking duty or puppy playtime?” I glanced back longingly at the kennels, all the happy clean dogs wagging their tails.

  He squeezed me tighter and then released me. “Because you simply aren’t as cool as I am.”

  “Wrong. It’s because I don’t have a dick.” I threw my hand down, acting like I was going to hit him in his.

  He jumped out of the way, laughing. “What does my massive pierced cock have to do with anything?”

  “All the ladies who work here are obsessed with you.”

  “Aw, Midge, don’t be jealous.” He slid his hand into my back pocket, grabbing my butt playfully. “The only girl who gets to wake up with my morning wood against her ass is you.”

  “Lucky me.”

  He smiled. “Indeed.”

  Once we got to a wooden bench at the edge of the woods, he took the dog off his leash and pulled a tennis ball from his pocket. He handed me the ball and I tossed it toward the middle of the field. The old dog bounded over to it, appearing more like a puppy in that instant than he had earlier.

  “I’m going to call a driver and head home. I really need to get some reading done for my class this afternoon.” I leaned back in my seat, my back coming into contact with Bleu’s arm.

  “Take my car, I’ll get Nicky or Evie to come pick me up later.” His hand reached up, messing with my giant bun of hair. “You can bring it back to me tonight.”

  “We have plans tonight?” Staying with Bleu, yet again, probably wasn’t smart. I needed to set some boundaries for myself. It was like I was starting to depend on seeing him. Like my day was suddenly incomplete if I wasn’t sleeping with him against my back. Which, in turn, was no doubt what was causing all my new warm, fuzzy feelings. Mystery solved, distance was the answer like I’d thought.

  “Your car is at my place, won’t you need it tomorrow?” The dog brought the ball and dropped it at Bleu’s feet. He picked it up, tossing it back out.

  “Oh, yeah, that’s right.” Duh. He wasn’t asking me to sleep over. He was asking me to come get my car from his parking garage. “Okay, yeah, I’ll see you tonight then.”

  I would see him tonight, to get my car. I’d drop off his keys and I would say I had plans and then I’d leave. I would not sleep in his bed. I would not cuddle with him on the couch.

  I do not have a thing for Bleu.

  He’s hot and he gives good spoon, that’s fucking all.

  ***

  “Hey, what are you doing? I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

  I laugh at Evie, her voice filling Bleu’s car through his hands-free system. “I’m pretty sure I saw you two days ago, we had lunch.”

  “Yeah, but that was two days ago, silly.”

  I flipped up my blinker, making a left and pulling onto Bleu’s street. “Well, you want to meet for coffee in the morning before class?” We both had early morning classes on Thursdays and SMU had a really great local coffee house in the middle of campus.

  “Sure.”

  “Okay, cool.” I drove into the well-lit parking garage. “I just got to Bleu’s. I need to go give—”

  “You’re at Bleu’s? Again?”

  I rolled my eyes at her tone and climbed out of the car, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “I’m returning his keys. I had his car today.”

  “Why did you have his car?”

  I started making my way up the three flights of stairs it took to reach his floor. “What’s with the twenty questions, E?”

  “Uh, pardon me if I’m curious about my best friend’s life.”

>   I snorted at her outraged tone, knowing she was kidding. “I rode with him this morning to volunteer at the shelter, but I had to leave early to study before class.” I pushed open the door from the stairwell and made a right down the long carpeted hallway. “I was being a good humanitarian and a good student. I rocked this day.”

  She chuckled on the other end of the line. “And now you’re headed to Bleu’s place to rock him?”

  “Ugh.” I stuck my key into his doorknob, opening it up. “You are completely off base. I don’t have a thing for…” I let my voice trail off, mainly because my jaw was on the floor and I couldn’t form any more words. Bleu was lying on the couch, a tiny puppy sleeping on his bare tattooed chest.

  My kryptonite.

  “Mayk? You still there? Is everything okay?”

  “I, uh, yeah.” I closed the door behind me, locking it and setting my bag on the kitchen island. “I’ll see you in the morning.” I hung up on Evie, putting my phone on top of my pile of stuff.

  I crossed the room and stretched out on the deep couch beside him and the snoring puppy. “You bring home a friend?” I put my head on his chest and he dropped his arm on my side. Our movements so natural, like we’d been coming home to each other for years. I tried to ignore how good it felt. I tried to ignore how happy I was to be here with him.

  “All his brothers and sisters got new forever homes this afternoon, but he still has a little cold so he can’t be adopted until he’s better.” He used his other hand, the one not currently stroking my hip, to pet the puppy. “I figured this way he wouldn’t feel lonely tonight.”

  Be still my stupid fucking heart. He brought home the world’s cutest puppy because he didn’t want him to be lonely. Why was the universe doing this to me? I had every intention of dropping off his keys and leaving.

  Bleu looked over at me, smiling. “So, there’s going to be one more dude in bed with you tonight, that okay?”

  I took a deep breath, inhaling Bleu’s spicy scent. “Of course.”

  There was nothing I could do. I was powerless against a half-naked Bleu and a warm, snuggly puppy. Maybe I’d been lying to myself the whole time. Maybe somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that coming here would lead to my staying here. But in that moment, I stopped caring. This was where I wanted to be, and denying that had become futile.

  My heart could race, and those dumb butterflies could take up residence. I could have a little crush on Bleu, but that didn’t mean I had to act on it.

  Fake it ’til you make it, or moreover, fake it until it dissipates back into friendship.

  Chapter Ten

  Bleu

  “You’re late.”

  I looked down at my watch, scoffing. “I’m five minutes late. I don’t even think that counts.”

  I hung my jacket on the hook by the door and then made my way through our waiting area, straightening up some magazines on the short coffee table. Nicky was standing behind the counter, going over his schedule for the day while sipping his coffee. It was what he always did as soon as he got to the shop.

  He chuckled when I used my shoulder to shove him out of the way. “Too hard to leave Maykin all warm and cozy in your bed?”

  “She had an early class this morning.” Which he no doubt knew because Evie had an early class as well and they were meeting up for coffee. “The reason I was a few minutes late was because I had to drop a puppy I’m fostering back at the shelter.” Leaving that cute guy behind had almost killed me. But bringing a puppy with a hacking cold into a tattoo shop wasn’t exactly sanitary.

  “Awe, you and Mayk are fostering a puppy together? That’s the cutest.” His beaming grin let me know he was giving me a hard time.

  “You gonna stop giving me shit about Maykin any time soon?” I leaned against the counter, my arms crossed over my chest. “It’s getting kind of old.”

  He shook his head. “Not for me it’s not.” He pointed at my face, wiggling his finger back and forth. “And as long as it keeps getting to you like this? I ain’t stopping.”

  “It’s not getting to me.” I moved past him toward my workroom. I had a client due in any minute and I needed to get ready. “I thought by now you’d find some new material. Me not fucking my best friend jokes have been going strong for a few months now.”

  “I thought I was your best friend?” He sounded hurt, and his hand was over his heart. But his shit-eating grin told me he’d live.

  “Yeah well, you’ve been replaced.”

  Maykin was my best friend, and I couldn’t even tell you exactly when that had happened. We were together all the time, and whenever something awesome happened, she was the first person I wanted to tell. We talked all the time, and had so much fun together.

  Although last night she seemed a little off. She barely spoke. And she didn’t laugh at any of my hilarious jokes. All she did was lie on my chest and cuddle the puppy. I wasn’t jealous of the puppy. I understood the appeal. He was cute as fuck. But I’d kind of missed the sound of her busting my balls all over my damn apartment.

  I pulled out my cell, deciding that I should check on her. I hadn’t wanted to push last night, figuring that she’d talk to me if she needed to. But now that we were apart, I was starting to get a little worried. Not because I wanted to fuck her. I mean who wouldn’t want to fuck her? I was worried because I was her friend, and friends checked on friends when they stopped being sarcastic brats.

  Bleu: Good thing you didn’t come with me to drop the pup at the shelter this morning.

  Maykin: Why? You cry like a little bitch??

  I smiled at her reply. That was the Maykin I knew and adored. Maybe I’d imagined her weirdness last night?

  Bleu: There’s my girl. I was worried about you last night. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you go that long without talking.

  Maykin: I was tired.

  Bleu: You stayed up watching TV with me until two o’clock this morning.

  She hadn’t been tired. I’d seen Maykin tired and when she was she would immediately pass the hell out. The girl could sleep anywhere. The couch, in our waiting room, backseat of the car, sitting up in an uncomfortable hospital chair. No, not only had she been as quiet as a fucking church mouse last night, now she was lying to me. We didn’t lie to each other. There was never a reason.

  Bleu: Tell me what’s really going on Midge.

  Maykin: I’m fine, no worries.

  Bleu: If there is something going on, tell me. Trouble with your art? I’m an artist too, I could help. Boy troubles? I have a dick, it’s glorious. Now if it’s your classes…I probably won’t be much service.

  I doubted it was boy trouble since she rarely went on a second date. And the guys she flirted with at the bars never even made it past first base, or at least none that I’d seen. The gallery show could be stressing her out—that was a real possibility. She’d been working on it for months and she was near to the end. Maybe she was having problems with her last few pieces.

  Maykin: You’re sweet for worrying. But I promise, I’m fine.

  You’re sweet for worrying? What the hell?

  Bleu: Were you kidnapped? Are you sending me code? Is this even Maykin Miles? Quick tell me something only she would know.

  Maykin: You cried when you did your first tattoo at Revival Ink.

  Bleu: Why did I even tell you that? I think that’s the third time it’s come back to bite me in the ass.

  Maykin: Yes, but it also proves that I am me and that I am fine.

  I wasn’t buying it, not completely. There was something off, something she wasn’t telling me. But I had a client coming in and a full day of work ahead of me.

  Bleu: You coming over tonight? Could you run and grab the puppy from the shelter before you head to the apartment? I’ll be here late, but they close at 5.

  I couldn’t stand the thought of that little guy spending the night all alone in the dark. He was tiny, and he was sick. He needed some extra love.

  Maykin: Sure.

  See?
Even that clipped answer wasn’t her. Maykin would make fun of my gentle side; she’d rip open my exposed underbelly of softness and make a scathing joke. I’d corner her tonight as soon as I got home. I’d hold her down and tickle her.

  I’d make her tell me what the fuck was going on.

  Chapter Eleven

  Maykin

  “What the heck happened last night? You hung up on me.” Evie handed me a to-go cup, steam coming out the top from my latte.

  Great. Exactly the way I wanted to start my morning, talking about Bleu. I’d just gotten done texting him, and once again setting up plans to see him tonight. This morning after I’d left his house, I’d sworn I’d keep my distance. Now not only was I going to his apartment later, I’d have that adorable puppy with me too. It was like I hated myself or something.

  “Hello? Earth to Maykin?” Evie waved her hand in front of my face. “Are you even listening to me?”

  “Yes.” I took a sip of my piping hot drink. “I hung up on you because when I got to Bleu’s place, he was on the couch with a puppy. It was, um, distracting.”

  She raised a perfectly waxed eyebrow. “Distracting?”

  “Yeah, you know, distracting. I wasn’t expecting to walk in and find him spooning a puppy against his bare chest.” Did that sound suspicious? Why did I mention he was shirtless? Has my brain vacated my body altogether now?

  “Were you jealous of the puppy?”

  I glared at her over my cup. “No.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “There is no problem.” I smiled, going for nonchalant. “You asked me why I hung up on you, and I told you. I walked in and got distracted by a cute puppy.” I was almost positive that every human on the plant had been distracted by a puppy at one point in their lives. It had nothing to do with the man holding the puppy, or my newfound butterflies in his presence. Nope. Not. At. All.

  “There is something you aren’t telling me.” She narrowed her eyes, her lips forming a knowing smile. “I can read you like a book, Mayk, and something isn’t right.”