Seemed like everyone had a damn opinion on the matter.

“You still coming?” Declan said, a slight edge to his voice as he turned to look at me.

A hush had settled over the group.

I set down the book I’d been holding. Swallowed.

Was this a real date-date? One without sex at the end or one with sex at the end? God, I didn’t know because I hadn’t had a real date since Colby.

Or had he figured out I didn’t want to go anywhere at all and was just trying to rescue me from my well-meaning friends?

“Yes, of course,” I said. “Where are we going?”

He grinned, a soft boyishness settling on his face. “It’s a surprise.”

Shelley giggled, abruptly clamming up when I glared at her.

Blake snapped up and took off for the café. Dammit . I watched him go with a heavy sigh and then turned back to Declan.

“I don’t get off for another hour.”

He looked at the books scattered around me. “I can help you. What needs to be done?”

“Oh, thank you, but only employees can shelve. Rick’s rule. I appreciate it though. Are you sure you don’t mind waiting?”

“Good things are worth waiting on.”

I smiled. Breathless.

He sent me a grin. “Nice shirt, by the way.” He raked his eyes over me, lingering on the T-shirt he’d given me a few nights ago. Made of thin white cotton, it featured the Front Street Gym logo, which was a black circle with two fists meeting and the gym name written around the circle. On the back of the shirt in Old English font was written Property of Dirty English . I’d been surprised as hell when he’d knocked on my door and handed it to me, saying he’d designed it and wanted my opinion before ordering in bulk for his gym’s grand opening. It fit tight across my chest. He lifted his eyes up to mine.

“Thanks. Some cocky guy gave it to me.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “He must be a nice bloke to give you a free T-shirt.”

“Very. Although I think he gave me a size too small. On purpose.”

His eyes landed on my breasts and he smiled before focusing back on my face. “Perhaps he never thought you’d wear it in public. Is he handsome?”

“He thinks so.” My face felt like it might split in half I was grinning so big. What was it about him that had me feeling so giddy?

Shelley linked an arm through Dax’s. “Well, I still want you to come along with us to the movies.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “Indeed. You’re far too hot to say no to. Tell me, do you dig threesomes?”

She giggled and tapped his arm. “Behave.”

They got out their phones to finalize movie times, and I started in with the duties I did at the end of my shift. Half an hour later, I’d gotten the new books shelved and had broken down boxes and carried them to the back storage room. I piled them up in a corner next to the trash and then went to the broom closet. I opened it and pulled out the wide, heavy-duty dust mop.

When I turned around Blake was standing there.

“Oh! You scared me!” I laughed, clutching my chest. “What are you doing back here?” I looked past his shoulder. I didn’t think Rick would mind that he was in a restricted area, but you could never tell.

He scrubbed a hand through his auburn hair roughly, making the ends stand up. “I can’t believe you have a date with him after what I told you.”

“Blake—”

“Since when does he get to march in here and act like he owns you?” He paced around, his movements swift and sharp, as if he were holding in banked anger.

I stiffened. “ You’re the one acting possessive. He’s a good guy. In fact, you outright lied about him at the party. Care to explain that?”

His eyes widened. “I was desperate. I don’t want you with him, okay? It’s just—I told you how I feel, and you haven’t said a word about it. You just keep going about your day, not wanting to accept that our relationship is changing. I can’t just be your friend anymore and see you screw around with other guys.”

I shook my head. “You’re my friend. I need you.” I only had two in the whole world.

He exhaled. “Just give us a chance. We’ll take it slow, I promise. No crazy stuff.” His hand reached out to touch my cheek, soft and easy as if I were a skittish animal he wanted to tame. “I won’t ever pressure you or push you to do anything you don’t want to do, I promise.”

And the thing was, there was a tiny bit of something in my heart for him. A spark of whatever we’d had in prep school still lingering. But being with Blake meant commitment.