She ducks her head, and I already know the answer before she says, “Not yet.”

I grab a napkin and wipe off my hands. “Why not?”

She studies the stack of papers and straightens it again. “Because reading and writing fiction has always been my safe place. The stories I read as a kid got me through high school when I thought the size of my body made me less important than skinnier girls. And writing got me through college—when I was so stressed, it was there to help me unwind.” She looks up at me through her lashes. “It was there to help me work through losing you. Both times.”

“It’ll still be that, won’t it? Even if you try to make a go of it?”

She swallows and cuts her eyes away. “There’s a really good chance I’m not good enough. Most people aren’t.”

I cross the small kitchen and take her chin in my hand, guiding her to meet my eyes. “I believe in you.”

“You haven’t even read my stuff.”

I shrug. “I’d love to, if you wanted me to. But even without reading, I have faith that you can tell an amazing story. You grew up with a book in one hand and a pencil in the other. At this point, it’s probably written into your DNA.”

She studies my face and then her gaze shifts from my eyes to my mouth, and the energy in the room changes. The tension between us becomes a palpable thing.

“If we weren’t just friends,” I say softly, “this is when I’d kiss you.”

Her breath catches. “Is it?”

“Yeah, but that would only be the beginning. Once I tasted you, I’d want more, and I’d end up lifting you onto the counter so you could wrap your legs around me.” I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and skim my fingertips down the side of her neck. “Then I’d kiss you here because I know how much you like it.”

Her lips part and her pupils dilate. “You were always good at figuring out what I like.”

“Because figuring out what turns you on turns me on. But once I started tasting you, I’d be greedy for more, and I’d end up with my face between your legs, licking you until you were begging me to fuck you.”

Her chest expands on a ragged inhale. “But we are just friends.”

For now. Nodding, I skim a finger over her bottom lip. “I’m gonna be the best fucking friend you’ve ever had, Shayleigh Jackson.”

“Hmm. I guess that remains to be seen.”