“I don’t get the impression that Kyler’s a big fan of mine.” His gaze settled on me once more and he shrugged. “Anyway, you’re heading back home after you leave Snowshoe?”
I nodded. “Yep, doing Christmas with the family and staying there until spring semester starts back up. You?”
“I’ll be in Bethesda part of the time and then Winchester with my mom.” He scratched at the label on his bottle, his brows knit. “Parents divorced a few years back, so I go between houses.”
I hadn’t known that. “Sorry to hear that.”
A small smile appeared. “It’s no big deal. I still get to do the whole two Christmases thing, so I’m not complaining.”
Taking another quick sip, I placed my glass down. “Double the presents.”
“Double the fun.” His gaze fell to his beer. Half the label was gone. “Look. I thought we could do—”
Strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I was pulled off the stool, and my surprised shriek was cut off when my back hit an immoveable wall of muscle. I was enveloped in a bear hug that smelled of the outdoors and light cologne.
Only one person in this world gave me hugs like this or felt that hard…that good.
Kyler’s deep voice rumbled through my body. “When did you get here?”
My feet still weren’t touching the floor. “A little bit ago,” I gasped out, gripping his forearms through his sweater.
“What the hell? Have you been hiding from me?”
Paul leaned back against the bar and grinned, but it was strained. Not that I could blame him. Kyler always kind of burst in and took over every situation. “I haven’t been hiding,” I told him, flushing when my eyes met Paul’s. “And can you put me down?”
“What if I don’t?” he teased. “You’re so little I could put you in my pocket.”
“What?” I laughed. “Put me down, you idiot. I was having a conversation.”
“Sorry, Paul, I’m stealing her.” Kyler wasn’t sorry at all. He backed away, giving me no choice, because there was no way I was breaking his hold. He turned, dropping into a chair nowhere near the table he’d been at and pulling me into his lap so I was sitting sideways. He looped his arms around my waist. “I’m not happy with you, Syd.”
I arched a brow as my heart rate picked up. He was the only person who called me Syd—well, the only person I let call me that without kicking them in the shin. “Really? Over what?”
“You’re talking to that douche.”
“What douche?”
He leaned in, resting his forehead against mine, and my breath stalled in my chest. Why must he always get so damn close? And he really, truly, always did. “Paul.”
“What about him?” I put my hands on his shoulders to push back, but his arms tightened, holding me in place. “Are you drunk?”
“Am I drunk? Aw, now you’ve gone and hurt my feelings, Syd.”
I smirked. “You don’t have any feelings.”
“Now, now. That wasn’t very nice.” His impossibly long lashes lowered, shielding his eyes as he lifted his head, rubbing his cheek along mine. My fingers dug into his shoulders as desire twisted tight in my center. “I have all these feelings, Syd.”
It took me a moment to respond. “You’re so full of it.”
He rubbed his cheek against me like a cat seeking a belly rub, and I fought the urge to purr. “I’m full of something.”
“Piss and vinegar?” I suggested as I desperately tried to ignore the way my pulse pounded in all the right places.”
He chuckled deep in his throat as he leaned back against the seat he’d taken hostage. “Back to the serious nature of our conversation.”
“Which is: why are you playing Santa right now?”
Kyler’s lashes lifted and his eyes drilled into mine. “Hmm, now that sounds interesting. Have you been naughty or nice this year, Syd?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My cheeks burned as his gaze turned knowing.
“I know what you’ve been.” He kissed my forehead. “You’ve been nice.”
My shoulders slumped. I didn’t want to be nice. I wanted to be naughty like Blondie. When she’d been in his lap minutes before, I doubted Kyler had been teasing her. Maybe I should scoop some ice up and see what he did, except that would require me doing so out of a random glass, and that was just gross, especially after all that herpes talk.
I needed to change the subject. “Is it still okay for me to leave my car at your place tomorrow, and you take me home when we leave Snowshoe?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
I gave a lopsided shrug. “Just checking.”
And just like that, Kyler was all serious, proving he wasn’t drunk at all. “You don’t ever have to double-check on something like that, Syd. You need a ride at two in the morning, you call me first.”
I ducked my chin. “I know.”
“Though I’d be curious to what you were doing at that time in the morning,” he added, like the probability of me being out that late was unthinkable. “Anyway, if you knew that, then you wouldn’t have to double-check on something like that. I got you.”
Tucking my hair back, I nodded. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me.” He paused and his arms tightened. “He’s a douche.”
“Huh?” I blinked.
Kyler was staring over my shoulder, eyes narrowed. “Paul. He’s fucking eyeballing us right now. I don’t like the way he looks at you.”
I almost turned around. “He’s not eyeballing us, you ass. He and I were having a conversation before you came along, so he’s probably waiting for me to come back. And he’s not a douche.”
“But I don’t want you to go back.”
I sighed. Was it any wonder why I hadn’t been out on a date in forever, when Kyler was my friend? Well, there were other reasons, but still. Kyler acted like a dad and older brother rolled into one. “You’re being ridiculous.”
He shot me a look that said he knew better. “I don’t like him. I can list all the ways that I don’t.”
“I’ll pass.”
“You’re missing a stimulating list of reasons why.” My eyes rolled. “Well, I don’t like Blondie. I have a thrilling list, too.”
One eyebrow arched. “Blondie? Oh. My new friend?”
“Friend?” I laughed. “I don’t think ‘friend’ is the right term for her.”
He sighed as he leaned forward, propping his chin on my shoulder. “You’re right. That is the wrong term.”
“Okay. You must be drunk if you’re admitting that I’m right.”
“You’re such a smart-ass tonight.” He slid his hand up my back, and I shivered. “Cold?”
Since there was no way in holy hell I was admitting the truth, I lied. “A little.”
“Hmm…you know what?”
The little pressure he was placing on my upper back forced me forward. I placed my cheek on his shoulder and closed my eyes. For a moment, it was easy to pretend that we weren’t in a bar that was playing crappy music, and even better, that we were together.
Together in the way I wanted to be with him.
“What?” I asked, snuggling closer, soaking up the moment.
“That chick isn’t my friend.” His breath was warm against my ear, and I loved the feel of that. “You’ve been my closest friend since I can remember. It’s an insult to you to even call her that.”
I didn’t say anything. Neither did Kyler after that. And we sat there for a little while. Part of me wanted to stand up on a chair and shout to the entire bar that Kyler thought more of me than Blondie. But the other part wanted to go home and throw myself in a corner, because it wouldn’t change how tonight would end. I’d go back to my dorm alone and he’d take Blondie back to his apartment.
It was the same thing every weekend, and God knows how many times during the week.
No one could replace me in his life. I knew that. I was the friend who knew everything about him and whom he trusted above everyone else.
I was Kyler’s best friend.