A Walking Invitation

Chapter 1

Astrid's POV

I didn't mean to end up in his bed.

It was supposed to be a quick trip upstairs as soon as I returned home for summer. I needed my charger–that was all. But Micah's room was dark, and I didn't want to turn on the lights because I figured he was asleep. 

Just take the damn cord and slip right back out. That was what I thought.

I wasn't even trying to wake him. I just wanted to grab the damn cord and slip right back out. Simple.

Except it was otherwise.

Because I realized the man lying in that bed wasn't my brother.

And I didn't realize that until it was far too late.

The room smelled like him, but not quite. A deeper, muskier scent with cedarwood tainted the air. I crept in slowly, half-blind as I dragged my fingers along the edge of the table to guide myself.

The bed suddenly creaked and I froze.

“Micah?” I whispered. 

But no answer. All I got was the sound of a slow exhale, and the sheets.

He was facing the other way. His broad shoulders moved under the covers. The glow from the hallway gave me just enough light to see the outline of his body. Bigger than I remembered. 

It was toned with a tattoo on his arm–one I didn't recognize.

That was when I started to suspect something was off. But I didn't leave.

I knew I should have. The smartest thing to do was to back out, pretend I never came for my charge, and forget the whole thing. But I stood there like an idiot, staring at the figure on the bed, confused and curious.

And then he turned over. 

His face came into light and I saw who it was.

Rhett.

My stomach dropped and my eyes widened.

I had just walked into my brother's room while his best friend was sleeping there.

Oh my world.

Panic flooded into my chest as I backed away, my heart racing.

“Shit,” I breathed. And just as I turned to leave the same way I'd come, his eyes flew open. They landed on me instantly.

It took a few seconds before Rhett drew his focus on me.

“Astrid?” His voice was deep, rough from sleep.

I froze in the doorway like a deer caught in headlights. My oversized T-shirt barely covered my thighs with no bra on. My hair was a mess. Great.

“I-I thought this was Micah's room. I didn't know…” I fumbled with the words, my hand still on the doorknob.

Rhett blinked slowly, as if trying to wake up enough to process what was happening. His hazel eyes swept over me again.

“Micah's on a trip. He asked me to crash here while the water heater in the guest room gets fixed and until you're back for summer. You returned late and I slept off. My place is also getting renovated.” he finally responded.

That made sense. Micah had mentioned something about going on a trip like how he regularly did. He wasn't the type who stayed home for long. 

I nodded quickly, too embarrassed to speak.

“Sorry for the disturbance,” I muttered beneath my breath. 

I hated that I'd said that. Rhett Rivers didn't deserve any apology.

“You okay?” His voice came, and broke through my thoughts.

I paused and looked at him. I should've said yes. I should've walked out and closed the door behind me. But I didn't. I stayed glued to my spot, taken aback.

It took a beat before I regained my voice.

“Yeah,” I said and sighed softly. “My phone battery is down due to the long journey earlier. I needed my charger. I left it in Micah's room before I went back to college last time.”

“You left it in here?” Rhett raised a brow as his eyes met mine again. 

“Yes. Just to be sure, I used the outlet by the table earlier.” I replied.

He sat up slightly, the sheets slipping down his chest. 

Muscles. So many muscles.

I felt my throat run dry and my eyes refused to blink. I looked away quickly before I could see enough.

“Go ahead. I'm not looking.”

I heard Rhett's damn voice, and that made me glance back at him. Of course, he was very much looking.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Relax, Astrid. It's just me.” 

That was the problem. It was him.

Rhett Rivers. My brother's best friend. The guy I'd crushed on secretly since I was sixteen. The same guy who used to ruffle my hair and call me a kid. 

Now he was lying shirtless in a bed, his eyes watching me from under messy dark hair, and I was very aware of how naked I almost was.

I crossed my arms over my chest, and turned toward the table, trying to focus.

'Charger. Get the charger.’ my subconscious voice screamed at me.

I bent slightly, searching in the dark.

“It's on the floor,” Rhett said after a moment.

He actually knew where it was and hadn't told me sooner?

The heck.

I reached down and grabbed it. When I stood, my head brushed the table and I winced.

“Are you alright?” 

“Fine,” I said quickly.

Rhett was still watching me as silence stretched between us.

I wanted to turn and leave, but my feet suddenly felt glued.

“You know,” he said, his voice low. “you’ve grown up.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I mean, you're not a kid anymore.” he shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. “I wasn't a kid last year either.”

He laughed softly. “No. This is the first time I've seen you in 5 years.”

I licked my lips and took a step back. “Well, good night.”

“Astrid.” 

His voice stopped me again. 

I looked back to see Rhett leaning forward now, his arms on his knees as his eyes held mine.

“Next time,” he said slowly, “don't sneak into a man's room looking like that.”

“Like what?” I asked, feigning innocence.

Rhett's eyes flicked to my half exposed thighs and back to my face. 

“Like a walking invitation.” he uttered.

My breath caught. I didn't say anything because I couldn't. 

So I turned and left. My heart was still hammering when I closed the door behind me.