“Oh, really? Do tell.”
Koda made a dismissive gesture as he felt for the chair next to Felix and sat. “It was Zayn Tanaka. Our families have been friends since I was a kid. We were bored.”
Felix’s jaw dropped. “Wait. The Zayn Tanaka. The crypto currency guy?”
“Yep. That’s him.”
Damn. Felix honestly stood no chance with Koda. He had never met Zayn and had no clue what the guy looked like, but still. Felix had a slowly failing business, thanks to cheating on his wife and it blowing up in the news. Meanwhile, Koda was dark-haired and trim. His olive-colored skin was gorgeous and flawless. The most beautiful part of Koda was his mouth. He had a mouth that made men dream. Oddly, even though they had worked together for years, Felix hadn’t really noticed Koda until a few months ago. Felix had gone through an ugly divorce and lost the man who had stolen his heart toward the end of his marriage. Koda had just sort of been there, and Felix found himself wanting more. Now he couldn’t un-feel the growing emotions Koda stirred inside him. He was hopeless. Now Koda also had a billionaire after him. Felix would never be enough for someone like Koda.
“What did you want to work on?”
At Koda’s question, Felix scrambled to find something to keep Koda there. He hadn’t had a real plan when he texted Koda. “Your latest contracts have started rolling in. Would you like to get a head start?”
Koda didn’t answer right away. Instead, he sat facing Felix in silence, making Felix feel like Koda saw too much despite not being able to see at all. “Is that really what you want to do today?”
Felix swallowed. He knew Koda saw through him. “I guess. Never mind. You probably have a million things you’d rather be doing than being here with me. I shouldn’t have asked you to come in.” The more Felix rambled, the more he exposed of himself. “I was just here, and I like it when you’re here too. It’s too quiet here. So, you know…”
Koda took off his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes. It occurred to Felix that he had never seen Koda’s eyes. Koda always kept them covered. He dropped his hand. The lightest green eyes Felix had ever seen stared at nothing.
“Goddamn.”
A smile exploded across Koda’s face. “What?”
Even though Koda couldn’t see him, Felix shook his head. “Nothing. Never mind. You’re beautiful. Fuck. I didn’t mean to say that.”
Koda snorted and put his sunglasses back on. “You should meet my family.”
Felix blinked at the offhand remark. “Why? Do they have a penchant for collecting dumbass men?”
“Yes,” Koda answered without missing a beat. “But that’s beside the point. It’s Saturday. You’re bored, and they’re not the least bit boring. Wouldn’t you rather be at a pool party?”
Felix didn’t need to think about it. “Yes, but I’m not dressed for a pool party.”
“How are you dressed?”
Felix glanced down at himself as if he didn’t know what he wore. “Jeans and a t-shirt. Should I change?”
“That depends on if you want to swim.”
He really didn’t. Not only did Felix have a pool he could use any time he liked, he also didn’t relish going to a stranger’s house and making himself at home. Instead of saying that, he went with the basics. “Not really.”
“Great.” Koda stood. “Let’s go, then. If you need some noise in your life, my family has it to give.”
With a sigh, Felix stood. He opened the front door for Koda and then locked it behind them. Koda stood quietly, waiting. Once he was ready, Felix set his hand on the small of Koda’s back. “My car is this way.”
As usual for Koda, his face lit—like he found everything more exciting than everyone else. “I’ve never been in your car. What do you drive?”
Felix had to bite his lip for a second. Koda was a completely unique soul. Felix felt good in his company. “It’s a Bentley.”
“What color is it?”
“Blue.”
Koda nodded. “Blue like the sky or blue like blueberries?”
“Somewhere in between,” Felix answered as he opened the door. “At what age did you lose your sight?” He had never asked since he thought it was rude, but it was obvious Koda hadn’t always been blind.
Koda felt his way into the car. “Ten. Brain tumor,” Koda said before Felix could ask.
Felix leaned on the door for a second and eyed Koda. He realized he wanted all of Koda’s stories. “Have you ever seen a blue lobster?”
Koda’s face lit. “Yes.”
“That’s what color my car is,” Felix said as he shut the door. He rushed to the driver’s side, hoping not to miss a second with Koda. As he slipped behind the wheel, he caught Koda stroking the seats.
“The leather is soft.”
Felix started the car and took a steadying breath. Koda was tactile. Felix wanted to let Koda feel of his body. He needed to shut down those thoughts. No good could come of letting them take root.
“It also smells like you.”
A chuckle stuck in Felix’s throat. “I feel like that can’t be good.”
Koda’s face turned his way. “Why? I’ve always thought you smell delicious.”
Felix put the car in reverse by force of will alone. “I’m pretty sure I warned you once not to be nice to me.” Felix knew he had. Months ago, when he had been at his lowest, Felix had told Koda he was like an abused dog. If Koda was nice to him, he would fall in love. Felix wasn’t sure either of them wanted that.
“Just drive. I’ll look after my safety. You look at the road.”
With a shake of his head, Felix backed from his parking space. Spending the day with Koda outside the studio was likely a bad idea. He didn’t plan to stop. “Where am I headed?”
“43652 Theodore Lane.”
Felix did a double take. “And that’s your parents’ address?”
Koda nodded.
A laugh burst from Felix. “I live three houses down from there.”
A smile exploded across Koda’s face. “Ha. We live in a much smaller world than we thought.”
“Apparently.”
Felix headed toward his neighborhood. They made small talk all the way to their destination. With each easy word that passed between them, Felix’s shoulders relaxed a little more. Even though he had always known they were friends, Felix felt even closer to Koda today. As he turned up the long and winding driveway, Felix focused on finding a place to park. Cars lined both sides of the driveway. Everything from a thirty-year-old Buick to a brand-new Aston Martin packed the front yard. He finally spotted an empty spot between two cars and pulled in.