Page 80 of It Started at the Lake

“We should cook pasta together one night.”

“Dishes will be our nemesis, but we won’t starve. That’s good news.”

She laughs. “There’s this amazing appliance called a dishwasher.”

“You’re right. I’ll stop complaining.”

“Do you have one of those? Evie and I don’t. We complain about it all the time.”

“Yes.” I nod. “My townhouse has one. And I know. Evie tells me about it too. She’s asked if you two could move in with me more than once just so she wouldn’t have to wash another dish by hand.”

“Evs never told me that. Why didn’t you say yes?”

My brows rise; my fingers go still around her foot. “Do you honestly think I was in any condition to have roommates? Especially with how many ‘friends’ Evie has coming and going from your apartment?”

“Good point. How big is your townhouse?”

I resume rubbing her foot. “Three bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. But one of the bedrooms is my office.”

“Ah, so Evie and I would have had to share a room if you had said yes.”

“And we’d all be sharing a bathroom.”

Millie snorts. “Have you seen how much hair and makeup stuff Evie has? She’s her own Ulta. But I can’t complain too much because she lets me borrow a lot of it.”

“Thankfully, I won’t have to worry about it. Her future husband will.”

I move from Millie’s foot up to her calf. Her skin is as soft and smooth as I imagined. Easily, I picture late nights of us watching a movie together on the couch, taking turns massaging the knots out of each other’s shoulders and feet.

“If you get married again, where would you want to live?”

I haven’t thought about it. Until recently, I never believed I would get married again. Is this Millie’s way of asking where we’d live if we became permanent? “Good question. Umm…” I cock my head to the side as I think through options. “My bride could move in with me until we’re ready to start a family, or we can buy a house together right away. Since I don’t have a preference, I’d leave it up to her.” I force myself to keep my hands below her knee, but I’m dying to caress her thighs. Best to move on to her other foot.

“Light or dark?” she asks.

“Are you talking about meat? Colors?”

She winces.

“Sorry, did I push too hard?” I release my hands from her foot, waiting for her response.

“It’s not you. That spot hurt for some reason. You can continue. And I meant colors.”

Easing up on the pressure, I knead the arch of her foot. “Light colors, but not necessarily pastels.”

Millie nods slowly, her brows pulling toward one another the slightest bit. “Night owl or early bird?”

“Night owl. None of my classes start before ten for a reason.”

Her lips turn down. “We’re opposite. I’m up fairly early every day no matter what time I fall asleep. Though my schedule has been out of whack since being here.”

“I’d say sorry, but I’m not. Being with you has been worth every late night and early morning.”

“Me too.” Millie taps my forearm with her toe. “Can I ask you something that I hope doesn’t spoil this amazing foot rub?”

My stomach tightens at what she wants to ask that’s going to ruin the mood. “Uh, yeah. Go ahead.”

“You haven’t done this as much since we started fake dating, but why do you rub your ring finger sometimes? Are you missing Jen every time you do it?”

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