Page 32 of Those Two Words

Her mouth drops open, and I try my best to pretend like I’m not feeling her up.

“Umm, sorry. Just a second,” I stammer out and slip my hand out from where it was snug against her. It takes a few sharp tugs, but neither of us attempts to move once she’s free.

“I thought I’d have to take you home with me tonight,” I joke, but when I hear it out loud, I know how it sounds.

I don’t miss the blush on her cheeks as she laughs nervously. A small smile on her lips, but once again, not the one I want to see. What will it take to see that smile again?

How can I bring it back? I want to ask.

“It’s your day off tomorrow?” I ask instead, and she nods in response. “What do you have planned?”

“I’m up early for a hike with Quinn in Acadia. I’m going to take her to the lookout.” The corners of her lips pull down at that. I know what caused it, and what the lookout means to her.

“That’ll be nice. Tomorrow is supposed to be a good day for it too.”

She nods slowly and reaches for the door handle. “Well, thanks. I’ll see you next week?”

“Yeah. I’ll be around.”

“Goodnight, Patrick.” She steps onto the sidewalk and gives me a timid smile as she shuts the door behind her.

I shouldn’t want to haul her back into my truck when she climbs out. I shouldn’t have a list a mile long of ways I can get that bright smile to light her face again.

But I do.

As I wait to pull away until she goes inside and the upstairs lights turn on, I realize no one knows that we left. I drop a text in the group chat I have with my brothers.

Patrick: Sorry to bail. Jo and I got talking. We left about twenty minutes ago.

Booth: YOU LEFT TOGETHER?!

Graham: Rude.

Patrick: Not like that. I drove her home.

Booth: And?

Booth: I see you’ve read the message.

Booth: Don’t ignore us.

Graham: Booth is getting upset. Can you please answer him.

Ignoring them, I make the short drive home, recalling what it felt like to have my hands on her again. How the touch of her skin still has mine tingling. How the subtle scent of jasmine and ocean still lingers. But I also remember how badly it hurt to lose her.

If we have any chance at making this work as friends, those feelings that have been sitting dormant for years need to stay asleep.

fifteen

JOHANNA

“I think my lungs are gonna fall out of my butt,” Quinn huffs out next to me.

“Yup,” I agree, trying to catch my own breath. “I kinda forgot how steep the incline was.” I know this trail like the back of my hand, but I swear it’s gotten steeper. “Sorry, I don’t remember it taking this long to get to the lookout.”

“Oh, don’t sweat it. It’s so nice to be out of that tiny kitchen and get some fresh air,” she says in her usual chipper tone.

“So, the Rockies, hey? I’ve always wanted to visit Colorado. What’s it like?”

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