Page 25 of June 7

She couldn't contain her smile and nodded enthusiastically. "See you later."

She had no idea what last night meant to Bane. They never spoke of what having sex meant to their friendship going forward or how they were supposed to go about retaining their neighborly status with each other when she'd had a part of him inside her...a lot.

She'd learned that Bane liked to do what felt good, and if she made him feel good, he wouldn't stop her from touching him.

Having him unafraid of affection impressed her. She'd taken a quiz once that suggested her love language was physical touch. To feel good. To feel wanted. To feel love. She needed a physical relationship more than to hear how much someone loved her.

If last night, three a.m., and that morning were any indication of how well she and Bane would get along, she'd need to be careful not to fall helplessly in love with him. He liked to touch, even in his sleep.

She hurried to the front door of the pool house and used her keys to unlock the door. The aroma of chlorine filled her nostrils like it had every morning when she arrived at work and aired out the locker rooms.

The smell comforted her in ways she couldn't explain. The water was in the pool, not the ocean. It was safe.

She walked out to the pool, checked the skimmer, and then checked the levels of chlorine, pH, alkaline, and hardness/softness of the water, adding chemicals where needed.

On the way out of the maintenance room, she peered through the glass onto the sidewalk and spotted Liz getting out of her car. She waved. Adrenaline filled her at the prospect of sharing what happened last night with her best friend, and then struggled with how much she should tell Liz.

For all she knew, her night with Bane could've been a one-night stand. Talking about it with someone else would only get her hopes up that she'd have another repeat with Bane.

She headed into the office, arriving at the same time as Liz. "You're early."

"I thought I'd get my laps in before the lessons start." Liz put her bag on the desk. "At the beginning of summer, I promised myself that I would stick to a swim schedule and not let myself relax and get lazy. I still have ten pounds to lose from last winter.

"You're perfect." Daisy planted her hands on her hips. "Want a swim buddy? I'll match you lap for lap."

"Absolutely." Liz high-fived her.

She stripped off her shorts and tank top. As she walked toward the pool, Liz whistled behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to find her friend pointing at her legs.

"What?" She twisted, trying to see behind her.

Liz touched the back of her upper thigh. "You've got a bruise."

"A bruise?" She twisted the other way, pulling on her skin to see past the roundness of her butt. "I don't—"

"Oh, my God. Daisy Hill, you've been playing around." Liz burst out laughing. "Is that a hickey below your ass?"

"Sh." She pulled Liz the rest of the way to the pool. "Sierra and Chad are due at any time. I don't want them to overhear you."

"You have a hickey. On your thigh."

"I heard you the first time," she said.

"Who?" Liz dipped her toes into the water. "When? I need details."

Daisy jumped into the pool, getting her hair wet and giving herself time to think. But Liz wasn't the patient kind of person.

Liz followed her into the water and stayed beside her. Daisy couldn't wipe the satisfied smile off her face fast enough.

"It's your neighbor, isn't it?" Liz glared. "How can you not see that he's no good? He's trouble."

"He's not trouble." She laughed, happier than she'd been in a long time. "Take time to get to know him before you judge him."

"Has he even explained what he was doing in your house on the seventh of June?" whispered Liz.

Daisy looked away and shook her head.

"He could've used you—"

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