Page 31 of Someone You Deserve

Astrid points to the table. “Start cleaning this up while I hose Lilly down.” She grabs Lilly under her arms and carries her down the hall. “We’ll rinse off together, baby.”

After surveying the mess I made, I head for the laundry room, grab a few cleaning cloths, and get to work wiping down the table, chairs, and floor, and running the steam mop over the floor for good measure. After about twenty minutes, the mess is gone and Bentley and Lilly are changed and ready for bed. I sneak into both of their rooms to say goodnight, and when I enter the kitchen again, Astrid is standing at the sink washing a few dishes in her pajamas with her wet hair thrown up in a hair clip. The short blue shorts she has on hit just below her butt cheeks, showcasing her long, lean legs that I can’t help but imagine wrapped around my waist. She has a matching tank top on that is lightweight and loose fitting too, but I can still see the outline of her chest under the fabric.

God, she’s so fucking gorgeous and has no idea what she does to me every time I see her this way.

Why does she have to be off limits?

When she hears me, she glances at me over her shoulder before focusing back on her task. “That was a bit extreme, don’t you think?”

“Oh, come on. The kids thought it was fun.”

“And did you enjoy cleaning up your mess?” She grins at me over her shoulder this time.

“Immensely.”

When she turns the faucet off, she reaches for a dish towel and dries her hands off. “The kids definitely had fun.”

“Good. That’s what these nights are all about, right?”

She showcases her brilliant smile as she stares at me, crossing her arms over her stomach. “Yeah.” But then her smile drops.

“What?”

“I don’t know. It’s not that I don’t enjoy these nights. I do. But life has been so crazy lately that I feel like my mind is always spinning. There’s so much going on and so many decisions to make sometimes I wish I could just have one night off with no practice and no errands to run, and…”

“Go on a date?” I finish for her causing her head to pop up so our gazes meet.

“What?” She places her hand over her heart.

“You told Grady that you were going out with Dick. I’m guessing that’s the kind of break you need?”

This isn’t how I wanted to broach this topic with her, but ever since Monday night when I overheard the conversation between her and her brother, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her going out with Dick Cockwell. I mean, it was bad enough witnessing him putting his neck on the line, which is more than I can say for myself. But then hearing her confirm that she wanted to accept his offer made a migraine manifest in record time.

My stomach has been in knots every time I realize we’re one day closer to Friday when he’s supposed to pop into the bakery and ask for her answer.

Her brow is furrowed as she debates her response. “I mean, not necessarily, but I think it might be good for me.”

“A date with Dick? How so?” Spreading my legs apart further, I cross my arms over my chest and steel my spine.

“Why are you acting this way?” she fires back at me.

“What way?”

“Like an older brother who doesn’t approve of me going out with a boy.” She mimics my stance. “Newsflash, Penn. I already have a protective older brother. I don’t need another.”

“Trust me, I have no desire to be your brother, Astrid. But I just don’t understand where your head is at. Dick is the last guy on Earth you should be going out with.”

She rolls her eyes. “Jesus, you and Grady must have talked.”

We did, but she doesn’t need to know that. “He’s not good enough for you,” I say instead—because it’s the fucking truth.

“I’m not going to marry the man, Penn. It’s just dinner.” Then she straightens her spine and steels her gaze. “And you know what? It felt nice to be wanted. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that way.”

If she only knew how badly I want her, how much I fucking crave her.

Does she not think about that night as much as I do?

Tell her, Penn. Tell her and remind her what that kiss felt like three years ago. Show her how she makes you feel, how she makes your body come alive—how being with her feels like breathing.

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