Page 136 of The Breaking Point

“So are you and Roman going to see each other again?” I asked.

“I have his number, but I haven’t texted him yet,” Kelly admitted.

“Why the hell not?” I said.

“Because—I don’t know!” Kelly groaned. “I’ve always been confident around guys, but Roman ... He was so hot, and confident, and a hockey player. That’s like the trifecta for me. And when I told him all about my PhD program, lo and behold, he’s going to fucking law school? So he’s smart, too? Anyway, I’m too afraid he’ll just ghost me.”

“Kelly.” Elodie put a hand on Kelly’s arm. “You’re being ridiculous. Just text him. I bet he’s dying for you to message him.”

“You think so?” Kelly asked.

“Duh,” I replied. “You’re hot, too. And everything else you just listed. And wait, didn’t you just say he was one of the guys in the blindfold room with you?”

Kelly nodded. “That’s how we started talking, afterward. He was the one touching me the most, apparently. And he knew what he was doing, I can say that. The man has magic hands. Fuck, I’m getting turned on just thinking about it.”

Elodie fanned herself. “Goodness, it’s getting hot in here. Or maybe it’s just my hormones.”

We then talked about Roman and figured out everything we knew about him. Elodie revealed that Roman was also involved in a charity that taught underprivileged youth how to play hockey and pushed legislation to build community centers where kids could skate, among other things.

Kelly then mentioned that he had eight brothers. Eight!

“His poor mother,” I commented.

“I googled his family,” Kelly said. “And all of his brothers are hot. It’s insane, the gene pool in that family.”

After dinner, we linked hands as we walked to the parking lot nearby. “I can’t wait to have a triple date with all of you and our hot hockey players,” Elodie said with a grin.

“All that sexiness in one place? We might die,” Kelly said, laughing.

“Six people for drinks and dinner? Good luck finding a table for that in LA,” I said.

“Hey, seven people!” Kelly looked over at Elodie. “Soon to be seven, at least.”

Elodie patted her stomach. “And if this kid is anything like their dad ... I’m definitely in for it.”

When I arrived home, I sat outside in my car for a few minutes. Mostly because I hadn’t really known what our new house looked like at night yet.

I’d left the porch light on, so it illuminated the front enough that I could see the bright pink bougainvillea blooming near the entrance. It’d been one of the first things I’d noticed about the house, making Brady chuckle. “Baby, it’s a pretty bush, but we need to make sure the house itself is decent,” he’d teased.

Our home was built in the thirties, and it had a vintage charm that we’d both loved. It was a Spanish-style house with white stucco exterior and red clay tiles for the roof. It had a gated entrance with a nice-size front and backyard for the city. Inside, there was original, brightly colored tile throughout, and an open, airy floor plan.

It also had a pool out back, which was lovely for hot summer days. Palm trees bordered our backyard, along with loads of huge succulents that soaked up the desert sunshine.

Right now, though, I was surprised to see only one light on inside the house. I wondered whether Brady was outside in thepool tonight. I’d wanted to surprise him by getting naked and sliding into bed, but if he was already wet and possibly naked outside ... I’d take it.

I went through the house, turned on a hall light, and then went out back. To my surprise, Brady wasn’t in the pool.

That was when a light near the edge of our backyard caught my gaze. As I went to inspect it, I realized it was coming from the two large oak trees—and it was coming from inside what looked like a tree house.

A tree house? That hadn’t been there three hours ago and definitely hadn’t been there when we’d bought the house. How had Brady managed to get a tree house up there this evening?

“Brady?” I called. I yelled his name a second time.

I laughed in surprise when his head popped out of the side window. “Grace! Come on up!”

I climbed the ladder, grabbing Brady’s hand as he helped me inside.

My jaw dropped when I saw that he’d already furnished it inside. Granted, it was tiny, so it could fit only a few things, but I was shocked to see a working wine fridge with two comfy seats and a small table. He’d lit a bunch of candles, adding to the romantic ambiance.

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