Page 57 of Roughing It

My lips press into a thin line. “You squeamish about women using the restroom, Kirk?”

“No! I’m not sure how Blakely?—”

“Everybody shits.”

The slim man turns pink all the way to the top of his bald head. Crap. I probably offended him.

Then I hear a scandalized screech and the sound of small feet stomping across hardwood. “I wasn’t doing that!”

I glare at Kirk like this is his fault. “It’s okay. You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

“I was washing my face and brushing my teeth.” Each word sounds like a dog snarling. I’m in so much trouble. May as well dig the hole a little deeper.

The heat of Blakely’s eyes bore into my forehead, but I fight off the prickles on my scalp. “She snores. Did you know?”

Kirk shakes his head, mouth still open.

“Yeah. Louder than my fucking father. You should’ve warned me.”

His nervous laughter filters over the video. “Sorry, man, I had no idea she snores.”

“I don’t snore!” Blakely flings herself onto the bed next to me, finger out, ready to poke me. I snatch her hand before she has the chance and gather her into an angry bundle in my lap.

“You do. Loudly. And talk in your sleep. It’s a wonder I’ve gotten any rest at all.”

“You’re making that up. No one has ever complained about sleeping next to me, thank you very much.”

“They were probably all scared you’d yell at them,” Kirk chimes in.

“It’s a good thing I’m not scared of you. Isn’t it? This way, you get to hear the truth.” Her mouth drops open, but before she can tell me off, I press my lips to her cheek and hand her the phone.

The tension in her jaw and shoulders disappears, and she relaxes against me.

I’m considering kissing her again when Kirk interrupts. “Blakely, glad you are up. Let’s talk numbers. The livestream yesterday was massive.”

Blakely tilts her head back and beams at me before turning to Kirk. “Really? I knew it would be huge. I haven’t looked at it since posting!”

“You should; people are eating it up. They are big fans of Mr. Brooks there and the idea of the two of you as more than roommates.” Kirk’s eyebrows wiggle up and down, and he gives us a knowing grin. “I knew you two would make a compelling couple.”

With a wave of her hand, Blakely refocuses the conversation, and while she’s perfectly at ease, my agitation triples. “Get serious. Let’s talk numbers. What are you seeing?”

“Your biggest post to date. ‘Blakely Bradshaw and her Sexy Lumberjack’ is trending.”

Blakely elbows me in the ribs. “I knew it.”

“You need to read through the comments. I recommend you do it together.” Again, he shoots us a shrewd look. “So, you two finally kissed.”

“There have been a few errant kisses, some heavy flirting, and a touch of mutual masturba?—”

As I snarl, “Blakely!” Kirk yells, “Stop right there! I love you, BB, but nope. Please don’t finish that sentence.”

She giggles and shrugs. “Fine. I expected Hudson’sreaction, but I never pegged you for a prude, Kirk.” She leans into the lens and, in a dramatic stage whisper, adds, “Marcus tells me things.”

Kirk covers his face. “This is so inappropriate.”

With another laugh, Blakely ends the call and immediately opens one of her many apps. I watch her scroll until the screen is nothing but a blur. Every now and then, she laughs or groans, but then she goes stock-still in my arms.

The picture on her phone makes my breath catch. It’s the two of us—my arms around her waist, my mouth grazing her ear. She’s angled toward me with a dreamy look on her face.

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