Page 27 of The Road to Finding Us

Either way, the hot springs are certainly not what Aspen thought they would be. Because in front of us is a small tub built into the floor. The pumps on top of it appear to pump in the water from the springs. It looks a lot like a jacuzzi you’d find at a hotel.

Roaming over the small room, I find it architecturally beautiful. The tile beneath my feet is a beautiful terra cotta color. The bathtub—or I’m sorry, hot spring—is a creamy white color. Emerald and cobalt tiles line the edge of the tub and make a pattern all the way through it.

“Yeahhhh,” he mutters, blowing out a breath, “I realize that now.” He too takes in our surroundings while playing with the collar of his bathrobe. We both stare blankly ahead at the small room we just paid twenty bucks to use.

“Fuck it,” I say, slipping off my flip-flops. The tile is cold against my bare feet. I untie the knot at my waist and let the robe slowly fall off my shoulders. I don’t look at Aspen, but the heat from his eyes on my bare shoulders sends tingles through my body as I reach to hang the robe on one of the few hooks on the wall.

I hesitantly turn around, not missing the way I feel Aspen’s burning gaze on every bare inch of my body. It’s not like he hasn’t seen all of me before. But for some reason, it feels deeply intimate to be standing here in only a bikini with him, in a secluded room for just the two of us.

My spine straightens when I watch him remove his sandals. Next, the bottom of his robe sways and I know without even looking that he’s untying his as well. In a matter of seconds, I’m going to be met with a shirtless Aspen—and knowing that sends my pulse into overdrive.

His feet disappear from the spot on the floor I’m staring at, but I refuse to look anywhere else at this point. Suddenly it feels very hot in here. I’m regretting ever agreeing to his stupid idea to come here. I can verbally spar with him all day, but I don’t think I have it in me to sit a few feet away from him with both of us barely clothed.

“So, all I need to do to shut you up is take off my clothes?”

My eyes leave the floor and land on his ever-present cocky grin, his dimples on perfect display. I want to jam my finger in them until it hurts him.

“Damn,” he snickers, attempting to hide his smile by running a hand over his mouth. “I should’ve taken off my shirt six hours ago.”

“You would’ve caused a car accident,” I note.

“Are you saying people would be too distracted by my body?”

Rolling my eyes, I say, “What I’m saying is they’d be too disgusted by what you’d have on display that they’d veer right off the road.” My gaze lazily drags down his naked torso. The muscles ripple as he shifts his position. I used to spend hours memorizing the freckles that span his chest and abdomen. It was my mission to kiss every single one of them dancing down his body. I could get lost in the lean muscles of his chest, in his chiseled six-pack.

Now, I want to erase every single one of those memories from my head.

“Like what you see?” he teases, slowly running his hand down said muscles.

I make sure to take my time to respond to him. Judging by the way he keeps shuffling his bare feet around, he’s anxiously awaiting my answer. My eyes make the trek all the way back up his body until I’m met with his curious stare.

My shoulders lift carelessly in a shrug. “Doesn’t do it for me anymore.”

His mouth drops.

“Oh, close your mouth, Aspen. You look like a damn dog.” I take the few steps to reach the edge of the bathtub. Then I pump the lever until water comes spilling out, quickly filling the basin while steam tickles my lower body. When I dip my toe into the water, I’m met with balmy hot water. I continue to ease into it until I’m all the way up to my belly button.

The hot water instantly soothes my muscles. I close my eyes and adjust my position until I’m seated comfortably in the tub, my head resting in the premade space for it. My eyelids start to flutter close as I ignore the looming presence in the room and try to relax.

I know the minute he steps in because he makes no attempt to keep my peace and stay quiet.

One of my eyes pops open, and I watch him lower his body into the water. Once he’s settled, he looks across the tub at me. There’s a wrinkle right between his eyes as he thinks deeply about something.

“Awww, Aspen,” I start, settling deeper into the water. “Does something have you speechless?”

His eyes snap to me, his face pulling together in a grimace. “Let’s just not talk and enjoy the water, ‘kay?”

“Gladly.” I close my eyes once again, attempting to forget that my first love is sitting shirtless only a few feet away from me.

15

Lily

Present

I’m woken up by the lights being turned on. I grumble and throw a pillow over my head, trying my best to block it out. There’s no way I was asleep for more than five minutes before this heinous disruption.

“Lily?” I hear a familiar voice ask cautiously.

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