Page 118 of Naughty & Nice

But there’s something different this time.

“Nah, she doesn’t really do it for me.”

“Ah, just a one-time wonder, huh?”

“I barely even remember her. She was… meh.”

“Meh? Wow, remind me never to ask you for a reference on all this.”

“That’s not... Shit, Noelle, I?—”

“I’m joking,” she says, ripping her eyes from mine and focusing on the outside. “At least the sun is shining today.” Positivity radiates from her.

I want to say it’s contagious, but…

“Maybe it’ll melt fast and we can head home later. What time is check-out?”

“Uh… eleven, I think.”

“The road trip home should be interesting,” I muse.

It’s bullshit small talk, and I hate it. It puts my teeth on edge, but I don’t know what else to do.

“I’m going to call the rental people, see what we can do when they’re open,” she explains.

“You think they’re going to answer this time?” I say, thinking of the number of times she tried and failed when we first got here.

She shrugs.

“Did you… did you want to work out?”

Her question makes me give her a double take, and I stare down at her like she just asked me to go to the moon.

“You want to work out?” I echo.

She shrugs again. “I feel like you need to. That or?—”

“You probably don’t want to go there,” I warn, predicting what she’s going to say next.

“We’d have to wake Rix up, and you know what he’s like if he hasn’t had enough sleep,” Noelle teases, making me laugh.

“He woke up quite happily yesterday morning. I think we could convince him.”

“You’re trouble.”

“You’ve only just realized that?” I taunt, moving into her personal space.

Her breath catches as she gazes up at me, her lips parted as if she’s ready to accept my kiss.

Dropping my head, I brush my lips against her ear and whisper, “Did you want to go and find a sports bra today, or do I get to watch them bounce again?”

She laughs before playfully slapping me on the shoulder.

“You’ll probably be pleased to know I didn’t pack one,” she confesses as she lights a couple of candles.

“That is very pleasing news. Let’s get our blood pumping then.”

“Can’t wait,” she deadpans as she pulls Hendrix’s hoodie off and gets into position for our first drill.

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