Page 54 of Kyle

“What kinds of pictures?” Kyle pops his knuckles as he asks, his fist closing tight.

I give him a look that says,you know very well what kind. “The kind I don’t want getting out. They’re from when we were dating. Like an idiot, I let him take naked pictures of me.”

“And he won’t delete them?”

“Actually worse,” I admit. “He’s threatening to post them if I don’t send him money.”

“What?” Kyle’s jaw clenches with anger. “Where does this asshole live?”

“Burbank.”

“What does he do for a living?”

I frown at the strange question. “He has an auto repair shop.”

“Really? What’s his name?”

“Jerry. Why?”

“What’s his shop called?”

“Jerry’s Auto Repair. Why?”

He shakes his head. “No reason. I know a few auto places. Never heard of Jerry’s.”

His voice sounds nonchalant, but there’s a tightness in his jaw. He doesn’t say anything else, but I can tell he’s fuming. I sit up and nudge his shoulder, trying to change the mood. “That band was pretty good, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t think I didn’t see you dancing by the end of it,” I tease.

“I’ll never admit to it,” he jokes back.

And just like that, the tension dissipates, and the mood lightens.

We continue to talk about everything from our childhoods to our favorite ice cream flavors until the sun peaks over the horizon, casting clouds in pink, gold, and purples.

“That’s beautiful,” I whisper.

“It sure is. Maybe all those clouds will give us a cool day today.”

“Oh, that’d be nice.”

“Come on.” Kyle rises and pulls me to my feet. “We need to get some shuteye before the lunch rush.”

“Not serving breakfast?” I ask as his warm hand engulfs mine, holding long after I’m standing.

“Nah. I didn’t want to tackle too many things. Besides, we can only store so much food.”

“Well, better for us. Now we can sleep in.”

He grins and finally releases my hand.

Once we’re in the camper, I slip into the bathroom to change into pajamas and brush my teeth.

When I emerge, the beds have been pulled out and made up, and Kyle has donned a pair of athletic shorts and is peeling his shirt over his head. His abs ripple, and I have to remind myself to close my mouth.

I quickly climb into bed before he can notice me gawking. I keep my back turned to him. “Goodnight,” I call, not daring to look at his sexy body again.

---