Page 66 of Snap Shot

“I'm not playing anything.”

His angry, pointy eyebrows don't change the fact that we can be friends, but not anything else. An unsure knot forms in my gut. I want to believe him. Past track records tell me otherwise.

“Are you saying you don't think this” —he points between our torsos—” could happen?”

“No, it can't. I'm your lawyer. You're my client.” My chin tips upward, like he mentioned earlier. “And unfortunately, I'm not a hole to be filled.”

The thirst between my legs begs to differ. There's a hole! It needs to be filled! Quiet, you. “I'm not some conquest—”

“No, notsomeconquest,” the cheeky fucker says through a dry laugh. “You're the Holy fucking Grail, Indi.”

I scoff. “I'm the conquest of all conquests? A fictional, medieval cup?”

“Yes. What? No,er, no! That's not—fuck.”

I have to say, watching Mr. Cool-and-Confident trip over himself is rather enjoyable. His expressions go from horror to rue. “Can we go back to the part where I said I like you?”

Here’s the thing about words. You can't take them back. Once they leave your mouth, the damage is done. Apologies can be accepted, but it's hard to forget the hurt. We may have rekindled a friendship, but I won't jeopardize everything I've worked tirelessly for so he can get rid of a dick itch.

“Say something, Indi.”

I shake my head and grip the cold handle of the rolling bag. “I have to get on a plane.”

Landon slumps like a kicked puppy, but somehow beats me to the door. He holds it open. “Tell me you'll think about it.”

As if I'll be able to think of anything else. I can't get myself to promise anything aloud. So, I don't.

The scenic drive to Vancouver distracts me enough. Opening emails at the airport helps, too. By the time I've whittled the past week's pile down to pending tasks and yet-to-respond—I'm an inbox zero-type—the gate attendant calls for boarding.

The most welcome distraction, however, is Sheena's text coming through the in-flight WiFi. She made a last-minute, surprise visit to Ottawa to treat her brother and bhabhi to a weekend getaway for their tenth wedding anniversary while she watched the kids.

If I can count on anyone, it's her. She'll know what to do about this recent swerve into the hot mess express lane.

Her brother's house in Kanata is the first stop before heading back to my apartment. I catch her up on everything since I drank too much wine at Landon's: what he said the morning after, Gabe and Bea's advice, how we spent the weekend at the same ski resort and his proposition. Everything except for the part that it was Landon. And that I woke up the big spoon. Lying is becoming too easy.

“Bea really called it a slobber pocket?”

“I don't know where they come up with this stuff.”

“Sobber pocket!” Sheena's two-year-old niece parrots her from the other side of the playroom. I putter through laughter and get slapped on the shoulder for doing so.

“Great. Now I'll have to explain to my brother where Nina learned that.”

Wiping the corners of my eyes with my fingertips, I intone a sigh. “Good luck. Kapil is such a prude.”

“Daddy pude?”

Sheena brings her hand to her forehead with an audible smack. “You're a horrible influence. And for the record, I think the girls are right.” She shoos Nina away before continuing. “It seems like he really likes you. Be upfront with what you want and see where it goes.”

“How can you be so sure? That he likes me?”

She lowers her voice to a hush. “Guys don't try that hard for a lay, Indi.” She flips her hair over a shoulder. “What's the worst that can happen?”

Chapter 19: A Nice Guy

Landon

Derrick Jaeger has a wedding band on his left ring finger. Skylar beams beside him with the biggest, brightest smile as only Skylar could.

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