Page 66 of One Touch

I was going to be on a boat. With Ethan.

Elara waved away his concerns. “Cocktails, dancing, maybe a naughty party game or two. I’m not waddling down the aisle with this baby bump without one last hurrah! Then, when we get to Goldharbor Bay, we’ll separate into the two groups—boys and girls—and have a private drink and bite to eat before heading back to Bluehaven.”

I was going to be on a boat. With Ethan. With cocktails. And maybe a naughty party game or two.

What had that rule been?

We must not attend weddings or romantic events together as each other’s plus one.

Cole grumbled something unintelligible, but I could see the affection in his eyes. He was powerless to deny his bride-to-be.

As Elara talked about bouquets and boutonnieres, I daydreamed about Ethan on the boat. Maybe we’d be near each other on the dance floor. The lights would be low. The boat would sway. Lights would twinkle.

No one would see, but our hands would find each other.

No one would see, but our lips would find each other.

No one would see, but his hardness would find my softness and he’d rock with the ocean, sweeping me away once more to a dark land of pleasure and . . . feelings.

I couldn’t wait to pull El aside later and fill her in on every detail of my foray into friends-with-benefits. She’d be thrilled her plan had paid off, even if ours wasn’t exactly a fairytale romance.

Finally, my moment came.

“Ugh,” Cole blurted out. “Need some more hardware. I’m out to Peach and Tree for some screws and whatnot. Back in ten.”

The moment he stepped out of the bakery, I grabbed Elara’s arm and pulled her out of earshot of any of the customers.

“I had sex with Ethan!” I hissed.

Elara’s green eyes widened, her mouth curling into that scandalized smile that I found so damn cute. “ I knew it! I knew it! It worked!” she said, clapping her hands together excitedly. “Your nerdy romance rul—”

“Wait, nerdy?”

“I knew it!” She wrapped me in a tight hug.

I couldn’t help but giggle. “It was incredible, El. Like, mind-blowingly amazing. And. . . .” I bit my lip, glancing around to make sure Cole wasn’t about to come back in. “We agreed it’s just a casual thing, you know? Like we planned. No strings attached.”

Elara nodded, her expression turning serious. “Totally. So, it was just a one-off?”

“Uh . . . maybe? Probably? Maybe not? I don’t know!”

“Well, whatever happens, just enjoy the moment and see where it goes!” She patted her swollen stomach mischievously.

I playfully swatted at her arm. “I’m not having his baby, dummy! I’m trying to be responsible here. Ava needs stability, and Ethan’s emotionally unavailable. Plus, it’s probably just a rebound thing for me. Plus, there’s the age gap. Plus, he’s my boss.”

She squeezed my hand reassuringly. “Don’t overthink it. Just take things one day at a time and see where your heart leads you. And if you end up pregnant and in love like me—”

“Quit it! Anyway, I thought you were encouraging me to keep it casual.”

“No, no, I was just saying you could if you wanted to. Like, it’s possible.”

I sighed, my mind swirling with doubts. “So, you’re saying I should take things further with him? Why do I feel confused? I don’t want to feel confused.”

“Hey, don’t stress. You got this. And no matter what happens, I’m here for you.”

As if on cue, the bakery door opened again, and Cole returned, with a bucket of—presumably—screws in his hand.

“Back in business,” he said with a grin.

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