Page 47 of Two Weeks in Tahoe

“Layla, please. I know what you’re trying to do, and it’s not going to work. Is the guy insanely hot? Yes. But he’s a sensitive flower and I’m a hungry barracuda. It wouldn’t end well. You know I have male-issues deeper than the Pacific.”

I let out a laugh. “The Pacific?”

“Yeah. I’m pretty sure that’s the deepest ocean in the world.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” I respond, scrunching my eyebrows at her.

The older female bartender hands us each an Irish coffee without a word, and neither of us wastes any time taking that first, warm sip.

“Mmm…” I hum in satisfaction. “This is almost better than…no, never mind. Definitely not better than that.”

“Uh huh,” Daniela agrees, laughing. “I know you’re having the best time ever here, and I’m happy for you. Not all of us are going to get that perfect storybook romance that you’re currently living, though.”

“It’s not a perfect anything,” I counter. “I don’t even live here and I’m catching major feelings for this amazing, kind guy when I’m going to be gone soon. Plus, while I do want a family someday, he’s a package deal with his six-year-old nephew, who is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but that kid may have some trauma. I don’t want to add to it in any way if this doesn’t work out.”

“Okay, you’re right about the poor kid,” Daniela concedes. “But Liam is completely protective of him. He’s already trusted you to come into their lives…which he did it for a reason. That guy worships the ground you walk on. You can see it all over his face. He’s totally falling for you already. Why not stay a while and see where it goes? What’s waiting for you back in Sacramento that’s so important?”

“First of all, Iamextending my stay a little longer. Second of all…you?” I bat my eyelashes at her.

“Oh please. You know I will come visit you anytime. Just as long as Dex doesn’t come around too much. And you’ll come visit me too.”

“Right, okay. I’ll start looking for a more permanent rental tomorrow. Then we can start packing up all my stuff when I get back in a couple of weeks. That won’t scare Liam off at all. Moving my whole life here for him, when I don’t even know yet what I feel,” I scoff.

“Yeah…you’re probably right there,” she admits. “Well. Why don’t you stop overthinking everything, enjoy your time here with your perfect guy, and just see where it goes. Live in the moment a little. Life has a way of working itself out, I’ve found in my many wise years.”

I nod. Sometimes I wish she would take her own advice and follow her heart more.

We sit and bullshit for an hour when finally, the guys return, smiling and laughing as they walk in together. Liam is pulling his beanie off and shaking out his hair, running a hand through it, when he catches my eye across the room. Everything fades around him for a moment, and it’s just the two of us. Daniela is right. He's absolutely worth staying and seeing where this goes.

Liam takes the seat next to me and wraps his arm around my waist, kissing my temple as he settles in. His mouth is cold, sending a shiver down my spine and reminding me of the first night we hooked up. He warms me up in completely different places than my drink.

“How’d it go?” I ask. I notice Dex take a seat next to Liam, far away from Daniela, even though the seat next to her is open too.

“I smoked him,” Dex chimes in casually, cutting Liam off before he can respond.

Liam smirks, his dimples deepening, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me. “Sure, buddy.”

Daniela laughs beside me, and I can’t help but smile. I love this little group. Even though we’re a big mess.

The guys order regular coffees, then Daniela announces she needs to use the restroom. Before I can volunteer to go with her, Liam stands up and says he has to go too. He follows Daniela off toward the bathrooms and I’m left alone with Dex.

“Don’t even start,” Dex says, glancing at me with a teasing, suspicious look on his face.

“Oh my God. I wasnotgoing there,” I laugh. “I’ve moved on. Over it. You guys hate each other. I got it, okay?”

“Okay. If you say so,” he quips, not looking fully convinced.

“I do. You guys are total opposites. According to everyone who’s met the both of you, it’s like night and day.”

Dex releases a deep sigh, glancing down as he stirs his drink slowly.

“You know,” he starts, his voice quieter, “people like to think they have me all figured out. Like I’m this lovesick fool who will fall in love with anyone. And that I’m always getting my heart broken. But that’s not really the case,” he pauses, running his long fingers through his dark hair. “I do want to find my person, of course. Maybe I am a hopeless romantic. But I wasn’t heartbroken over my exes because I thought they were the ones…I was heartbroken because I knew they weren’t. And I was pissed off at myself for wasting so much time figuring it out, only to end up back at square one…alone once again. It sucks.”

I’m stunned, speechless at his confession.

“I—”

“Sorry,” he cuts in, clearly sensing that I have no idea how to respond. “I didn’t mean to dump all that on you.”

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