Page 17 of While We Waited

And yet here I am lying to Sophia, one of my best friends in the world.

“I’m fine. I’ll be in the office in half an hour.” Just as soon as I shower the sex off of me and put on some clean panties.

“Why don’t you stay at home and work from there? I know you prefer your own surroundings when you’re not feeling well.”

Tears well in my eyes. She’s being super sweet and I’m lying to her. Well, not exactly lying. My tummy does feel funny. But I’m definitely withholding information from her.

I suck the tears back in. I love Sophia and my friends but they don’t need to know about every time I have sex. I’m allowed a private life.

“I’ll be in soon.”

I want to be at the office surrounded by my friends. If I stay at home, I’ll spend the entire time thinking about last night. Wondering what possessed me to have sex with Hudson when I know he can’t stand me. Wondering how sex can be fantastic with someone who doesn’t have feelings for you.

“No rush,” Sophia says and hangs up.

Despite her words, I rush home. Thoughts of Hudson and what we did last night are banging at my barriers. I need a distraction.

I need my friends.

What I don’t need is a man who can’t stand me.

Forget him. We’ll makeFive Fathoms Brewinga huge success without him.

The thought of shoving our success in his face has me snickering. I’ll show him I’m good enough for him.

Chapter 7

Scrambling – When Hudson runs around trying not to obsess over his night with Nova

Hudson

Iroll over and reach for Nova but the sheets are cold to my touch. I open my eyes to discover her side of the bed is empty.

I want to jump out of the bed and chase after her, but I don’t. She deserves better than a grump like me.

Wait a minute. How did she leave? We’re locked in here for all she knows. I climb out of bed and don my boxer shorts before making my way to the kitchen.

“Nova!” I shout her name but there’s no reply.

I feel a slight breeze and notice the sliding glass door to the patio is open. Fuck. I hope she doesn’t figure out that I knew we could escape last night. She’ll be thoroughly pissed at me.Assuming she isn’t already pissed at me for taking advantage of her last night.

I couldn’t help myself. Nova and her smile are irresistible.

I return to the bedroom and dress. I notice Nova’s panties in the corner and shove them in my pocket. Then, I strip the sheets off of the bed. I’m carrying them to the patio doors when the front door opens.

“What are you doing in here?” My contractor, Flynn, asks.

I hold up the sheets. “These needed to be washed since the chalet isn’t ready yet.”

He cocks a brow. “And you’re the one who came here to change the sheets?”

I’ve known Flynn most of my life. He’s a few years older than me but in a place the size of Smuggler’s Hideaway where everyone knows everyone, a few years don’t make a difference. Since he began construction on the luxury chalets at the resort, we’ve become friends.

But I can’t tell him about last night. Nova is friends with his girlfriend, Sophia. I don’t want Nova to think I was bragging about having sex with her.

“Private,” I grunt.

“And it has nothing to do with Nova tearing out of the resort parking lot?”

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