Page 9 of When You Had Me Adapting

“Come on, it’s been ten years. We can’t do this forever. I live with Tanner. I’m friends with Logan. It looks like we’re stuck with each other.” He sounds desperate and a part of me likes watching him beg. I look around the boat and I realize everyone is wanting me to make the final call.

“Fine,” I agree. Poppy’s eyes go wide and I give her a reassuring nod.

“Fine?” she mouths. I nod again.

“You can stay.” I look back at Jace. His fucking smile and those blue eyes make me feel something low in my belly I definitely shouldn’t feel.

He hurt me. He hurt me. He hurt me.

“Just stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours.” I stand and dive back into the water.

CHAPTER 4: I HAD SOME HELP

JACE

Iwatch as Lacey swims toward the ladder on the back of the boat, and when she pulls herself up out of the lake, my eyes lock on her body. She has more curves than she did nine years ago, and fuck if I don’t want to trace every inch of them with my fingers. Water drips between her breasts and down her stomach. I have to adjust myself under my swimsuit so my dick doesn’t make a show of my attraction to this girl.

Georgia summers are hot, but watching her move in that tiny black bikini, without being able to touch her, is making me feel like I’ve fallen into the pits of hell.

I need to cool the fuck down. She wants nothing to do with me, and as much as I want to know why, I know she’s not going to talk to me in front of a bunch of people. I need to get her alone.

The sun hits the gold and silver chains around her neck and immediately makes me question everything I thought I knew. I rub my hands over my eyes like it’ll somehow make my vision better.Is that really what I think it is?

“Move your boat to the back and I’ll help you tie it off,” Tanner yells, breaking my thoughts. I hear a loud splash as he jumps in the lake and swims to meet me. I pedal the boat closeto the pontoon and throw the rope towards my roommate. He catches it and ties a knot. I carefully stand, climb out, and up onto the boat where my ex sits with a girl I’ve never met.

“Hi, I’m Gray,” the brunette says.

“Jace, but I go by Jacks,” I say, offering her a wave. Lacey lets out a laugh, but doesn’t look in my direction.

“I work with Lacey, and once Poppy’s license gets approved, I’ll work with her too.”

I nod my head. “Cool, so are you all nurses?”

“We aren’t nurses. We’re therapists,” Lacey says.

“Oh, right. I knew it was something like that. Dad told me you worked at a nursing home, but I couldn’t remember.”

Gray studies Lacey and me, trying to figure us out.

“Assisted living facility,” Lacey corrects me.

“Isn’t it the same thing?” I ask.

She diverts her gaze down to her phone and away from mine.

“Technically, no,” Gray explains. “The residents at a nursing home require constant care. Dogwood Manor has different levels of care, but most of our clients can do a lot independently.”

“I gotcha. So, what kind of therapists are you?”

“Well I’m a physical therapist, Lacey is an occupational therapist, and Poppy is a speech therapist,” Gray explains.

“Cool. So, Lacey, what does an occupational therapist do?” I look at her, hoping she’ll talk to me. She looks up and I’m surprised to find her eyes aren’t full of hatred, instead they look like they’re full of pain. For a second I think she may answer my question, but then her phone pings and she looks away.

“You want a drink, man? We have beer and White Claws.” Tanner is digging around in a large, turquoise cooler. On the lid, a large version of Logan and his pickleball team mascot is surrounded by other various stickers.

“Sure, a beer is fine.” I walk over and grab the can from his hand. “I tried texting you, but it wouldn’t go through. You think I should leave?”

“My phone is dead. And no. You’re here now, so you might as well stay and hang out,” he whispers.

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