Page 45 of Clean Out of Luck

“It’s really nice in here, Wade. Did you decorate?” There’s a beautiful, large clock hanging on the wall and a black-and-white photo of some snowy mountain that I don’t recognize.

“If that’s what you call hanging a couple of things on the walls,” he jokes as he leads the way into the cute little kitchen. He has a stand mixer on the small island. There aretwo cookie sheets covered with balls of cookie dough. There’s a pan of freshly baked cookies sitting on the stovetop, and there’s a timer counting down next to it.

“I think I’ve just found heaven,” I say as I reach for a cookie dough ball.

Wade catches my wrist before I can eat it. “Wait! That has raw egg in it.”

I stare at where his hand easily encircles my wrist. It sends a strange trail of tingling up my arm.

Meeting Wade’s concerned gaze, I wink and bend down to where our hands are linked, popping the bite in my mouth.

“I like to live life on the edge,” I say after I swallow the bite.

Wade’s eyes darken, and he tugs my wrist a little, causing me to tumble against his firm chest.

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve given you a noogie.” He keeps a hold on my wrist and wraps his other arm around my neck, pinning me against him.

Flapping my hands ineffectually against his arms, I shriek at him. “You’re going to mess up my hair!”

“It’s okay; I don’t mind looking at you with wild hair.” He chuckles darkly. His hand runs back and forth on top of my head. He’s careful not to hurt me, but he’s rather proud of himself for being a pain in the butt.

I reach up with my free hand and run it up and down his rib cage.

He flinches and immediately releases me, and nowhe’sthe one trying to get away from me.

I wrap both arms around him, tickling his ribs mercilessly.

“Scarlett, you are evil!” The last word comes out in a squeak.

He jerks back and catches my hands in his. I’m laughing too hard to stand up anymore and sink to the kitchen floor in a fit of giggles.

I can’t even catch a breath. “I love your scream,” I manage to gasp out.

Wade bends down, trying to lift me, but he’s still convulsing with laughter and we both end up on the ground, leaning against the cabinet doors.

“Oh, man.” I swipe at the tears running down my face. “I haven’t laughed like that in a while.”

Wade turns his head to meet my gaze. “Me neither.”

My breath catches as I hold the stare. After my cheeks finally relax, I jerk my head away, embarrassed at the way I was leaning toward him.

We used to roughhouse when we were young. This is nothing new. But the way I’m feeling right now? It’s anything but innocent.

We stand up, and I have to stretch. I haven’t been in a wrestling match in at least a year.

The last time was the gift exchange game and I had to beat up my brother to win. It was very normal. Very serene. Very sibling-ish.

Exactly the opposite of what Wade and I just did.

Wade walks over to the oven, checks on the cookies inside, then pulls them out with a hot pad.

It’s eerily quiet after our raucous laughter. I pull out a barstool with a loud scrape and sink onto it as I search my brain for any brilliant silence breaker.

“So I didn’t even realize you were single again until you showed up at my apartment the other day.”And that was the best topic my brain could come up with.

“Yeah, we decided to go our separate ways,” he says as he shrugs his shoulders.

I want to ask why, but I bite my tongue.

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