Page 37 of Sticking Around

I need to get out of this place.

I set my bags by the door and walk to the kitchen, glancing out the window and smiling as guests play in the surf. When I do get a full-time job, I am going to miss this place, and the pool parties at the rooftop bar. Then again, I can always visit. I’ve become pretty close to Brighton, and I know she’ll extend an invite.

I pull the eggs from the fridge and the other ingredients needed from the pantry, as the image of me attending with Brady’s arm around me hits like a brick to the face. Whoa, I can’t be thinking like that. But I know how I should be thinking. Brady didn’t have much of a childhood, always taking care of others, and I know quite a bit about that, so for the next couple of weeks, I simply want us to have some fun and make up for those lost years.

I spot my laptop on the counter, and open it to find a message from Brady with the apartment listings. I scan them and find myself humming again as the shower rains down on Brady and I pull the waffle maker from the cupboard and mix up the batter. I clean some berries and grab a can of whipped cream, and, after deciding Brady and I needed to reclaim our lost childhood, spray it straight into my mouth.

Brady comes around the corner. “Hey, share.”

I hold the can up. He has different ideas. He slides an arm around my waist, and pulls me to him, the way I’ve grown accustomed to and yeah, I really love it. My body bumps his, and I breathe in his warm soapy scent as his lips fall over mine. He moans, and it sends a jolt of need through me.

“Baby, you taste good.” He inches back, wipes his finger over my bottom lip and puts it into his mouth. “Yum.” He holds me tighter. “Now I want to taste you all over again.”

“While I’d like that?—”

“No, I get it. You have things to do, and apartments to check out.”

I run my finger over the tip of the cannister, and put my finger into his mouth. His eyes are full of heat and curiosity as he licks it clean. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want a rain check.”

“Anytime.”

I pick up the spatula and give his backside a whack. “Now, go sit while I cook breakfast.” He laughs and goes for the coffee. “What time is your conditioning tomorrow?” I ask.

“Afternoon. Few hours. Why? You want to watch? Can’t get enough of Coddy?”

I laugh at his playfulness. “No. Just curious.”

“Do you work tomorrow?” he asks, his voice less jovial.

“Eleven to six.”

“That doesn’t leave much time for studying.”

I mix the batter until there are no lumps. I have no idea why Brighton and Noah’s daughter Camryn always asks for lumps in her pancakes. Strange child.

“No,” I respond and cast him a fast glance. “But I think we did pretty well on chapter four.”

He wags his eyebrows. “I love chapter four.” I laugh at his antics. “Your final exam is when?”

“Two weeks from last Friday. Then I have a week off before the next semester starts. I don’t normally do summer semesters, but I really wanted this professor.”

“All work and no play.”

I point my spatulas at him. “Makes Melanie a great counselor.”

“Yeah, it does.” I realize the man knows all about hard work. He wouldn’t be where he is without it. Instead of sitting, he steps up behind me, pulls my hair to the side and places a tender kiss on the sensitive spot he discovered last night. A fine quiver goes through me. “How many more courses do you have before you finish?”

“One this fall, and one in the winter semester, then I’m done.”

“We’ll have a big celebration after you finish your exam.”

Celebration? The last time I celebrated something was…well, I don’t think I’ve ever celebrated anything in my entire life. “No, we don’t have to do that.” I don’t believe in being frivolous about anything.

“I want to.”

Little alarm bells jangle like they always do when someone tells me they want to do something for me. Probably because I’m used to them wanting something in return. “Why?”

“Simply because I want to. How is that for a reason?”

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