Page 100 of The Plus One Contract

I muster a small nod. “I did.”

“I guess I could’ve done better at keeping in touch.” The tension stings, but I sense from her tone that maybe she’s been feeling guilty. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

She sighs, fiddling with the brim of her cap. “The group was in a weird spot, you know. Daniel stayed, you left, and we all got stuck in the middle. That doesn’t mean I couldn’t have shot you a text.”

I exhale, some relief mingling with sadness. “Life gets complicated, I guess.”

“Yeah.” She glances at Nathan, who is now bounding across the sand for a spike. “So, you’re…with that guy? Nathan, right?” Her eyes flick over his broad shoulders, the way his swim trunks ride low on his hips. She whistles under her breath. “Wow, Sienna. Didn’t realize you’d upgraded to Greek God mode.”

A laugh bubbles out of me before I can stop it. “He’s…something.” I cough, refusing to clarify that “something” might mean dangerously addictive. “We’re just—”Fake. Faking it.“—you know, seeing how it goes.”

“Uh-huh.” Erin’s grin edges into a smirk. “Well, judging by the way you’re blushing—and it’snotfrom the sun, by the way—I’d say you’re seeing a lot of things you like.”

I fidget with the tie of my bikini, not sure what to say.

As if on cue, Nathan leaps up for a vicious spike, slamming the ball across the net. Jeremy dives to save it, but it’s out of reach. A round of cheers goes up, interspersed with giggles from some older ladies near the sidelines. My mother, among them, is fanning herself.

I cringe. “Oh God,” I mutter to Erin. “He’s turning half the family into drooling idiots.”

Erin snickers. “I mean, can you blame them?” She cocks her head. “He’s definitely got that primalMe man, I kill ballvibe. And hey, it’s your wedding date, so you’re the real winner here.”

Winner.

The word pangs in my chest.

“Yeah,” I say, forcing myself to keep my voice even. “Lucky me.”

I’m not sure if Nathan has ever played volleyball a day in his life, but he’s good at it. I think this man approaches everything with the same determination he uses to fuck.

My cheeks flame.

Stop it, Sienna. Do not recall that night.

Erin elbows me. “You really are bright red. Want me to get you some water?”

Before I can respond, we hear my mother’s voice from the sideline, wiping at her forehead. “Jesus Christ, he’s inducing a menopausal flush.”

“Mom,” I growl under my breath, face flaming. Erin stifles a cackle behind her hand.

Luckily, the game wraps up a moment later. I wasn’t paying enough attention to know who won that one.

Nathan heads our way, chest heaving, sweat beading on his temple. My mother fans herself more vigorously. Grace’s mother, equally entranced, murmurs something about “the posture on that man.”

He drops onto the lounger beside me.

My mother swivels to me. “Sienna, you’d better put on more sun lotion. You don’t want tan lines for the wedding tomorrow.”

Nathan’s already picking up the bottle from the small table.

I eye him.

Really?

He sets a knee on my lounger, his legs bracketing me.

If I start moaning, I can’t be held accountable.

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