Page 74 of Where We Belong

She huffs, then turns my way. “Life’s never boring with you, is it?”

“Just figured that out?”

She shakes her head. “It was pretty obvious that night in Rome, actually. After speaking with you for a couple hours, I was convinced no one could be bored with you around.”

I grin, flattered that she’s remembered even one positive thing about me from that night. Then, I throw her a wink. “I thought you were pretty cool, then, too.”

We spend the next minute in silence, and as I turn onto the driveway that will lead to the small cottage, I notice she’s rubbing at her neck while wincing.

“You okay?” I frown as I add, “Did you hurt yourself?” Jesus, if she did while going through one of my stupid plans, I’d never forgive myself. Not when there’s only one thing she really wants in this world and it’s dependent on her body being at its best.

“No. Well, not recently anyway.” She shrugs. “Just typical gymnastics aches coupled with past vertebral fractures.” One of her eyes closes as she seems to hit an even more tender spot. “A shitty mix if you ask me.”

Gravel crunches under my tires as I slow down in front of the cottage. I hate seeing her in pain, and I have the strongest urge to replace her hands with mine and try to ease the hurt there. Only one of the thousand instances since New York—even before then, if I’m being honest—where I’ve wanted to touch her in one way or another.

Before I can think through my words, I blurt out, “There’s a hot tub at the main house.”

Lexie’s head snaps my way. “I’m sorry?”

“I mean, it’s good for muscle pain, I think? And Martina and Dennis are visiting Aaron and Wren in Boston right now, so they’re not there.”

Her chocolate eyes are wide. “We can’t. Well,Ican’t.”

“They don’t mind,” I say, insisting for some strange reason. “I use it all the time after work. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who uses it.”

She tucks a loose piece of hair back into her short ponytail. “I don’t have a bathing suit.”

“It’s fine. Me neither.”

Her brows climb her forehead.

“I mean, I don’t have any here. But lucky for you, I never go commando.” I wink, but her face seems even less amused than before.

“I don’t know,” she says, and only then do I realize I must look like a fucking creep to her, trying to get her naked in a remote place where we’re alone.

“Lex, if you’re uncomfortable—”

“No, I’m fine,” she says while avoiding my gaze, and after a sharp exhale, she adds, “Let’s do it, then.” Her answer comes a little too fast, but before I can question her further, she’s getting out of the truck.

I follow her out, the freezing air suddenly feeling like a sauna.

“I’ll go change. Meet you there?” she asks.

“Sure.”

And then she disappears inside the cabin, and I realize just what a dumb idea I had.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

We’re supposed to be friends. That’s the only way I can have her in my life, and it’s something I’ve accepted. But nothing will scream “friendly” like the giant boner I’ll get when I’ll be stuck in a hot tub with her barely covered body.

What a dumbass.

As I start walking toward the main house, hoping the wind will cool the heat on my face, I grab my phone and dial Aaron’s number.

“What’s up?” he says as he picks up.

“I’m in trouble,” I answer.

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