Page 68 of I Could Be Yours

“I’ll meet you by the VIP beach entrance.”

“Sounds good.” I return to my room. There’s a small puddle on the floor to the right of the bed. I’d be more concerned if I planned to sleep in here this week, but there’s no reason to alert management about the issue for now. If they move me to another room, it might make it more of a challenge for me to sneak into Essie’s.

I rub one out—it doesn’t take long—change into running gear, and meet Flip on the beach.

“So Vegas wasn’t a one-time thing, eh?” he asks as we fall into a light jog.

“Nope.”

“You two dating now?”

I lift a shoulder. “Not really.”

He’s quiet for a few seconds. “She’s a good person, Nate. And she has a big heart. Don’t string her along.”

“She said it was just about sex.”

“Is it?”

“For her, yeah, I guess. She kicked me out this morning because she doesn’t want Rix to find out and worry ’cause she’s already stressed enough about the wedding.” I sound pretty disgruntled about it.

“Rix is stressier than I expected, and Essie is hyper-cognizant of that, so I can see her wanting to avoid unnecessary drama. Areyouworried about Rix and Tristan finding out?”

“Tristan would be very happy with me.”

“Why do you think that?” Flip asks.

“Because my relationship track record isn’t great.”

“To be fair, Tristan didn’t have a relationship track record until Rix, so he wouldn’t have much of a leg to stand on if that’s what he’s upset about.”

“She only wants dick from me anyway.”

“But you want something else?”

“Yeah. No. I don’t know.”

“Sounds like maybe you do know and you’re having a hard time admitting it.”

I can’t talk to Tristan about this, or my dad, or anyone else really. So I guess it’s Flip. “I like her. Like in the bedroom, yeah, but also out of it. She’s fun, and sweet, and thoughtful, and talented, and so smart.” I should find her obsession with all things fairy tale and romance irritating, but now it’s just…endearing. “She’s a ray of sunshine. I like how I feel when I’m around her.” Especially now that we’re not fighting to stay away from each other. “And the sex is unreal.”

“I knew it. I should have acted faster.”

I punch him in the shoulder. “Fuck you.”

“I’m kidding.”

I give him a look.

“Mostly.”

“Seriously, fuck you.” I shove him, and he nearly loses his footing.

“Dude, I’m a guy with a dick, and she’s ridiculously gorgeous, plus all the other things you so helpfully highlighted about her. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve thought about her in a Biblical way. But she’s my sister’s best friend, and I’m not ready for something real, which is what Essie deserves.”

“Yeah, well, she doesn’t want real with me,” I grumble.

“I feel like you’re not telling me something.” We reach the end of the resort beach, and he stops, hands on his knees, sweat dripping from his brow.

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