Page 8 of Stick Break
“I never pegged you as a rule follower.”
His fork freezes mid-air, eyes narrowing with a flicker of caution. “That’s because you don’t know me.”
I catch that like a test. He’s nervous I might see through him. “That’s true,” I say, biting into my pancake. “Okay, hit me with the rules. Wait, I don’t have to be in bed by eight or anything, right? I only crashed early last night because of the long travel. I’m a night owl.”
He looks down. “I’m not.”
I glance at the counter. Even after cooking everything is in order. I’d have batter on the ceiling if I were in charge, and probably more whipped cream on his face than he’d like. What am I even saying.
“I’m not a neat freak either.”
“I am.”
Never would have guessed.
“I like late-night TV. Especially B rated scary movies.”
His lips twist. “I read.”
Okay, that response was unexpected and that’s on me. Just because he’s a jock, doesn’t mean he’s not well read or educated. If I remember correctly, he went to college upstate New York.
“I like to sunbathe,” I add, riding the momentum.
“I don’t.”
Ripley Stripley—clothes-hater extraordinaire—doesn’t like to sunbathe.
But that thought brings on another. “In the nude,” I blurt before thinking better of it.
Jesus. Why did I say that?
Oh, maybe because I want more than a grunt and two words out of him.
If he really did know me… well, just saying he recognized me from The Spotlight and was on the fence about whether the tabloids sex scandal was true it would no doubt have him leaning toward the ‘yes.’
His head lifts, and his eyes lock on mine. Being his entire focus steals the air right out of my lungs. He stares, long and steady, and I can almost hear his mind racing.
“This isn’t Vegas,” he finally says, “But what happens at the beach stays at the beach.”
Okay… what exactly does he mean by that?
3
Rip
Do not think about Charly sunbathing in the nude.
Too late.
Thinking about it.
Which is crazy, and going to make this weeklong and painful in so many ways.
“Ready?” she asks as I pluck the key from the starfish bowl on the counter.
“Yup.”
She struggles with the big blanket in her arms and I take it from her. She frowns. “I didn’t pack my yoga mat.”
