Page 86 of As They Are

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Henry crossed his arms. “You should get water instead.”

“Coffee is mostly water. With some brown added in.”

“Please don’t mention anything brown being in a drink.”

“You’re a doctor. You’ve seen poop before.”

Henry sighed. “That’s beside the point. Water is good. You should have that.”

I tilted my head. “Don’t tell me you care about my well-being. Is this a doctor thing or a Henry thing?”

“It’s a boyfriend thing.”

I ignored the heat in my cheeks as I tried to remind myself that he meantfakeboyfriend. “So cute. You deserve a raise in whatever currency boyfriends get paid in.”

He raised one eyebrow, and I realized the insinuation I’d made.

Diversion. I needed a diversion andfast.

“I’m still getting coffee, though,” I added quickly, trying to dart away.

Henry grabbed me before I could make a break for it. “Nice try.” I tried to tug away from him, but his grip tightened on me. “Water first.”

There was that voice again. This was doing things for me. Things I didn’t know could be done. My entire body felt like it was on fire from this alone.

Then his hand was gone and he was grabbing water. I tried not to be disappointed. He could have had me in his grip a lot longer.

What did it say about me that I was so turned on by that?

I really needed to dig out my vibrator.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “Here.”

I took the offered water, but it did nothing for me. Still, he watched me closely until I drank some.

“Are you done making sure I don’t get dehydrated?” I asked. “We have more to see.”

“Lead the way,” he said, gesturing for me to go ahead of him.

Henry bought some fruits and vegetables from one place while I grabbed cookies to share with Eric.

Both of us were red in the face from the heat by the time we ducked into Jade’s Goodies. The air-conditioning felt incredible on my sweaty skin. Henry tugged at his shirt, and I knew he felt the same. He was in more layers than I was.

“Regretting the fancy clothes?”

“A little, but this is what I usually wear.”

“You could get away with a T-shirt or something.”

“I don’t?—”

“Oh, shit!” another voice said. “Hi!”

I saw a streak of purple, and Jade was suddenly in front of us. “Hey,” I said. “We were just at the market and I figured I’d drop in. Mollie has a request for strawberry candles.”

“I saved one for her. And one for you.”

“I’ll take one. Though Mollie might steal it.”