Page 82 of Green Flag
“Theworst?”
“No!” Her laugh was strained as she wriggled. “You’re the best. You’re the best. I swear.”
I stopped and, leaning over her, I had to stop myself from bending to kiss her. I might be the best, but I wanted all of her worst.
Her breathing eased as she looked up at me, and for a second, I thought she might want it too. But it would be different. Sober. Meaningful.
With the power to hurt.
If I were to be with anyone, though… it would be her. Things were easy between us. Fun. But it wasn’treal.There were no expectations for me to let her down.
“You’ve got a meeting at Ciclati,” she said and cleared her throat, grabbing my bicep to haul herself up.
“I’ve got a massage first,” I told her and it had the desired effect. She froze, one foot stuck on the floor. Her grip tightened around my arm.
“What do you get done?” she asked, releasing me and pushing her hair back as she pulled up a sock. Her voice was tighter than usual, though she tried to pass it off as being casual.
It was no more than being a little territorial…the same as I was with her.
There was nothing in it.
“Everything,” I said. “A full body. It’s great before and after a race.”
“Everything, huh? Your ass?”
I laughed through my nose. “Nah, that’s about the only thing covered. Though I only lie on my front.”
“I can give massages,” she said and finally stood, her back to me. “I mean, I’ve had no training, but…”
“I wouldn’t want to push my luck,” I said with a dramatic sigh. “You’d take one look at this naked body and — boom — lovestruck.”
There was no denying I spent far more time in Everly’s presence than I’d ever imagined. And when I wasn’t with her, I was overthinking every exchange we’d had, letting myself gain hope in little details.
Like her jealousy over my massage.
She threw me the biggest eye roll I’d ever seen. It probably hurt her eye muscles.
“I have some tours to give.”
“Livie said you had some good feedback last week,” I said to her, trying not to beam with pride. Of course she had.
She nodded, reaching for her jacket on the floor. “I was the most requested tour guide of the weekend,” she said proudly, with a curtsy as she stood.
“Maybe you’ll give me a tour. I can see how you’ve improved.”
She frowned, breathing a laugh. “Because you need one, huh?”
“I don’t know these tracks so well. Sometimes, I do get a little lost. When I’m around a certain grid girl, my thoughts get hazy. I could end up anywhere.”
She lightly slapped my arm. “Don’t lie. You’re the worst flirt.”
“But I thought I was the best?”
She rolled her eyes but I covered her hand with my own, keeping her hold on me.
“Luca Mendes, someone might think you have a crush on me.”
“That would be the plan.”
