Page 32 of Bad Love

Kendall:Not what Imeant.

Hunter:Uh-huh. You need help picking one, we could try themtogether.

Not sure whyI said that. Maybe a need to break the tension of my reality. To escape the stony coolness emanating from Monty, who’s silently and capably steering the boat back toshore.

When the dots appear, then disappear, then appear again, I decide that’s not the only reason. I also needed to watch the cutest woman I shouldn’t want do the spastic-finger text dance as she decides what to do withme.

Kendall:I don’t thinkso.

Hunter:You’d rather try them yourself. I can picturethat.

After that,the responses come in quick succession. I devote an obsessive amount of attention to black marks on a white screen as we fire texts back and forth, my chest thrumming withanticipation.

Kendall:Are you capable of saying anything that’s notinnuendo?

Hunter:But I’m so fluent. Besides, you textedme.

Hunter:I’m just giving you something to add to your spank bank. We both know you’re intofantasizing.

Kendall:You’re never going to let me forgetthat.

Hunter:Never.Ever.

Hunter:Since you’re clearly already thinking about me, why don’t we meet and talk aboutit?

Kendall:I’m working from hometoday.

Women are subtle.They rarely say exactly what theymean.

Which is why I’m parsing Kendall’s non-answer for thetruth.

Kendall wants me, but she doesn't want to want me. And every second since I figured that out has been making mehard.

"Your fan club?” Monty’s tight voice breaks into mythoughts.

I shove the phone away because jerking off in front of my best friend seems like a bad idea. Plus, I had the seats on the boat reupholstered lastyear.

"Nope. The woman who's ensuring I don’t lose that bet. And there’s no risk she’s going to head up my fan club anytime soon.” I frown. “In fact, she’d probably burn the clubheadquarters.”

"Really? Give me her address. I'll send herflowers."

When we pull up to the private dock by my parents' place, I tie up the boat and kick a shoe against one of the mooringposts.

I check my phone on the way back to the car. Instagram is blowing up with reaction to my pic, but there's nothing more from Kendall, and I turn over her messageagain.

We’ll be working together for the next two and a half months, and if she’s owed a decent slice of what I’m paying Daisy, she’ll get a fat check at theend.

Most women would bethrilledto spend time with me and get paid forit.

I stare at my best friend who is, objectively speaking, one of the most decent humans on the planet. We don’t fuck, and he still chooses to spend time withme.

If Kendall’s going to help me win this bet, we’ll need to work closely together. Which means she needs to be able to stand my presence. And I’m not talking about our off-the-chartschemistry.

My brain lights up like a flashbulb. I know what I need todo.

"You have an idea," Monty says as he slides into the passenger side and I get comfortable in the driver’sseat.

"Don't look so worried. My ideas areawesome."

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