Page 57 of I Can't Help It

“I don’t want you to back off,” I murmur, resting my forehead against hers. “I want more of this, more of us, more of everything with you.”

“I want that too,” she mirrors my hushed tone as her hands slide to the back of my neck. “But…are you sure? Last night, you seemed pretty adamant about us not being together.”

She’s right. I was adamant about us not being together. And it would’ve been logical of me to stick with that mindset.

But screw logical.

Logical doesn’t matter to me.

Ava matters to me.

I know I’m not supposed to have her, but not having her would be even worse.

“What if, for the rest of this trip, we’re just coworkers who decided to become something more because they’re really into each other?” I lean back so I can fully look at her. “And after the trip is over, once we’re back home, I’ll talk to Wyatt. I’ll tell him about us. Just to make sure things won’t be weird in our friendship.” My eyes start to drift toward her swollen lips, but I force myself to stay focused. “Would you be okay with that?”

HALLWAYS CAN BE TRICKY

Ava

Don’t get me wrong, I respect how much Luke cares about Wyatt and their friendship. I care about that too! But I don’t like the feeling of being in relationship limbo until he talks to Wyatt. And I really don’t like the feeling of Luke “needing permission” to officially date me.

That’s not how he said it, but that’s essentially what he meant.

Did either of those concerns stop me from agreeing to his plan though? Heck no.

Honestly, I think I would’ve agreed to anything he said after the way we kissed in the shower.

Also, just a quick side note: that was my first ever shower kiss, but I’m open to the idea of it not being my last one…

Judge me all you want, but that kiss altered my brain chemistry.

Anywayyyyy, so now we’re just coworkers-who-decided-to-become-something-more-because-they’re-really-into-each-other.

Aka: relationship limbo.

We had breakfast together, and we were in the middle of taking a morning stroll, but then Luke saw a squirrel and became determined to get a picture of it. While he tries to find his new woodland buddy—because that squirrel dashed behind a tree once Luke pulled his phone out—I’m chilling on a conveniently placed bench, watching Luke’s every move.

“This is so weird,” I say, admiring the view of his great side profile as he continues his search.

“What is?” He proceeds to laugh. “Me stalking a squirrel like paparazzi?”

I laugh too. “Well, yeah, a little. But I meant that I’m over here staring at you because I like you so much, and it’s weird knowing that you actually like me too.”

Not to mention just last week I was jamming that stupid printer at work to get his attention, and I don’t have to do anything like that now.

“I guess I should’ve told you sooner about how I felt, huh?” he asks, rubbing the back of his neck. Then, he abandons his spot by the tree and comes over to stand beside me. “I just didn’t want to make things…complicated.”

Complicated because of Wyatt.

Who would’ve guessed that the healthiest breakup I’ve ever had would end up being a roadblock to a new relationship?

“Well, as horrible as it was not knowing if you liked me or not, I’m glad the truth came out while we’re here.” I take hold of his hand and press a quick kiss to his knuckles. “It’s like we’re in one of those cheesy small-town romance movies.”

The corner of his mouth turns up ever so slightly. “Do you watch a lot of those movies?”

“Sometimes. Why? Do you disapprove of those movies?”

He proceeds to scoff. “Absolutely not. Those movies give some good insight.”

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