Because getting back in a pool freaks me the hell out.
Nobody knows about this dream of mine. I can’t even find the courage to say it out loud to myself. How did he pick up on it? “Maybe I’ll look into it.”
“Just an idea, since you’re running out of hobbies,” he teases. Wrapping me in his arms, he leans in for a kiss. I’m shocked he remembered the tiniest detail from a joke I made weeks ago. Still stunned when he walks to his car, and just a bit dazed as he waves from his window. He listened. He remembered. He heard me.What about that is freaking me out?
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
ASHLIE
“Girl, we’re only going for the weekend. Do you really need that big ass suitcase?” Willa cocks her head to the side as my struggle-grunts fill the room. The stuck zipper made it perfectly clear I packed too much, but I’m not giving her the satisfaction of being right.
“Look, you never know.” I collapse on my bag as the last couple inches finally zips. Blowing a stray curl from my forehead, I stand with hands on my hips, breathing heavily. “I could spill wine on myself on the plane, or trip again and break my shoe.”
An unamused snort leaves her nose as she leans against the door frame. “Why are you always creating problems in your head?”
“You call itcreating problems; I call itpreparing for the worst.”
“Shit’s exhausting, Ash. No wonder you’re always so stressed…” she says. Exasperated, I shoot her a glare, and she throws her hands up in a truce. “Okay, okay…”
I slide past her and head for the bathroom. Hunter should be outside any minute so we can catch our flight to San Francisco. I’m running behind, as usual. “Did you need an extra toothbrush or anything?”
“Nope. Some of us don’t wait until thirty minutes before the trip to pack.”
“Sounds fake,” I murmur, digging through my medicine cabinet for deodorant. My phone goes off in my back pocket. A smile tugs at my lips as I dig it out, preparing for a snarky message from Hunter about my always being late. But it’s Trevor, telling me how excited he is to see me.
“So, how’s Trevor?” Willa asks from the door, snapping my attention from the disappointment rifling through my chest.
“How did you know it was Trevor?”
“You do this thing with your face whenever you get messages from him. Kind of like an upside-down smile. What’s the word for that again?” she teases.
I scoff as I grab toothpaste from the drawer. “No, I don’t.” I was only expecting it to be Hunter because he’ll be here soon. The message from Trevor was fine. Sweet, even. My phone buzzes, and I feel Willa’s eyes on me as I tap the screen.
“You did it again,” she says with an annoying smirk. “Do you even like him?”
“Of course. What kind of question is that?” Trevor’s great. Caring and attentive, the opposite of what I’m used to.He’s who I should want. I try to focus on finding my toothbrush cover, but her know-it-all “mm-hmm” sends my eyes back to her. “Why don’t you just say it, Wills?”
“You’re using Trevor and this bet to avoid your feelings for Hunter…”
Using Trevor? No. Well…I don’tthinkso. How I feel about him has nothing to do with Hunter. And the bet wasn’t even my idea, so I can’t possibly be using that as a crutch. Just because I’m still a little worried Hunter will revert to his old ways doesn’t mean I’m evading my feelings for him. I’m just being cautious. Protecting my heart.
“Oh, so dating Hunter is the same as avoiding feelings for him? Got it,” I quip sarcastically, breezing past her to get to my bedroom.
She follows me and flops onto my bed. “Youknowthat’s not what I’m saying.”
I toss my toiletries into my carry-on tote before facing her. “Look, I like both of them and?—”
“Mmm, nope, let’s fix that. You like one of them. Youlovethe other.”
With a sigh, I prop my tote on my suitcase and sit next to her. “Why are you making this such a big deal?”
“Because itisa big deal, girl. For you, especially. When was the last time you were in love?”
“Marc—”
“Not that shallow, codependent shit you hide behind.Actuallove.”
My skin prickles from her blunt veracity. She’s the relentless lens magnifying my shadows, and I’m just the puny ant running for cover. She cocks her head, and I know she already knows the answer.Bryan. “I don’t talk about him.”
