“But do you want to know a secret?” he went on.
“Uh-huh.” So I was just gonna let that slide right by me, the fact that he’d called me honey?
Because it was probably one of those things—like, my sister and I called everyone darlin’ or honey or sugar if we were close enough.
“Make your decision after you’ve had your shrimp,” Ethan told me. “We make choices out of desperation when we’re hungry. It’s why you shouldn’t grocery shop on an empty stomach.”
When he said it like that, the answer was so obvious. I’d heard that since I was a kid, never to go to the store when you were hungry, but it hadn’t occurred to me to apply the same logic when I was eating.
“Sometimes, I feel so silly around you,” I confessed without thinking twice. “I mean, I’ve always been bigger, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve researched diets and lifestyle changes. I’d like to think I’m fairly well-read on health and whatnot, and still…” I grabbed my salad and got comfortable against the headboard, and then I put Ethan on speaker.
“It’s like our vocabulary,” he replied. “We know the words, but we still struggle to find the right ones at times.”
True.
I stabbed a shrimp with my fork and stuck it in my mouth.
It was good. Lemony and garlicky.
“Lack of knowledge is rarely the problem for women in your position,” he continued. “I’m more inclined to blame Big Food Corp for being allowed to lie and manipulate on the packages.Corn syrup labeled as natural and low-fat is a big problem. Getting caught up in trendy diets pushed by influencers with good genes is another. It adds pressure and stress on you, both of which trigger insulin release.”
“Well, this is great. I’m losing my appetite as we speak,” I half joked.
He laughed quietly. “I’ll shut up. Otherwise, I can drone on for hours about everything I think is wrong with how we try to get healthy.”
“No, you’re good. And I appreciate your take on things,” I said. “It’s just tiring sometimes to fight so hard and not always get the results.”
“I understand. But you’re seeing them now, yeah? And please remember, your body goes through changes all the damn time. Hormones have their say, your menstrual cycle, moods, stress levels—it all impacts those results.”
Right again.
“I hear you, Coach.”
“Attagirl.”
Fuck me.
The shrimp went down like a lead balloon, and a rush of desire tightened my stomach. If he could change that togood girl, I could totally picture him saying that when he was in the middle of fuck?—
“So, how did it go today?” he asked.
Ugh.
Washington gave me a rainy welcome on Tuesday afternoon.
And yet, I was so happy to be home.
Home.
Camassia Cove really did feel like home now.
I loved it here.
I made it home right before it got dark, and I pushed my luggage into my apartment. Crashing on the couch—after showering and getting dry—shouldbe at the top of my list. Hell, I should be downright exhausted by now. Instead, I had a bunch of longings and frustrations building up within me, so I just changed into clean leggings and a hoodie, and I replaced my flats with sneakers. Then I guzzled some water and headed out the door again.
I didn’t wanna sit in my quiet apartment just yet.
I strode up the cobblestone street and made a turn toward the busy areas of Cedar Valley. Of course, since I was still new in town, I had to rely on my phone’s GPS. But I simply had to see my studio.
