“Whatever. It’s such a long shot, and the position is probably filled already. It’s for January.”
“And yet they’re still advertising it on the biggest hotel-industry recruitment site.”
“What are you suggesting, Ev?” It’s madness. Must I attach myself to Tristan—fake being a couple, married, engaged, whatever—to get a job? My dream job? To Dr. Tristan Martinelli?
Hell no.
“Sleep on it. That’s all.”
What a joke. I won’t sleep at all tonight.
Chapter Four
TRISTAN
Icoast my rental the last twenty yards to Evan’s house. It’s early morning, hardly light, but I know I’ll catch him as he heads out for his morning run. I park and lean back in my seat, tired as fuck. Evan knows I’m coming today, but he expects me later. I should have spent the night on the boat, but instead I packed up and headed here. After a month out at sea, I need a decent shower and coffee that doesn’t taste like mold.
I drag my hand over my face, where five days of stubble is finally beyond the itch phase. Still, it’s got to go.Now. I look at his front door, which opens as if on cue. Evan steps out in his running gear, setting his exercise watch. I pop the car door open, and he glances up.
“Bro!” He jogs down the stairs as I get out of the car.
“We came in last night. I reek.”
“You do.” He chuckles but pulls me in for a bro-hug.
“I know I’m early?—”
“It’s awesome. Welcome home. Good trip?”
His laidback attitude is just what I need right now. “Yeah, mostly.”
“Help you carry?”
“Sure, thanks.” Every seat in my rental is covered with boxed equipment—seriously expensive stuff that I can’t leave out on the street, even if this neighborhood has zero problems in that department.
Between us we make quick work of the plastic containers and other bags with my cameras and cases, my wetsuits and diving kit, and the duffel bag with my clothes.
“I’ll grab us some croissants on my way back,” Evan says as we hover at the door. “There are eggs and bacon in the fridge, if you can’t wait.”
“Thanks.” I drag a hand through my hair. It needs a cut, too. “Thanks for letting me camp out here for a while.”Again.
“You’re welcome any time. Stay as long as you like.”
Evan has always been the one person in my life I can count on. “Thanks.”
“Eh…one thing,” Evan says. “You’ll be in the smaller room for now—the one with the single bed.” He’s busy with his watch again, not looking me in the eye. “Lexi’s here, and she’s sleeping in the main guest room.”
My pulse stutters.Lexi? Crap. “Okay, cool.” Good to know. Minutes ago I was planning to shower and collapse in the double bed where she must be sleeping.
“I had the foresight to move your stuff before she came.”
“Cool. Thanks.” Evan’s place has been my base for the past year, ever since I gave up my apartment to spend more time at sea. Financially and logistically, it made more sense. Plus, I didn’t have the bandwidth to keep up an apartment I hardly ever spent time in.
“Make yourself at home. I’ll see you in a minute.”
More like an hour.“Enjoy. I’ll come with you tomorrow morning.” My body could do with the freedom of a road run after weeks in a contained space.
I have keys to his house, but the door is still open since we parked everything in the foyer. I close it and lean back, taking a deep, slow inhale and exhale as I groan at the equipment I keep hauling around. I’m so close, yet the past twelve months have felt like trying to shoot a target that’s racing away in the opposite direction. I was supposed to be done by now, only focusing on the post-production stages of my last episodes, but instead I’m scrambling.
