“Some people appreciatetalent, Elijah,” I fire back so he zips his yap. “Like my new friend Lucy here.”
I smile down at her. She’s so super talented, especially twisting and turning that lithe little body of hers.
She sure is gorgeous.
Lucy bites down on her bottom lip as I try to keep my eyes off her cleavage. “Is that what you’re doing today? Rehearsing with Annabelle and the guys?”
Rehearsing?
The word hits me like a slap to the face. Then when I think I have no idea what she’s talking about, it hits me: She’s talking about lumberjack practice down at the marina.
I nod enthusiastically. “Absolutely. Big day.”
She tilts her head, squinting up at me like she’s sniffing bullshit. “What events do you rehearse?”
Miles snorts. “Yeah, Harris. What events do you rehearse? Tell us.”
I shoot him a warning glare, mentally willing him to shut the fuck up. I need my friends to disappear, but they’re hanging around, lingering like farts in the wind.
“You know ...” I wave a hand vaguely, as though the details are too intricate to explain. “The usual stuff.”
Lucy’s brows arch higher. “The usual stuff? Like logrolling?”
My friends’ brows all shoot into their hairlines simultaneously.
“Of course.” I double down because why quit now? I am on a roll. A logroll, get it? Ha ha. “You think champions wake up one morning and say ‘Hey, I’m gonna roll a log today’? No. It takes commitment. Practice. Skill.Yearsof grueling dedication.”
Elijah wheezes next to me, completely unhelpful as he fake coughs the wordidiot.
“Bruh,” I grind through clenched teeth. “Go somewhereelse.”
He ignores me, still panting like he might actually choke. He loves this shit. He lives for drama, on and off the playing field.
But Lucy? She studies me, confusion beginning to mar her pretty features.
“You know,” she says slowly. “I wouldloveto stop by the marina later and watch you in action. If you don’t mind.”
My brain flatlines. “What?”
“I’m sure Annabelle wouldn’t mind—the lumberjack thing was half my idea to begin with.” She laughs. “We were out one night brainstorming, and one too many glasses of wine later ... here you are.”
Uh. “Can’t wait.”
“Well.” She inhales a fresh breath of mountain air. “This was a fun morning, but I have to pick up these mats and get to an appointment.”
With that, she begins collecting several borrowed mats, rolling them as if she’s done it hundreds of times before. Looking as if she hasn’t wrecked my entire afternoon.
“Need a hand?” I offer, though I’m not sure if I’m being polite or panicked, my friends watching every move I make. They’re invested now.
“I’ve got it, but thanks.” She flashes me a quick smile over her shoulder, all the mats now securely tucked under her arm. “See you at the marina, Lumberjack.”
Lumberjack.
“See you,” I choke out, careful not to turn my head, lest one of my buddies decides to—
The second her car door slams and the rest of the class is gone, my friends are on my ass like flies on shit.
“It’s killing me to hear her call you a lumberjack.”
