The heat feltgreat on my skin as I stepped down into the water. My foot slipped on the last step and I caught myself before I fell back on my ass. A mix of gasps and chuckles erupted from the girls and I sighed, taking the seat next to Mia. Izzy and Nicole sat across from us in the large, rectangular-shaped hot tub that shared the pool area of The Lodge. Adam was working the night shift, and when Nicole had texted earlier asking if we could all get together, I invited them to come out here and enjoy the pool and hot tub with me.
“This is the perfect girls’ night idea,” Izzy said with a smile.
“Yeah, I’m jealous.” Nicole pouted. “Wish I had access to this every night.”
She did realize the only reason I was holed up here wasbecause an arsonist came after me, right? I shot her a snarky smirk. “Oh, it’s easy. Just get yourself a stalker who wants to kill you.”
Nicole rolled her eyes and waved me off. “Stop being so dramatic.”
I laughed and lifted my shoulders in a slight shrug. “I am who I am.” Although, was I actually being dramatic? Or did they just not fully understand how affected I was by it all?
“Or…” Izzy said with a smirk, pointing between Nicole and Mia, “One of you can date the owner’s son. Then we can have hot tub nights here all the time.”
“Definitely won’t be me.” Mia rolled her eyes, pursing her lips. “He’s so freaking annoying.”
“I think he’s hot.” Nicole fanned herself. And she called me the dramatic one?
“Maybe I can have Logan set up a double date,” Izzy offered.
Excited at the idea, I bounced a little in my seat. I sensed Mia tense next to me. Hmm. Maybe she didn’t find him as annoying as she said she did.
Izzy aimed a knowing grin at me. “You’re being awfully smiley.”
I raised a brow. “Really?” I didn’t need a mirror to know my cheeks were flushing.
“Yes.” Nicole chimed in. “Does it have anything to do with your sexy firefighter?”
I hesitated, the words on the tip of my tongue. Adam’s face flickered through my mind, along with the agreement we’d made—keep it quiet at work. But these weren’t work people. These weremypeople.
“Okay,” I said, lowering my voice even though no one else was around. “You have to promise not to tell anyone.”
“I promise,” Nicole and Izzy echoed excitedly, leaning forward and waiting for the details.
I raised a brow at Mia and she rolled her eyes.
“Oh, for the love of God,” she grumbled. “Yeah, yeah, I promise. Just get on with it.”
I took a steady breath. “Adam and I… we’re together. Like, officially.”
There was a half-second of silence before all three of them smiled knowingly.
“I knew it,” Izzy proclaimed.
“Spill all the juicy details.” Nicole waggled her brows suggestively. “I need to live vicariously through you.”
“Did you take my advice and get naked?” Mia asked.
“Pretty much.” I chuckled. “We don’t want anyone at work to know yet, so please—seriously—don’t say anything. We want to make sure we can still ride together for my first week back.”
“Of course,” Izzy said and Nicole nodded her agreement.
Mia’s smile faded and she studied me before asking, “You go back in a few days, right?”
The question landed heavier than I expected it to. The excitement faded around us, replaced by something cautious.
“Yeah,” I said, forcing a shrug. “In a few days.”
Izzy tilted her head. “How are you feeling about that? After… everything.”
