But it didn’t feel like a big deal telling Ren.
He knows everything about me anyway.
Love,
Lydia
I must have done something really sick and twisted in another life.That’s the only explanation – because right now, Lydia was peeling off her soaking clothes beside me, while I stared rigidly at the panel of the tent as if my life depended on it.
Hell.
I was in hell.
I’d laid everything bare in the rain.I’d told her exactly how I felt and now – every thought, every feeling I’d had since this hike started – and now I was expected to spend a whole night with her, surrounded by the smell of that shampoo she loves to use.Hearing her breaths.Feeling the warmth of her body next to me.
I just needed to get through this with some dignity intact.But firstly, I needed to make sure she was comfortable.Shit.She must be freezing in those clothes.Why hadn’t I offered her anything yet?Idiot.
‘Here,’ I held out the grey T-shirt between us, a peace offering of sorts.‘You can wear it.If you need it.’
I wished I hadn’t turned around.
She had stripped off her leggings, and her long legs, toned and athletic, were exposed.Her soft skin – and memories of them wrapped around my waist – hit me like a truck.
‘Sorry.’ I glanced away quickly.
‘It’s fine.’
Nothing about this was fine.
‘I’ll turn around.So you know.’
‘Oh,’ she said again.Her cheeks flushed.‘Thanks.’
The whole thing was painful.
I busied myself with the sleeping bag, turning back to the nylon wall while she changed.But it was impossible not to hear the soft rustle of her clothes, or imagine the slow drag of fabric over her skin.
‘I didn’t realise you still had this.’
I almost jumped out of my skin.I turned and my breath caught.
Lydia was in my shirt, my Manila Times gig tee, faded and baggy.Her legs were bare and, fuck me, how was she hotter inmoreclothes?My eyes dragged down her thighs before I could stop them.
I forced myself to look away, running a hand through my hair.
‘I couldn’t get rid of it,’ I said, keeping my voice even.‘It was our first and only date.’
She blinked.‘Date?’
I locked eyes with her.
‘Yes.Date.’
‘Ren,’ she said slowly, almost lethally.‘What are you on about?’
‘It was a date.I asked you out.I bought the tickets.It was just us.’
She looked so confused it almost made me laugh.Or cry.I wasn’t sure which.
