“Good morning,” she said, a wide smile on her beautiful face.“It smells like you actually cooked breakfast.I thought we had other plans first.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but Christy beat me to it.
“Thanks for last night, Josh.I borrowed some clothes.And your shower.I figured you wouldn’t mind after I hogged the bed all night.”
I tore my gaze from Christy drying her hair, unaware we weren’t alone, to Reegan, watching Christy walk out of my bedroom in my clothes.
“Oh, shit,” Christy said.
Yeah.My thoughts exactly.So much for enjoying the summer with Reegan.I didn’t even need Hannah to fuck this relationship up.I did it all on my own.
Sixteen
Reegan
What.The.Fuck.
I stared at the beautiful woman wearing Josh’s clothes, coming from Josh’s bedroom, clearly doing the walk of shame, and wanted to scream.Or run.Or something.
But I deserved an explanation.Maybe there was one.Maybe he wasn’t lying when he said he was a one woman at a time man.Maybe he wasn’t screwing me and someone else at the same time.
Or maybe he was, and I was the only one who thought there was a problem with that.I’d never slept around much.When I was with someone, it was just that person.Josh said he was the same, but he could have been lying.Or there was an explanation.I hoped there was an explanation.
No one was talking.They were staring at me.Waiting for me to say something.
“I didn’t realize I was interrupting something,” I finally choked out.
He drew a breath and released it slowly.“You weren’t.This isn’t what it looks like.”There was no inflection to his voice.The flat tone was unlike anything I’d heard from him, and it made me take notice.
I shifted my gaze to the woman.She was pretty.Her blonde hair hung in wet chunks to her breasts.She looked vaguely familiar, but so did half the town.I mentally refused to compare us, knowing it didn’t matter.She was beautiful, but I believed I was, too.
Besides, she wasn’t the one who mattered.Josh was the connection between us.He was the one we were both there for.
And he was watching me.Waiting for me to say something.Do something.
I replayed our conversations.He wasn’t a cheater.I couldn’t wrap my head around him being a cheater or a liar.There was another explanation.
I extended my hand and approached the woman.“Hi.I’m Reegan.I’m staying with my friend next door.With Ashlyn.I’m here for the summer.”
She glanced at Josh, then shook my hand, a shocked look on her face.“I’m Christy.And I know who you are.”
“You do?Sorry.Of course you do.Small town.”
Christy shrugged.“And Josh has been talking about you.”
“He has?”My eyebrows shot up.
“Christy lives next door.We grew up together.We’ve been friends forever.She…” He hesitated.
I looked back at him, but he was looking at Christy.I turned back to her, and she nodded, rolling her lips in.She looked like she was about to cry.
“Her dad’s been sick.He died yesterday, and she didn’t want to be alone.Nothing happened, Reegan.I swear.”
I ignored Josh and focused on Christy.“I’m so sorry about your dad.”I took a step toward her.“Can I…” I shook my head.“I know we literally just met, but can I hug you?”
Christy breathed a watery laugh and nodded.
I wrapped my arms around the woman I’d known for a few seconds and felt her tremble.I squeezed her tighter, feeling the moment when she exhaled.Her hands tightened on my shirt, and she released a quiet sob.
