This is just freaking wild.
Riley is already barefoot, pants rolled up, toes in the water. “Maddy! Come on!” She splashes, sending a spray in my direction. I shake my head but burst into laughter.
I sit next to her, dipping my feet in. The water is warm and instantly reminds me of the bath that Caleb drew me exactly eight days ago.Ugh.
“We live here now,” Riley giggles, shaking her head. “Can you believe this? I bet Wes wouldshithimself if he knew you’d levelled up like this.”
“Ha!” I tip my head back at the thought of him. “I completely forgot he existed.” And that’s totally true. I did.
“Good!” Riley pumps her fist in the air. “Fuck him, anyway. He was always so beneath you.”
“He came from money though. His family waswayabove me.”
Riley rolls her eyes. “He was a spoiled brat who got whatever he wanted, and it totally ruined him. Also, guess what I saw?”
I brighten. “He got arrested for public intoxication?”
She bumps my shoulder. “No, but he’s dating that girl from the wedding.”
My heart does this weird jump in my chest, my brain instantly flashing with the memory of seeing Wes balls deep in Ellie. “Gross.”
“Meh,” Riley huffs. “He’ll just cheat on her, too.”
“Well, for the record,” I breathe out. “I hopeshecheats on him. Fucks his whole world up.”
“Oh, I thinkyoualready did that.”
“Maybe,” I hum, suddenly aware that I don’t care all that much about it. It had felt like the end of the world then…
But I don’t feel anything when I think about it now.
Maybe that means I’m over him.
That thought leaves me feeling satisfied in the moment, and I watch the sun hit the glass of the building across the street, turning it gold. I watch the way the water ripples, reflecting a sky that looks so much cleaner from thirty stories up.
Finally, my eyes jump back to the pool bar, and my heart instantly skips a beat.
Holy shit. What ishedoing here?
Chapter 14
Maddy
Why is Beck behind the bar at my new apartment complex?
He’s in his usual button-down rolled to the elbows, and making cocktails with the precision of a Vegas magician. His hair is slightly damp from the heat, curling a little at the temples, and he’s grinning. Behind the bar, he’s all muscle and flash, chatting with two women perched on the stools in front of him, both of whom are leaning over, clearly showing off their cleavage.
He glances up and meets my gaze.
And my eyes go wide.
Beck’s face flickers through shock, amusement, and something a little wolfish before settling into a cocky grin. He gives me a nod, like this is perfectly normal…
Like it’s not a cosmic joke that my one-night stand turned boss is now also my poolside bartender.
Riley, who’s been too busy judging the quality of the pool towels to notice, immediately tunes into my vibe and elbows me hard. “Are you okay?” She gasps and then follows my line of sight.
“That’shim,” I whisper. “Beck.”
