She firmed her resolve and with a quick push of the sliding door, she moved outside… and there was Mach in the swimming pool.
Sure, she was grateful he wasn’t with anyone. But that was totally unreasonable and something that she would think about at a different time. A time when she could ponder how their lives were so very different that while she was mid-collapse, he was floating away all his cares.
"I thought you said he was worried?" Darla asked.
"Well, he shows it funny," Sam said, screwing up her face.
The anger Darla had held back began to boil over because, yes, Darla’s world was collapsing around her and there was Mach without a care in the world, floating to nowhere on an inflatable pizza slice. Sunglasses on his face. Orange swim trunks covering his ass. No shirt for his chest.
Just out there soaking up the sun.
She blew out a breath between her lips that made a slight motorboat sound.
"This is how he de-stresses," Sam said. "He’s uh… he’s been watching Datestagram, so he’s up-to-date."
"This is how he de-stressed?" Darla asked, the temperature of her blood raising at the sight of shirtless Mach relaxing in the pool.
And, okay, maybe the heated blood was because he was a hot guy. Maybe it was also because she was ready to admit that she was pissed.
Maybe it was other things, too.
There were many reasons a person’s blood felt hot. Hypothyroidism and hormone imbalance, to name a couple. She could have a full panel of bloodwork run later to rule out anything medical. But for now—
"I’m so glad he’s not shagging anyone in the pool when I need to talk to him," Darla said. Out loud. For everyone to hear.
Her cheeks pinked.Filter, Darla. That was an inside thought.
Sam snort laughed and covered her mouth with the back of her hand. "I like you. You would fit in great around here."
"I’m not staying," Darla assured. "But the sentiment is sweet. Thanks."
"You’re welcome for the sentiment," Sam said with a little grin toward Mach. "For what it’s worth, he’s going to be so surprised to see you."
"Oh?" Darla asked.
"Mach’s not a huge fan of surprises," Sam said with a glint in her eye.
Darla wasn’t either. And was it Darla or was there some kind of underlying girl code thing happening there? Like Sam was giving her information that might come in handy later.
Darla took another step outside. Then another. Sam and Tanner closed the sliding door, apparently deciding to stay inside with the air conditioning.
Which meant Darla had Mach all to herself.
Her blood heated again and her heartbeat was faster as she marched straight toward him.
Chapter Seven
MACH
Darla had gone dark,and the hospital wasn’t saying a word.
There was nothing Mach could do for the situation. So he did the only logical thing. He went back to where life made the most sense—his pizza slice.
What could he say? It wouldn’t float without him. Fine, that wasn’t entirely true since it floated all the time without him. But it sure as fuck wouldn’t be as comfortable without him.
Unfortunately, no amount of sun was hitting his happy button today. No, Mach was straight-up frowning, and thatneverhappened in the pool. This was the place where his happiness was guaranteed.
Time to go inside and turn on Netflix, find something mindless, and see if that worked. Maybe he’d even draft up some lyrics for Linx’s new song compilation. That might take his mind away for a bit.
