“Normal is a social construct. What do youwantto feel?”
I want to feel like the girl I was in high school. When it was just Nate and me. When he touched me and didn’t think about it. Before life got in the way.
“I don’t know.”
“Let me let you in on a secret. Take it one day at a time. It’ll happen before you know it.” She winks and leans back, relaxing immediately.
I try to return to the calmness I had before, but it evades me. My mind’s eye decides to play the way Nate flinched when I reached for him over and over again.
And I don’t know why I’m so stuck on that.
chapter eight
Nate opensthe door to the room as I’m reading a page of a romance book on my Kindle that I want to throw off the balcony. Usually, romance doesn’t bother me, and I like the book club I’m a part of. It’s run primarily by Levi’s wife, Amy, along with her other friends. I’ve gotten Quinn to join a few times and we usually swoon over the books together.
But now, I just feel bitter.
I know better than to ever compare a real relationship to a book, but Rob and I didn’t even come close. I don’t need someone to bend over backward for me, but they should at least do something.
Or evencare.
“There you are,” Nate says. “Did you not hook your phone up to the ship’s Wi-Fi?”
“Not yet. Sorry.” I turn to him. “Why?”
“I texted you to check in.”
I wince. “I’ll set that up. But I was just here. Reading thislovelybook.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Let’s just say romance is dead to me.” I sigh and lock my Kindle.
I finally take him in. He’s wearing a damp shirt, and his wavy hair is wet.
“You’re dripping everywhere.” I throw a towel at him. “Shower, you weirdo.”
“Fine,” he says. “You better not take a peek!”
“That’s the last thing I want to do.”
It actually wouldn’t be the worst thing. At least Nate isn’t ugly. But I’m pretty sure there’s a line with friends and getting naked.
Or at least there will be where Nate’s involved.
With a sigh, I sit on the bed and work on getting the ship’s Wi-Fi set up so he can reach me in the future. In the middle of the ocean, there’s absolutely no service, and I didn’t even think about being able to talk to anyone. I’m not sure I even want to. Nate’s always the exception. I can talk to him whenever I want, but even things between us feel odd on this boat.
Maybe I’m the one who’s off.
The shower turns on and I hear him step in. I’m tempted to walk out to the balcony to make sure he has whatever privacy he can get here.
Instead, I look up at the wall in front me … and directly into the mirror hanging from it.
I nearly scream when I realize it’s pointedrightat the shower.
It’s not that Nate looks bad. He doesn’t. He’s lithe and tall with a form that could swallow me if I let him. And his ass? Well, it’s just unfair. I could bounce a quarter off that thing.
But I shouldnotbe staring at my best friend’s ass.
