She jogs the rest of the way to her house, and yes, my eyes follow her.
Those tiny running shorts. Damn. I love them and hate them at the same time.
“Take a quick, cold shower,” Tobias says quietly.
Instead of replying, I punch his arm.
“Ouch, fuck,” he says, rubbing his bicep. But his smile fades as he says, “It’s okay to like someone again—you know that, right?”
I glance to Greer’s house, letting Tobais’s words sink in. Then I nod.
“It’s been eight years, Simon. I didn’t know Blair the way you did, but she loved you, man, and my guess is, she’d want you to be happy again. To love again.”
“Yeah. I know.”
It doesn’t hurt to talk about Blair, Grey’s mom. In fact, I enjoy it. And Tobias isn’t wrong. But the truth is, losing her fucking hurt. Grey wasn’t old enough to understand, but it crushed me. I can’t ever imagine going through that again. Loving someone and losing them. That’s a pain I would never wish on even my worst enemy.
I dip into the house to get Greer her cup of coffee before she comes back. I’m just putting the pot back on the burner when a text comes in from Zane.
Good morning, have you talked to Tobias today?
Before I answer, an idea occurs to me.
Tobias may not want to talk about whatever is bothering him, but the least I can do is distract him for the day. At the same time, I know Greer and I can’t be anything more than friends, but that won’t stop me from spending more time with her.
Lust isn’t the same thing as love, and as long as lust is all there is between us, what’s the worst that could happen?
When I hear her voice out front, I shoot a text to Zane and open the screen door.
“Are you two busy today?”
Greer tilts her head and gives me a half smile. “Why?”
“Yeah, why?” Tobias mimics her.
“I know I said let’s get dinner to celebrate your new car, but I think we should all go to the lake for the day. Sandy Beach is calling my name.” I nod to her Bronco. “We can put the top down.”
Her smile makes all the back and forth in my mind over what I should do about Greer disappear.
“I’m in.”
“Me too,” Tobias says. “Should I bring the boat, or do you want a full-on beach day?”
“Beach day,” Greer answers first. “Grey will love playing football in the sand.”
Of course, a day to celebrate her turns into her thinking of my kid first.
Lust, not love.
I can’t forget that.
* * *
“I fucking love the sun,” Calla says as she rolls over on the towel next to Greer.
Greer, who in the last hour has made me realize that I have a lot less self-control than I ever imagined.
I’m a grown fucking man. But that woman makes me weak.
