Page 63 of Never Till Now

“Cool. Feel free to join me when you’re done.”

I nod and add another log to the fire. I prep the steak and potatoes with a side of broccoli before I head outside. I take her in for a moment before she notices me. She sits in the corner with her blonde hair thrown up and elbows resting on the sides of the hot tub. Her book is closer to her face than most people I’ve seen reading. Judging by her cute, squinted eyes, I imagine she should be wearing glasses. Slowly, I round the hot tub at a distance and walk up behind her to catch a glimpse of what she’s reading. Clearly, women are into these books. Her hands move the book closer to me as a smirk plays on her lips.

“If you want to read, all you have to do is ask.”

“I don’t.” I place a kiss on her cheek and climb in the warm bubbly water. “I just don’t get what the big deal about these books is. Do they all end up happy?”

“Most of the time, yes.”

“And you know the people will end up together despite hating each other or the universe throwing them curveballs to wreck their love?” I take a sip of my beer and keep my eyes on her blushing cheeks.

“It’s more about how they overcome their problems because they are fated to be together.”

“Ha!” I feel the burn of the beer hit my nose to stifle my laugh. “This is coming from the woman who won’t have a boyfriend. What is so enticing with these books?”

“It’s fiction. I know my reality is different. These are an escape for me.” She shrugs and closes the book. “Some people have celebrity crushes and I have book boyfriends.”

“Book boyfriends?” There’s no way. “Please tell me that’s not a thing.”

“I’m not the only one.” She laughs and I wonder what makes book boyfriends more appealing.

“What if you found a real book guy though, would you still ignore him in reality?”

“There’s a lot of boxes to check off with that question. They’re one in a million.” She sets her book down and lies back, popping her toes out of the water. “A book boyfriend has their downfalls and will screw up at some point. But they know the girl better than she knows herself. The chemistry between them is next level no matter how hard they fight it.”

Well, hell. This is sounding too familiar.

“Why the shirtless muscle guy? That’s pretty cheesy.”

“That is usually the dead giveaway for spicy scenes.” She clears her throat and takes a sip from my beer. “You give these men a good run for their money. We have had hotter sex than this book.” She taps the front cover.

“Good.” I puff out my chest dramatically, earning a giggle from her. “I can’t be outdone by a fictional man on a page.”

“It’s so peaceful out here.” She changes the subject and tilts her head back, closing her eyes.

“I would give up everything to move out here tomorrow.” I sigh and stare out at the tall redwoods surrounding us.

“I don’t blame you. Why did I apply downtown to a city again?”

“Because takeout doesn’t deliver here, and you’d starve.”

“Hey.” She splashes me. “I can cook eggs and oatmeal pretty damn well.”

“Aspen is beautiful if you ever want to transfer.” I watch a quick flash of fear pass through her eyes.

“Why Aspen, Adam?” Her voice wavers in question and her eyebrows scrunch for a reason she won’t admit out loud.

“There’s a hospital. It’s more peaceful, and you can have food delivered.” She relaxes back into the water, but her eyes search mine. “I don’t want you to go. I was just keeping the conversation going.”

“I was born here. I guess I’m trying to find out why my womb supplier chose this city to live in.” She bites her lip and starts her nervous habit of twisting her pinkie ring. “Or maybe she was stuck here. I see what goes on through certain streets of the city. I doubt my mother is even alive.”

“Did you move here in hopes of finding her?”

“I don’t know.” She goes quiet as her eyes fixate on the trees. “I thought maybe I’d run into her, or save her if she was brought in. But being an addict twenty-five years ago doesn’t give much hope for now.”

“Hey.” I wrap my arm around her. “She could have gotten clean over the years.”

“I didn’t leave the hospital with her. Her own daughter wasn’t enough to give up the addiction. She chose fun over me.”