Page 57 of Wrecked

“A word. With Adam.” I’m stuttering.

“I like him so much. He’s cute and respectful. When we were dancing, we were talking, and he’s really funny. Can you believe that?”

Yes, I can.

She continues, “He’s not like the other guys I date. I mean, he saves people for a living! And can we talk about how good he looks in his uniform? I don’t know what it is about him, but lately, he’s been acting differently. I saw him in town the other day, and he was smiling. Oh God, that smile. I’m such a loser. I’m blushing. Do you see this? I am totally smitten.”

I blink at Jessica, taking in her gushing. She never gets like this about guys, especially since her previous boyfriend cheated on her last year. All the girl wants in life is to meet a nice guy, settle down, and have babies. If there is anyone who is driven to find love, it’s Jessica.

“Absolutely. I think you two would make a great couple!” I have the biggest smile on my face. “I think this calls for some shots!”

When I hold up a bottle of Southern Comfort, Jessica claps in excitement. Suzanne, on the other hand, is giving me the biggest killjoy look I’ve ever seen.

Ignoring her condemnation, I pour two shots, hand one to Jessica, and cheers.

“So, you and Jessica were having a good time last night,” I say from my perch on a large rock.

Adam is working at a table with a circular saw, cutting trim to go around the doors. Instead of answering my question, he makes a mark on the wood.

“She’s a teacher at the middle school. A whiz at math.”

He doesn’t flinch at my remarks. Just continues lining the wood up to the saw. He pulls the trigger, and the saw roars. He cuts the wood, turns the machine off, and blows the dust off the end of the trim.

He’s not acknowledging my words, so I push forward. “Did you know she was Miss Teen Ohio? Growing up, she competed in a lot of pageants. It’s not all makeup and pretty dresses. She had to visit hospitals and hang with sick kids, volunteer at the soup kitchen…”

He leans over, and I stop to admire his backside before continuing, “She’s a lifeguard, too. Knows CPR.”

He lifts his forearm and wipes the sweat off his forehead. It’s ninety degrees today, and there’s no wind whistling through the trees. I walk over to a nearby cooler and grab two waters. I hand one of the bottles to Adam.

“Thanks,” he says. He opens it and chugs the entire thing. His Adam’s apple dances with every gulp. When he’s done, he throws it in the nearby trash. “It’s fucking hot today.”

I nod in agreement and open my water bottle. Adam’s yoga-pants-only policy is making me die of heat exhaustion. Hence, why I’m hanging in the shade while he plays with machines.

As I take a drink, Adam crosses his arms in front of his body, grabs the hem of his T-shirt, and lifts it over his head. What’s left is nothing but gleaming golden-tan skin and a six-pack stomach sprinkled with dark hair. He even has a bit of a farmer’s tan from working outside in a T-shirt all day.

I’m suddenly very cold. Ice cold. The water from my bottle misses my lips and falls down my T-shirt. I look down and jump back, holding my water bottle up in the air.

“Crap!” I shout as I pull my shirt away from my chest.

Adam laughs. “I thought you were all for wet T-shirt contests?”

I tilt my head and give him the finger. “Don’t you wish?”

“You okay over there?” His eyes are dancing.

“I’m fine,” I say.

I hold the bottle to my mouth to take an actual drink. I try not to look at his perfect body as he leans over the circular saw and makes another cut. It doesn’t help that he’s wearing those damn paint-splattered jeans that make his ass look spectacular. And the construction boots…

“Leah?”

I look up to his face.

With a devilish grin, he says, “Do you mind grabbing my hammer?”

“Huh?”

“And my drill. I really need to screw something.”