Chapter 12
chapter twelve
Nate looks like a kid at Christmas after we head back to the room, so I know I’ve made the right choice. I manage to snag a chair that’s a safe distance from the pool, and I pull out my Kindle.
My lie is mostly paying off, even if I feel like I could bolt at any second. When I got out here, I scanned the area for Scarlett, only to come up empty.
Maybe she went to bed instead.
I wish I’d done that. After exploring an island and having to run back, I’m exhausted.
Nate doesn’t seem to share the same sentiment. He immediately jumps into the pool. When he comes up, he gives me a wave. I return it before smiling.
“Ah, you took my advice.” I turn to see Scarlett in a navy-blue swimsuit.
“There you are. I thought you’d changed your mind.”
“I move slow on vacation.” She smiles. “Mind if I sit?”
“I won’t be much fun. I’m just reading.”
“I love reading.” She pulls out a paperback. “It would be nice to have a buffer in case some idiot tries to make a move on me. ”
They definitely would. “I can fight them off. Or pretend to be your girlfriend. Whichever works.”
She laughs. “I love a good fake date. And you don’t even have to feel bad about it. You are single, after all.”
“That I am. Even if I don’t feel it yet.” Scarlett’s eyes meet mine and she has a pensive look on her face that tells me she’s trying to figure out a deeper meaning to what I said. I bristle. “Ten-year relationship, you know?”
“The best part of dumping someone is the rebound.”
My eyes widen. “You’re a therapist. Shouldn’t you tell me to be single for a bit?”
“I don’t always follow my own advice. And you don’t even have to have a rebound, but you could always look .”
“I looked at you.”
“And I appreciate that.” She preens at my compliment and lifts her book up to start reading. Casually, she adds, “But you could also look at men . You know, the gender you’re presumably attracted to?”
“I don’t ... I barely notice them.”
“Because you feel like you’re taken. You’re very much not.” She leans in. “Look at that one.”
My eyes land on a man with bronze skin and an eight pack. “He’s not bad,” I say.
Scarlett gestures for me to continue. “There has to be more than that.”
“He’s ... buff. Maybe too buff? I don’t know.”
“What about the guy reading?” She points to a man with a book on a lounge chair. He has thick glasses and he’s kind of cute.
“Okay, maybe he’s not so bad.”
Another woman walks up and gives him a kiss. “Oh, he’s taken. All the good ones are.”
I huff out a laugh. “I have a feeling I’ll run into that a lot here.”
“Maybe, but you’re noticing men. Which is the first step to getting over your ex.” She looks over the pool deck. “There’s one for me.” She peers over the top of her paperback and her eyes are narrowed.
I look over to see a guy around my age or even younger making his way toward the metal ladder at the edge of the pool. He’s tall with longer hair that he throws over his shoulder as he gets out.
“He’s . . . young.”
“A toxic trait of mine,” she says with a sigh. “I love them immature.”
“How do you know he’s?—”
One of his buddies tackles him into the water. I wince. When he comes up, he’s sputtering, but laughing.
“Come on! Gimme a warning before you rail me!” he yells.
“He’s ... uh, not worried about how he sounds?” I ask it slowly.
“You can judge me,” she says back. “And I’m not going after him. Trust me, I’ve learned my lesson about younger men.”
I raise an eyebrow to ask about how she’s learned it, but then her eyes widen and her jaw drops.
“How did I miss him ?” She slaps my arm as she sits up. “Jesus Christ.”
“Who? Where?”
“Dark hair. Getting out of the pool. This is eye candy for both of us.”
I turn. I do see a man with dark hair getting out of the pool. My mouth goes dry as I see a lithe frame glistening with water. He’s laughing as he gets out, and I swear time slows as my heart kicks into gear.
But I’m not looking at a stranger.
I’m looking at Nate .
“Uh, Scarlett?” I manage to say. “I ...”
“Shh, Mommy’s watching.” She’s fully sitting up. “I hope he’s not married.”
I look back at Nate .
Sometimes I forget we’ve both grown up. And over the years, I’ve definitely not noticed that he’s ... hot.
So hot.
I need to rip my eyes away, but his muscles are hypnotizing. All of him is.
Should his swim shorts be that low? And what’s hiding underneath?
Oh, God. Am I thirsting after Nate ? The one who’s my best friend? The man who doesn’t even want to be near me?
“Oh, shit. He’s coming this way. I have a rule to stay single here. So don’t let me do anything.”
I can’t say anything. My brain is fried from the thoughts of Nate’s ... everything. Now that I’m having the thought that he’s hot, I can’t stop having it.
Even though I need to tell Scarlett who he is. Desperately.
“Maisie.” Nate’s voice is now in front of me. “Did you make a friend?”
His voice is deep. God, it’s like velvet.
To my side, Scarlett slowly turns to me. I have no doubt she knows who Nate is now.
“U-uh. Huh?”
“You okay?” he asks slowly. “Did being near the pool fry your brain?”
Scarlett finally composes herself and clears her throat. “Probably. Sorry, are you the friend she came with?”
“That I am,” he says, eyes finally turning to her. I rip mine from him and try to gain my bearings.
“I’ve heard a lot about you.” Scarlett has entirely pulled herself together, which is more than I can say for myself. “It’s so nice of you to be her plus-one. I ran into her at the spa the other day and we talked for a while.”
“Oh, that makes sense. It’s a little hard for this one to get away from me.” He laughs good-naturedly and eyes me again. His smile fades. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need water? ”
I need to get out of here. Now. “You know what? I totally do. I’m gonna get that right now!” The words come out as a squeak and I rush off. I don’t think water is enough. I need a lobotomy. I’d forget about Nate if I couldn’t think at all, right?
I manage to make it to the bar and order a water as I try to get my wits about me. It’s like seeing him naked all over again, and I can’t get it out of my mind.
A hand lands on my shoulder and I yelp. “You did not warn me.”
It’s Scarlett. I know it the second she touches me.
“Sorry, I was busy being an idiot.” I mutter it as I take another gulp of water.
“That man is the friend you brought? Him? ”
“Yep.”
“And you didn’t think to stop me from thirsting after him?”
I can’t meet her eyes. “Ah, well ...”
Scarlett gasps. “Wait a minute. Was I not the only one?”
“Shh,” I hiss. “He’s worried about me, which means he will be coming over here.”
And sure enough, he is. Scarlett grabs my arm, her grip tight. I wonder if she’s gonna make a move, but when I look at her, she’s watching us excitedly.
“Don’t—”
“Just be yourself,” she whispers. “I need to witness this.”
“Hey, don’t get your therapist rocks off to us.”
“But you make it so easy!”
“Did that help?” Nate asks when he gets to me. “You still look red as hell.”
“Sunstroke. I’m not used to being outside this often.” I fan my face.
“Oh, come on.” Scarlett’s grin is feral. “Tell him what we were really doing.”
I glare. “No. ”
“It’s not a crime,” she says, and then she leans. “And I won’t mention who either.”
“Scarlett, it’s embarrassing.”
“What?” She laughs. “He’s your friend. I’m sure he wouldn’t be bothered by us objectifying men.”
My face is on fire.
“Wh-what?” Nate asks.
“I was just reminding her that she’s single and there are plenty of guys to look at.” She shrugs. “You found a few, right?”
I glare. Then I realize she’s not looking at me. She’s looking at Nate to gauge his reaction.
My anger fades. I immediately want to do the same thing.
Nate’s eyebrows are high and I can see the slight hint that he’s uncomfortable. His lips press together before they turn into a smile. “Care to share who?”
It’s such a Nate response.
I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.
“Scarlett likes the surfer bro that got tackled into the pool.”
“Hey!” she hisses. “I never said my type was good for me. And you liked the nerdy guy.”
Thankfully, she doesn’t mention how he pales in comparison to Nate.
“He’s married,” I say with a shake of my head.
“We’re just checking out the menu. Not ordering. Unless you want a rebound.”
“At least a nerd is better than Rob,” Nate says pointedly. “Pick a guy with less of an attitude next time.”
He orders a water too. And I can feel a frown forming. He’s absolutely fine with me looking at other men. Of course he is.
I turn to Scarlett, wondering if she’s as disappointed as I am. She’s still watching us like we’re her favorite TV show. My eyebrows pinch. She should’ve picked up on his dismissal. Why hasn’t she?
“I’ll do my best. I’m afraid my taste is garbage. ”
“I can vet someone next time.” Nate gulps his water and I do not look at his throat bob. I simply don’t. “What do you say, berry? The next guy has to go through the best friend test?”
“I can agree to that.”
“You two are just the best of friends, aren’t you?” Scarlett is still smiling. “Love to see it. I’ll let you two friends enjoy the rest of your night. I’ll see you later, Maisie.” Scarlett walks off with a wink, leaving me with only Nate.
“She’s . . . interesting,” he says.
“She’s single,” I reply. “She says she’s staying that way, but you could try.”
I ignore the ball of cotton that makes its way into my chest.
What’s happening to me? Maybe I do have sunstroke.
“Nah, I’m fine. Glad you made a friend, though. She kind of reminds me of Quinn.”
I shouldn’t be relieved at that. But I also shouldn’t have found Nate so hot earlier. Yet I did. I glance at him, hoping it was just a moment of madness.
It’s not.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I think I need sleep,” I say quickly. “We did too much in one day.”
“Now that I can agree with. Ready to fight for the bed?”
That puts images in my mind that I’d rather not have.
“You know what?” My voice is too high. “You can have the couch. I’ll let you be nice to me.”
“Really?” he asks. “Who are you?”
“Just seeing sense.” I return to my chair and frantically grab my things. “Ready to go? Because I sure am. I can’t wait to sleep!”
I’m running to the elevator before he can say anything else.