4. RJ
RJ
I wasn’t able to talk Summer into ordering in, but she had the ingredients for pepperoni pizza, so everyone was happy. Even Sophie, despite her being glued to her phone the entire time.
After dinner, everyone disperses to their bedrooms, leaving me and Summer alone in the kitchen to clean up.
Once I put the last of the dishes away, I turn to her. “You wanna?—”
“I’m gonna—” she says at the same time.
I gesture for her to go first.
“I was gonna watch some TV.” She hooks a thumb over her shoulder.
“That’s funny, I was going to ask you if you wanted to watch a movie with me.”
Why is this so awkward? This woman used to be one of my closest friends. Until I fucked everything up.
“What did you have in mind?”
“ The Princess Bride ?” I scratch my neck, smiling, and her eyes lock on my dimple.
She blinks several times. “That’s my favorite movie.”
“I know.” I don’t tell her that it’s also my favorite movie from the number of times she made me watch it when we were kids. Whenever I missed her or wanted to feel close to her, I’d put it on. I could almost feel her presence in the room anytime I watched it.
Grabbing the remote, I start the movie, but when I turn to sit next to her, she puts her legs up, taking up the rest of the small space.
My feet feel like lead weights as I clomp over to another loveseat and flop onto it with the grace of Fezzik.
Who am I kidding? That giant man probably wouldn’t even fit onto this comically small living room furniture.
Remind me to talk to my sister about her decorating choices.
We sit in relative silence watching the movie.
I silently mouth the words and chuckle each time Summer quotes them out loud.
What I wouldn’t give to have a normal-size couch I could stretch out on as she lies against me.
I’d run my hand up and down her back and shift my body to press my erection into her thigh until we were making out like teenagers.
Then I would roll on top of her, pull her panties down, and finally feast on her, challenging her to quote the movie while I gave her an orgasm that would steal her speech.
“I love this movie!” Sophie says from behind me, dousing me and my daydream with a bucket of ice water.
I grab the throw pillow and place it over my erection. My daughter takes that as an invitation to sit next to me. Fuck my life. I love my daughter, but she isn’t the person I want snuggled against me right now.
Once the film’s ended and Sophie’s retreated to her room, I stand and stretch. My shirt lifts as I reach over my head, and I catch Summer’s eyes zeroing in on the exposed skin of my abs.
“Mind if I use the bathroom in your room to brush my teeth and wash my face?”
“You wash your face?”
I nod. “I have a whole skincare routine.”
She tilts her head, her brows furrowing like she thinks I’m messing with her.
“Girl dad. I could tell you all about cleansers, toners, and serums. And I’m no stranger to a makeover or two.”
She smirks and it’s hard to tell if she’s blushing or if it’s just the sunburn coloring her cheeks. “Yeah, you can use the bathroom.”
After I grab my toiletry bag from my suitcase, I follow Summer into her bedroom, doing my damnedest not to stare at her ass. I fail miserably. Fuck, I want to bite her ass cheeks. I don’t know what’s come over me. I’m not sure what it is about her that’s bringing out this animalistic need in me.
It’s probably the fact that her kid told me her ex would yell at her. No man that calls a woman names knows how to please them in bed. And the thought that this amazing woman hasn’t been properly fucked is a crime.
I shake my head, clearing the dirty thoughts as she gestures to the bathroom. “I’m going to change in the closet.”
Before I can protest her ridiculous idea, she turns on her heel and hustles over to the walk-in closet, wheeling her bag inside. This woman cannot get away from me fast enough.
Rushing through my nighttime routine, I go through the motions, completing each step with the lack of gusto I normally use. Thoughts of Summer swirl around in my head as my brain picks apart each encounter we had, analyzing it like game tape, highlighting all the plays I fumbled.
Loud groans come from the closet, and I slowly approach it. “Summer? You okay in there?”
“Don’t come in here!” she shouts as she grunts and sighs heavily.
“Are you wrestling an alligator in there? Or a swimsuit?”
“Ha ha,” she yells back sarcastically, and I take that as my sign to retreat.
“Well, I’m headed to bed. Have a nice n?—”
“Wait,” her small voice says. “I need help.”
“What do you need?”
Her head pokes out of the door. Slowly. Cautiously.
“Do you have any aloe? I’m normally way more prepared, but the kids distracted me while I was packing.
I thought I had some, but I must’ve left it on my bathroom counter at home.
” She swallows as though the words are painful sliding down her throat.
My eyes fixate on her too-pink shoulders. Shit, that looks painful. “You really should have? — ”
“Do not finish that sentence.”
“I got you.”
Something flashes in her eyes as though she’s holding back the emotions bubbling up inside her.
I wish she’d give me some clue as to what she’s thinking.
Why she’s so mad. Is it because I’m here?
Is it because of what happened back in high school?
Or something else? If I knew, I could help.
Instead, she steps out from behind the door, resting a hand on her hip.
“Do you? You’ve got me?” Disdain drips from her tone as she lifts an eyebrow in challenge.
I nod as I take her in. She’s wearing the tiniest sleep shorts and top, her nipples poking through the sheer fabric.
I won’t survive a whole week with this woman.
My dick can’t take it. This has to be karma.
All those years I spent wishing I could see her naked, claim her as my own, and now I get to look but not touch. Well, not in the way I want to, anyway.
Words, fuckface. She asked you a question.
“I have aloe.”
She sighs deeply, a war of emotions on her face.
It hurts seeing how reluctant she is to accept my help.
But I need her to see that I’ve changed.
It may have taken me a while to figure out what I wanted in life, but I’ve known since I was twelve that I wanted her. She’s been the one constant for me.
When she walks over to the bed, I take that as my cue to get the aloe, so I hustle into the kitchen and grab it. When I walk back into the room, she’s sitting on the edge of the bed.
“What’s that?” She nods at the jar in my hand.
Holding it up, I shake it so she can see. “It’s aloe.”
“It doesn’t look like aloe.”
“It’s homemade. There’s a planter on the porch with an aloe plant, and I mix it with a little coconut oil and keep it in the fridge. I can make more if you need it.”
“You made that?”
“Yeah. I’m a firefighter, I know how to treat all types of burns. I remember you used to burn easily in high school, and when you went down to the beach without sunscreen, I made some just in case you needed it.” I motion for her to turn around.
“That’s… nice. Why would you do that?” She frowns, her defenses going back up.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Scooping out some aloe into my palm, I dab it onto her shoulders.
“Cold.” She flinches.
I pause my movements as I look down. Big mistake. Her nipples are teasing me, poking through her thin tank top. “Sorry, do you want me to warm it in my hands first?”
“No, it’s okay. It feels good once you touch me… I mean, with the aloe. It just surprised me.”
I can’t handle the awkward tension that hangs between us as I carefully glide my hands along her skin.
“I know it’s been a while and we haven’t talked since high school, but I want you to know that I never stopped thinking about you…
” She’s quiet. Still. It almost seems like she’s holding her breath. So I tack on, “As a friend.”
“Friend.” The word sounds bitter in her mouth, like she can’t stand the taste of it, and I kick myself for fumbling the ball yet again.
“You were one of my best friends, before…” I trail off, unsure of how to finish that sentence.
Before I broke your heart? Before I chickened out and hooked up with the next girl I saw because my sister told me to leave you alone? Before I worried I’d lose the one family member I had left if I didn’t do what she said, even if it killed me and hurt you in the process?
“We don’t have to talk about this. In fact, we probably shouldn’t if we want to survive being around each other for a week.”
But I need you to know how sorry I am. That I fucked up and never meant to hurt you. And except for it giving me my daughter, I would take it all back and choose you. Instead of voicing any of that, I say, “Yeah. You’re probably right.”
Once I cover her back, arms, and shoulders, she turns around as I’m grabbing the lid to the mason jar.
“Could you put some on my face?” She blinks up at me. “Your hands are already sticky. I could do it, but then I’d have to wash my hands, and I’m exhausted and I don’t want to get out of this bed again.”
“I got you.” I place the back of my hand against her forehead. She doesn’t feel feverish, so my worries about heatstroke are calmed for the moment.
She closes her eyes and tilts her face, waiting for the aloe.
I pause, heat curling low as I commit her to memory.
Her lips are slightly pursed, and faint smile lines frame her mouth.
I kick myself for not being the one to put those there.
Tiny freckles dot her cheeks and nose, and I silently wish I could kiss each one.
Thick lashes frame her eyes, and even though they’re closed, I know every shade of blue in them, how the right one is slightly darker than the left, but the left one has three tiny flecks of green close to her iris.
The way her slender nose turns up slightly at the end makes me want to spend hours tracing its slope. She’s still so fucking beautiful.
Delicately, I spread the aloe, taking my time to worship each line and curve of her face since this will probably be the only time I’ll get to do this.
“You’re all set,” I say, putting the lid back on the jar. “I’m headed to bed.”
“Are you staying in Sophie’s room?” She scoots to the middle of the bed and crawls under the covers.
“Nah, teenage girls don’t want to bunk with their dads. I’ll probably sleep on one of the loungers on the porch or on the beach.”
“What? RJ, that’s nuts. You can’t sleep outside.”
Her words stop me in my tracks. I saw the look of horror on her face when I suggested sharing a bed, so I’m surprised by her about-face. “Former Scout. I’ve slept in much worse conditions.”
Letting out a deep sigh, she moves over and throws back the sheets in invitation. “We’re both adults, we can share a bed. But I sleep on the right. And you better stay on your side. Just be careful with my sunburn.” It seems like the offer almost pains her, but she makes it anyway.
“Are you sure?” Why am I questioning her? Just get in the bed already, RJ.
“No. But I’d feel like a jerk if I made you sleep outside.”
“Okay. I’ll put the aloe in the fridge and grab my sleep stuff.” A few minutes later, I slide into the bed, careful not to disturb her. Normally, I’d sleep in my boxers, but I keep my shorts and shirt on, knowing it’ll make her more comfortable.
Since there’s no way my excited energy will let me sleep, I grab my Kindle and slip on my glasses as she rolls over.
She shoots up, wincing in pain, as she reaches for my Kindle. “What are you doing?”
I hold it up out of her reach. “I’m reading.”
“You wear glasses?”
“For reading.”
Why does she look mad about this admission?
“Give me my Kindle.” She thrusts out her hand like she expects me to hand it over.
“This isn’t yours. It’s mine.” I tilt the screen toward her, tapping on it to open the library to prove it to her.
She blinks in confusion. “Those aren’t my books. What did you do with my books?”
I can’t help it, I laugh. “Summer, I didn’t do anything with your books. This isn’t your Kindle.”
Her mouth opens and shuts several times as she huffs out little breaths.
“Where is your Kindle?”
“It was in the nightstand.”
I open the drawer and pull it out. “See?”
She grabs it from me, clutching it to her chest like it’s a diary full of secrets she doesn’t want anyone to see. Suddenly I’m dying to read everything on the device. What kind of books is she reading that have her acting this way?
We read in silence for a bit when I notice Summer’s fallen asleep clutching a pillow, her Kindle propped up on top.
I set mine on the nightstand and turn off the light.
Turning my back to her, I will my dick to behave and my heart to calm as I drift off, wishing I could fall asleep next to the woman of my dreams every night.