Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Truth be told, I need a moment alone to pull myself together.
“When we reach the bottom, you can go to the ski shop,” Oscar offers.
“Great,” I say.
That’s less than ideal. What am I going to do for five minutes in a bathroom other than wring my hands? But I feel like I need some space to sort out my feelings, and that will have to do. I’m the one who played along and then poured fuel on the fire.
The Anderson brothers escort me to the ski shop and help me release my bindings. I walk inside, finally alone, and look around for the restroom.
At last I spot it, rush inside, then shut the door and lean against it in relief.
“Excuse me,” a woman says.
She stands in front of the mirror, adjusting her makeup. The room has no stalls, just a toilet and a sink. Thank goodness I didn’t walk in on her while she was doing her business.
“I’m so sorry,” I say. “I didn’t know anyone was in here—I should’ve knocked.”
“It’s okay,” she says. “I’m almost done.”
I tug off my gloves, hands trembling. With nowhere else to perch, I lower the lid and sink onto the toilet.
The woman turns around to face me. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” I nod. “I’m about to do something crazy, and I don’t know if I’m up for it. On one hand, it could be incredible; on the other, it might change everything in ways I’m not ready for.”
“That sounds… pretty intense,” the woman replies.
I let out a nervous laugh. “Sorry for dumping all of that on you.”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. I think we’ve all dealt with something similar at one point in our lives. Strangers can sometimes lend a good ear…”
That’s a fair point. And I don’t have to disclose all the dirty details. I just need to paint a clear enough picture. “There’s this… guy I like.”
“Promising start,” she says, half-smiling. “Friends-to-lovers situation?”
“More or less. I’ve known him since I was a kid. He and my brother are best friends. We haven’t seen each other in ages—until today.”
“He’s still close with your brother?”
“They’re business partners, and my brother can be ridiculously protective,” I admit, remembering the dates he sabotaged in high school. And that’s only the beginning.
“You’re worried, then. What does the guy—the one you’re into—say?”
“Oh, he’s into me, too—and then some.” I can’t help but smile.
“What stops you, then? Just your brother?”
“It’s a tad more complicated than that. I don’t know why I’m having second thoughts now. We were getting so hot and heavy earlier…”
“Is he cool?” she wonders. “Does he come with any baggage?”
“He’s amazing. Smart. Successful. Handsome as hell. Funny. Chivalrous. He’s like three men rolled into one.” It’s as close as I can get to the truth with this lady. “I’m not sure about the baggage, though. From what he’s told me, he hasn’t had that many relationships over the years.”
“And do you trust him?” she continues.
“Yes,” I say with a nod. “I actually do. I must sound crazy, huh?”
“No. It sounds like the two of you dove in a bit too fast, and now you’re wondering if you should pump the brakes. That’s what would be on my mind, anyway,” the woman says.
“So you think I should go for it?” I ask.
“Ask yourself what you really have to lose. Are you dealing purely with physical attraction? Or is there more to it? Is there more to it for the both of you, or just for him? Or just for you? Because if it’s just a sex thing, I say go for it and regret it later. If you want more, then yes, go slow. It’s pretty straightforward…”
Looking at the bigger picture—and remembering Oscar’s doubts about building a relationship among four—I decide I can keep things strictly physical. We’ve only just reunited. There’s no way for us to know where this might lead.
Where it might not lead.
Why build up expectations like this? Oscar wants to go slow, but he’s deeply attracted, too. I can see it in his eyes, I can hear it in his voice. Kellan and Alex are practically simmering just beneath the surface, and I know that the minute we’re left to our own devices, we will finish what we started in that hot tub.
“Just go for it, then, and worry about the consequences later,” I say.
“It really depends on what you want from him,” she says with a casual shrug.
“I want him to bend me over. Stat.”
She doubles over laughing. “Damn, girl. Then go get that. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. If not, the universe will make room in your life for something better.”
“Regardless of our expectations,” I conclude. I’m not sure the mental gymnastics we just performed in this bathroom are what I needed, but I like the result. It’s what I want, anyway.