Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“I was just about to change.” Another lie.
“Need any help?”
“I’m good. Thanks, though.” I wriggled out of her grip with a laugh and turned to where Rafe had been seconds ago. “Just looking for my roomie.”
Kelsi spun in an exaggerated circle. “He was with Eli, but—oh, Eli! Come meet Smithton’s very own party animal. Oh, my God. The last time I was at this house, I couldn’t handle loud noises or sunlight the next day. And the day after that.”
I winced at what was no doubt an accurate description as I scanned the yard.
“Sorry I missed it. I’m Eli, by the way, and I think we’ve met.”
I abandoned my search for Rafe and gave the newcomer my full attention.
Eli.
The guy from the cheese section at the market.
For the first time in a week, my smile didn’t feel forced. “Hey, you’re the bacon hater.”
“That’s not entirely true. Moderation is key,” he replied in a honeyed tone.
“I don’t think that rule applies to bacon.”
His lips quirked on one side. “Oh, really?”
“No, more is always better. I know what I’m talking about. No other food is as versatile.” Wow, this was good. My synapses were firing at full capacity as I continued, “Can you put potato chips in vanilla ice cream? No. Bacon…yes.”
Kelsi agreed but must have sensed that this was a one-on-one discussion. She mumbled something about refilling her cucumber berry spritz, leaving me with the hottie who—
Screech.
Wait up. Kelsi said Rafe was with Eli, and Eli was tall with wavy hair, and he’d been holding pinkies with Rafe and—
Shit.
This guy had flirted with me last week. I hadn’t imagined it. And when I’d asked him if he knew Rafe, there’d been no boyfriend shoutout. If anything, he’d given the impression that they were acquainted but not close. Maybe it was brand-new.
If so, why was he giving me a hungry stare with a side of “I’d like to climb you like a tree”?
What was happening here?
“Have you ever been to a yoga retreat?” Eli asked.
“Uh…no. I’ve never done yoga at all.”
“I bet you’d like it.”
Did he just purr? I was pretty sure that was a fucking purr.
“Maybe.”
“I’m relatively new to it also. I took my first class three years ago, thinking it would be so easy. I was wrong. It was very humbling.” Eli’s self-deprecating tone was oddly reassuring. Okay, I’d probably imagined the purr.
“Right.”
“The key is to breathe. Deep inhales, deep exhales…” Eli hiked a thumb toward the house and stepped into my space. “Want to try it now?”
Definitely a purr.
“Uh…”
“You’re here.” Rafe appeared out of nowhere, holding two glasses of sparkling water. He handed one to Eli and fixed me with a curious look.
“I am. My first ever yoga party,” I replied.
Eli tipped his chin playfully. “I think he likes it. Hey, I’m going to grab something to eat. Want anything?”
“No, thanks.”
Eli inclined his chin with a smile, squeezed Rafe’s pinky finger and my elbow before making an exit. “Don’t go anywhere.”
Rafe hummed in response, his brow knit as he watched Eli walk away. “You know him.”
It was a statement. Not a question.
“Eli? No. I met him last weekend at the market, though. I didn’t know you were together…like boyfriends.”
“We’re not.”
“Ah, well, that’s good.”
Rafe narrowed his eyes. “Why is that good?”
“ ’Cause he was totally flirting with me.”
“Oh?”
“For the sake of transparence, I flirted too.”
“Did you?” Damn it, he looked pissed.
“Yeah, but it was innocent and I have zero interest in butting into your action or—”
“Stop,” Rafe hissed. He held a palm in front of my face. “Just…stop. Has anyone ever told you that you’re a real turd? A super shit, a monumental dump of epic portions…like a rhinoceros-sized poop floating in a pristine pool. You might have everyone else fooled, but I see who you really are.”
My face heated on cue. I’d been beating the crap out of myself for a week, and I fully agreed with almost every word that came out of his mouth.
Except…
“I don’t think rhinoceros shit would float, man. It would sink for sure.”
Rafe gritted his teeth, his nostrils flaring angrily. “Go…stick your head in a toilet.”
CHAPTER 7
RAFE
My cute albeit ineffectual attempt at creating space for myself and reminding the hockey player that he wasn’t the only one living in this house was a bust. I should have known better.
I’d thrown a party and made it everything I’d assumed my idiot roommate would hate, and the whole ridiculous thing had blown up in a big ball of stupid. A wellness gathering was an original idea, but I didn’t know most of the people who’d actually shown up.
Penny had recruited her yoga regulars, Harmony had invited a few clients, and Jackson had encouraged his friends from the bakery to stop by. My friends mostly stood outside, sipping berry spritzes they’d spiked with contraband vodka, gossiping about fellow skaters…same as any other day of the week. Jeremy’s short program was a disaster, Kenzie’s choreography was so 2022, Isabella needed a new partner, stat.