Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
And I never will again. Not ever.
Skye sighs. “I do love yoga, and yeah, it helps with stress and all that, but the fucking downward dog!”
“It’s tough for some people.”
“That’s what you always say.”
I give her a playful punch on her shoulder. “And I’m still right.”
Skye laughs. We’re both panting and sweating after a hot yoga class.
She grabs a towel and wraps it around her neck. “I need a shower.”
“See you in the steam room,” I say.
Skye nods and heads toward the locker room. I take a long drink from my water bottle and then grab a clean towel to sponge off my face.
“Hi, Tessa.”
I jerk.
It can’t be.
Garrett? At a yoga studio?
No way.
And of course he looks like a god in his muscle shirt and shorts.
“I assume you’re not here for yoga,” I say.
“I was watching the class from outside the room,” he says.
“Stalking?” I can’t help saying. Since I left him at his house with Lolita, he’s been calling and leaving messages, which I’ve been ignoring.
“No.” His gaze darkens. “Waiting for you. I know you and Skye always do yoga here on Saturdays. You told me, remember?”
“I remember a lot of things,” I mumble.
He reaches toward me. “Tessa…”
I slap his hand away. “What do you want, Garrett?”
He breathes in. “God, it’s hot in here.”
“We just had a hot yoga class. It’s supposed to be hot.” I walk out of the studio, and he follows me. “What is it?” I ask again.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry and that I won’t be bothering you anymore. If you tell me no this time, I’ll never bother you again.”
“Okay.”
“I really am sorry.” He reaches toward me again, but he doesn’t touch me. “I’m not seeing Lolita anymore. It really was just a hookup.”
“Okay,” I echo.
God, he looks so good. I hate myself for still wanting him.
“I made a huge mistake, choosing her. Please, let me make it up to you. Have dinner with me tonight.”
Everything in me says I should tell him to fuck off. To get the hell away from me and never come near me again.
Except—
“Fine. All right. I’ll have dinner with you.”
A grin splits his handsome face. “Awesome! I’ll pick you up at your place at seven. Wear something sexy.” He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and leaves the gym.
I take my towel, go to the locker room, and shed my sweaty clothes for another towel. I’m feeling equal parts giddy and shitty. I breathe in the steam, letting the humidity and the eucalyptus scent relax me.
“You in here, Tess?” Skye’s voice.
“Over here.” I take a long drink from my water bottle. “You’re not going to believe this.”
“What?” she asks.
“I just ran into Garrett.”
“In the ladies’ locker room?”
I chuckle. “No. After you left the yoga studio, he walked in.”
“Garrett? At yoga?”
“He was wearing a muscle shirt and jock shorts. Fuck, Skye, he looked amazing.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Right? Anyway, he said he was waiting for our class to end so he could talk to me.”
“Ugh. Stalker much?”
Ha. I said the same thing when he arrived. “No, he just said he’s sorry he’s been bothering me, and if I tell him no this time, he’ll leave me alone.”
“So what did you tell him?”
“I told him…” I look away from Skye, camouflaging myself in the steam. “I’d have dinner with him tonight.”
Skye breathes out slowly. “Tessa…”
“Well, it’s not like we said we were exclusive, right?”
“Right. You’re right.”
“I’ve missed him.”
“Why don’t we find you another guy?”
“I’m not getting on a website, Skye.”
“That’s not what I mean. You want to meet Braden’s brother?”
“Ben Black?”
“That’s the one.”
“Is he available?”
“As far as I know.”
I inhale a breath and let it out slowly. “No, I don’t think so. I mean, thanks for the offer, but I hate fix-ups.”
“Okay.” Skye shrugs. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
“To be honest, I’m still hung up on Garrett.”
“I know. Or you would have told him to fuck off.”
I sigh. “You got that right. So I need a favor.”
“Of course. Anything.”
“I need you to come to dinner with us tonight.”
Skye bites her lip. “I’m so sorry, Tess. I made plans with Braden.”
I sigh.
“I’m sorry,” she says again.
I cross my legs and look away. “I’m always going to play second fiddle to him, aren’t I?”
“No, but I wouldn’t break plans with you if he asked me to, either.”
I gulp down the rest of the water in my bottle. I’m not being fair, and I know it. “You’re right. You have better things to do than be my babysitter.”
“Maybe…” Skye scratches her chin.
“Maybe what?”
“I could check with Braden. Maybe we could join you guys for dinner and then—”
I hold up my hand, waving steam in my face. “No. Don’t worry about it. I just…”
“What?”
“If I don’t have a chaperone I’ll end up in his bed.”
“Be your own chaperone.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s such a Skye thing to say.”