Page 192 of Sloane

“Sweetness, do you think I should pack my—”

I stopped short when I saw her bent over the sink washing her face wearing her royal blue nightie.

That’s my future wife. And she’s fucking hot.

She reached for a towel and patted her face dry.

“I’m sorry, babe, what did you say?”

“I was just going to ask if you thought I should pack a swimsuit?”

“I’m going to. It might still be a little chilly in South Carolina, but you never know. And I think the bed and breakfast in Cape Cod has a hot tub.”

We were making a whirlwind four-day trip to the East Coast; going to Boston so I could meet with the woman who’d gotten me my job with Armstrong Labs, Grace’s sister—and Travis’s sister-in-law—Hope Ericson. The brains behind the state-of-the-art prosthetic I was currently fitted with,

Hope co-owned a B&B with her best friend, Yvette, who was also a San Diego native, and she’d insisted we stay there as her guests. Ash and I hadn’t had any time away, just the two of us, since… well, since the first time we were together in her little apartment, so it was an easy decision.

Then we were headed to Haven Springs, a little town outside of Charleston so I could pay my respects to O’Brien and his family, before flying back to San Diego.

Ashley was already freaking out about being away from Millie for three nights. We were leaving her and Tank with Grace and Ryan, who were allegedly thrilled.

It was a consolation prize for them since Tammy had pulled rank with her godmother status and was watching Millie when we went on our honeymoon next month.

I was finally making good on my promise to take her to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico.

I didn’t tell my friends they were only getting this gig because Tammy was out going to be out of town.

At, coincidentally enough, the same time Josh was.

“Do they not realize how small our circle is?” I’d asked Ashley when she told me. “Do they think we can’t figure out what they’re up to?”

She’d just shrugged. “I don’t know, babe. They have rules or something.”

I’d snorted. “First rule of casual sex friendships: you do not talk about casual sex friendships.”

“Something like that.”

“This has been going on a while, though, hasn’t it? Like, since when we first met.”

“I don’t think they’re exclusive.”

I sat down on the edge of the tub in my pajama shorts and watched as Ashley went through her nightly skincare routine. It was such an old-married couple thing to do, and I freaking loved it.

Now that her face was makeup free, she turned her head side-to-side to examine her skin in the mirror.

“Ugh. I’m twenty-eight years old and am getting acne.”

“Do you think it’s from wearing your foundation?”

“I’m sure that has something to do with it.”

“Why don’t you get the laser treatments, baby?”

She paused rubbing moisturizer on her face and looked at my reflection in the mirror.

“I thought you were against that?”

“I never said I was against it. I said I didn’t think you needed it; you’re beautiful just how you are. But I understand feeling self-conscious about how you look, probably better than most, and if having your birthmark permanently removed will make you feel more confident, then I think you should do it.”

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