Page 137 of A Better Place

“James?!”

“Hi, baby. Havin’ fun?”

Her gooey fingers make for a swipe at the hair on her forehead, and she sticks her bottom lip out and tries to blow the hair that’s sticking to her head out of her eyes. “Wha — what are you doing here?” she asks with a slight tremble in her voice.

“Finished packing up early. Wanted to surprise you.” I grin and raise my hands out to the side. “Surprise!” I can’t stop smiling. The look on her face combined with seeing her in person for the first time in over a week has my body on fire, but clearly now isn’t the time. I point down to where she’s sitting. “Whatcha doing?”

“Waxing. Or something. I haven’t dared look at the stupid strip.”

I press my lips together tightly and cock my head to the side. “The goo strip?”

“Yeah.”

“There’s goo on it.”

“Duh. I know that! Is there hair on it, too?” she asks me, completely unashamed as she lifts the goo strip up to show me.

“Uh, is there supposed to be?”

She groans. “No. None at all. I just tried ripping the skin off my crotch and hoped that all the hair would stay there. It’s a new thing.”

“Then you accomplished it! Good job, baby! Congratulations!” I chuckle, to which she doesn’t return.

She glares at me. “I’m so excited to see you! I missed you so much. Why don’t you come a little closer, baby?”

“Not a chance.”

“I haven’t seen you in over a week. You don’t want to give me a kiss?”

“Not until you’ve dropped the goo strip.”

“You don’t trust me?” she asks in a sweet and entirely adorable voice, one that I would have caved to had I not seen the gleam in her eye and been able to see what she was plotting.

“Nope. Drop the strip. Step away from the wax, then I’ll gladly give you a kiss.”

“I don’t think I can exactly step away.”

“Come again?”

“I’m afraid… I mean… I’m a little worried that I may or may not be glued. To myself.”

I raise my eyebrows at her. “Can you repeat that?” I ask as I get my cell out of my pocket and aim it at her face.

“Put. The. Phone. Away,” she grits out.

“Oh, come on! I need proof!”

“Put it away, James,” she says in a voice I imagine makes Jack quiver.

I reluctantly slide my phone back into my pocket. “You’re no fun.”

“Ha! Right. Help!”

“How am I supposed to… help?”

“Well, I had a plan. And that plan didn’t exactly unfold as I expected.”

“What was your plan?” I can’t wait to hear this.

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