Page 37 of Just Forever

“Right?” Rachel says, eyes shining with excitement when she turns her attention toward Sawyer. “Babe, that would be perfect. How didn’t we think about it before?”

“Would it be perfect?” Sawyer asks.

“Yes! It’s basically free travel. Hell, they probably pay the contestants something, so we’ll earn money. There are no downsides to this plan.”

“I can think of a few,” Sawyer says reasonably.

“Name one!” Rachel counters.

While all of this is going on, Lake’s leg presses against mine, and conversation fades into the background. He starts rubbing his calf up and down my leg slowly. It shouldn’t be hot. There’s no skin touching skin. But a shiver of pleasure runs down my spine, nevertheless.

Lake leans closer. “Have you ever hooked up with somebody in a bar bathroom?”

My breath catches in my throat. “Can’t say I have,” I manage.

“Might be something to remedy,” he says, all casual like nobody’s business.

“You think?” This is definitely not a sensible idea but fuck it. Who are we kidding? I’m already halfway out of my chair.

“I’m very much pro new experiences.”

“Fucking hell, I thought you two were trying not to be obvious.” Kelly’s voice is loud enough that it breaks through my Lake-haze. When I look at our friends, I find them all staring at us with all different degrees of smugness and exasperation.

“We’re not being obvious,” Lake protests.

“Oh, baby.” Rachel’s expression is veering dangerously close to pity. “You could have on one of those T-shirts where there’s an arrow pointing at Ryker and the words ‘I’m fucking him’ emblazoned on your chest in neon pink letters, and you’d be less obvious.”

Lake glances at me. Something flashes in his eyes; a moment of hesitation and worry that then morphs into steely eyed determination. And then he moves his chair away from me.

Goddamnit, I fucking hate that I’m doing this to him.

“Still too much ‘throw me on this table and have your dirty, dirty way with me’ energy,” Rachel says, “but marginally better.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” Lake mutters, face flushing bright red.

“Wasn’t it? Because I almost feel like I need a Scotch and a cigarette after witnessing all this,” Kelly says with a shit-eating grin.

I know he’s teasing, and he means well, but I really wish he’d shut up, because the happy, carefree, tipsy Lake has morphed into somebody who’s clearly overly aware of his surroundings. This evening was supposed to be him relaxing and kicking back with friends and not overthinking us.

“Switch with me,” Lake tells Kelly, nodding at me. “He’s way too hot, and I’m way too drunk to behave.”

Kelly laughs and some of the tension breaks.

“Come on. We’ll get some water in you.” The two of them get up and head to the bar again. I watch them go.

“Now you just look gloomy.”

I turn my gaze away from Lake and toward Rachel, who’s now sitting in Sawyer’s lap.

I drag my hand through my hair and shake my head. “I’m fine.”

“For what it’s worth, you make him stupidly happy. I never thought I’d see the day when Lake made moony eyes at somebody, but then you came into the picture. It’s nice to see.”

I purse my lips and study her and Sawyer. “You two have been together for a long time,” I say.

“A whole eternity in high school sweetheart years,” Rachel agrees with a laugh. “Why?”

I try to formulate the thought that’s been circling in my head for a while now.

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