Page 26 of In It to Win It

My smile is stiff. “So funny.”

Actually, heisfunny. I just don’t want to laugh at his jokes. Ugh.

He casts a slitty-eyed glance my way now, catching my sarcasm. And it’s like flames ignite between us. Heat sears over my skin and spreads from my belly through my body. My pussy squeezes.

I toss back the rest of my wine and jump up. “I better get going.”

At the same time JP stands and says, “I should go. Early morning tomorrow.”

We eye each other. More static electricity builds around us.

“JP will walk you home,” Lacey says.

“That’s okay,” I immediately respond. “I have Byron.” I look down to where he’s snoozing at my feet.

“It’s dark,” JP says roughly.

“I only live a few houses down the road.”

“It’s dark,” he repeats and picks up Byron’s leash.

Annoyance scrapes over my nerves. I grew up in this neighborhood, for cripe’s sake. I grit my teeth and say to Lacey, “Thanks for the wine.”

“No problem. Let’s get together this weekend.”

“Sure. You should come to yoga class Saturday morning.” We all head to the door.

“Ugh.” Lacey scrunches her nose. “The paddleboard yoga class?”

“Yeah.” She keeps making excuses not to come.

“I’ll end up in the water. Pass.”

I laugh. “Oh, come on. It’s fun! And even if you do fall in the water, so what?”

“I’ll think about it,” she says reluctantly.

I shake my head and wave goodbye as I step out into the fresh night air, scented with the ocean and the jasmine plant growing next to the door.

“She won’t come,” I tell JP.

“Yoga on paddleboards?”

“Yeah. It’s cool.”

“Okay, sure.”

Clearly he’s skeptical.

“You really don’t have to walk me home,” I tell him stiffly, setting out along the sidewalk of the narrow side street.

He follows. “I want to talk to you.”

Great.

“What’s with you and Manny?” he demands as he falls into step next to me. Byron trots along happily in front of us, making the left turn at Speedway that will take us home.

“Nothing.”

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