Page 6 of Taking Denver

Fuck. “What? Are you sure?”

He nods. “Zeke was with me and made a point to check. He was going to ask her out before he saw it. You didn’t spot it in the gym?”

No, I hadn’t. If I had, I’d have run in the opposite direction. I’ve been cheated on before and definitely don’t want to be the other person. “No, I didn’t see one.”

“Well, that’s on her, not you. Let’s forget about Denver Luxe and have a good vacation.”

“Denver Luxe?”

Sebastian nods. “I heard the receptionist talking before I came back to the room. That’s her name. It’s weird, I thought it was familiar, but?—”

Someone bangs furiously on the door.

“Let’s go, you numb-knuckled fuckers!” Zeke shouts.

Sebastian finishes more beer and then grips my shoulder. “You sure you’re gonna be okay tonight?”

Sebastian’s concern is a testament to how good a friend he is, but the last thing I need or want is to be babysat throughout the entire vacation.

I put on my best smile. “I’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

In the hallway, Zeke and Ace wait. Zeke has opted to wear an Armani suit that I know he can’t afford, his brown, wavy hair brushed back, green eyes alight with excitement for the evening ahead. Despite the late hour, he has Versace sunglasses balanced on his head and exudes fuck boy energy that I’m sure, one day, he’ll grow out of.

Beside him, Ace wears an Armani suit hecanafford, though he’d never boast about it. He’s recently grown out his sandy blond hair and now looks annoyingly like Brad Pitt in his 90s era, baby blues and all, a fact Zeke somehow twisted into an insult and teased him about the entire flight.

We met on our first day of high school when an older kid dragged a dirty-soled boot over a wide-eyed Ace’s brand-newsneakers. I had hit the bully, Zeke had taken the shot after me, and Sebastian had sweet-talked the teachers into believing we had nothing to do with it.

Zeke scoffs. “You couldn’t have worn a tie, Ethan? Fuck me.”

I roll my eyes as the hotel room door shuts behind me. “I was told to relax.”

Sebastian grins and slaps my back. “And relax, you shall.”

We go into town, we eat, and by the time we return to the hotel, it’s after midnight. Zeke insists it’s too early and goes to the hotel bar for karaoke night, and Ace follows after refusing to get on stage because he’s shy—something we all know is a damn lie. Sebastian collapses into bed, leaving me alone in the room with too many thoughts.

I’d told Sebastian earlier that I was fine, which was true at the time.

But now? I squeeze my trembling hands into fists and will the shaking to stop. If I can’t sleep, I’ll just go for a swim instead.

Stay active. Don’t sit idle and dwell.

Sliding open the glass patio doors, I step into the blue-black darkness. Quiet greets me, the air salty and still, the distant sound of windchimes tinkling happily from God knows where. Our patio is separated from adjoining rooms by metal dividers, and a small set of steps leads to a shallow shared pool that stretches along each room, not deep but big enough to relax in. No lights shine from the other rooms. I’m clearly alone.

Fuck it.

I strip off, underwear and all, and walk into the pool. Swimming to the other side, I rest my arms on the pool’s edge, lean my head back, and close my eyes.

This is what I need—quiet, relaxation, no worries. I breathe in for five and can almost taste the sea salt on my tongue, then exhale for seven. The glowing, barbed wire of tension that is seemingly permanently fixed around my chest eases somewhat.

“Can’t you feel it, Ethan?”

My eyes snap open. My heart seems to have doubled in size, the thumping morphing into an angry beat as it slams against the brittleness of my ribcage. The water feels colder, and the memory of his voice?—

I splash my face, running my hands down my cheeks and then through my hair. I’m okay. I’m fucking fine.

Nope. I need to hit something.

“Fuck, shit, fuck.”

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