Page 35 of The Roads We Follow

“You’re kidding, right? It feels like an African rainforest in here. I’m wishing I could take one of those ice baths.”

“If you’re looking for the coolest temp, it’s that one over there, closest to the door,” Hattie points to the pool furthest away as she sinks into the water and closes her eyes.

“That’s where I’m headed, if you care to join me?” Micah tips his head in invitation, and for a second, I’m tempted to throw my dignity to the wind and be the type of girl I write about in my fiction.The one who sashays without a care in the world at the side of Hot Deodorant Dude.

But I’m not that girl.

“Nah, you go on ahead. I’m gonna take my time.”

He studies me. “You have really cool hair.”

My cheeks flame at his joke, and I pat my insufferable mane. “Not all hair types play nice with humidity.” Despite the way he seems to scrunch his brows in confusion, I go on. “If left to its own devices, it could easily become a landmark on Mama’s road-trip map.”

“Every way I’ve seen you wear it has been beautiful. Including now,” he says in a matter-of-fact tone that causes the bottom floor of my stomach to fall out. “It looks like a cute, curly pom-pom.”

When he finally turns and strides for the furthest pool, I can’t help but stare after him dumbly. Was that a compliment? Did he just call my pom-pom cute? Only, before I can overthink it for another second, I realize I’m about to miss my opportunity to disrobe without his notice.It’s now or never.With one quick tug at the knot of my belt, I shuck off my robe and toss it onto a chair too far away to be considered “poolside.” Then, with the grace of a marble statue, I slip into the middle pool without bothering to test the temperature first. The shock of the boiling lava water engulfing my skin causes me to yelp and splash as soon as I break the surface.

Despite everyDo Not Runwarning sign posted on the walls, Micah does just that until he’s crouching at the edge of my pool. “Raegan—what happened? Are you hurt? Did you slip?” He searches my face, but I’m in too much discomfort to form a coherent reply.

Unfortunately, Hattie does it for me.

“I’m pretty sure she jumped in all on her own,” Hattie replies unhelpfully. “Not sure why you’d jump into a hot tub that has stairs, Sunny Bear.”

With my arms hovering above the water, I propel myself toward said stairs. “I ... I must have missed those at first glance.”

“My pool is the perfect temp, in my opinion, if you want to joinme.” Hattie slips back down into the water and returns to her Zen-like state.

Micah reaches out to capture my forearm and guide me up the stairs. For multiple reasons, my skin is now liquid fire.

“Watch your step,” he instructs as I pray for a tornado to rip through Bathhouse Row before I reach the top.

“Thanks,” I mutter. “I think I’ll just sit here on the ledge for a while.”

Without invitation, he settles beside me, plunging his legs into the lava pool beside mine.

“Yikes,” he howls before jerking them right back out. “Thisishot!”

“What about my flailing squeal caused you to believe otherwise?”

“You should have come with me to the cooler pool.”

I don’t tell him he’s right.

I feel his attention on my profile, but unlike the hours we’ve spent riding side-by-side together in the cockpit of the tour bus, this feels much,muchmore intimate. There’s no center console separating us here, no coffee travel mugs to distract or window ledges to lean against for added protection. I’m acutely aware that there’s nothing but an inch of wet concrete between our two bodies clad in swimwear.

“I’m sorry the weather didn’t cooperate for your hiking plans today,” I extend as some kind of strange diversion tactic.

“Wish I could say I was sorry you didn’t get to stay back and make your call to Tav.” He quirks a smile at me. “But I’m really not.”

My mouth gapes at his forwardness, and he laughs.

“You’re oddly open, you know that?”

“If that’s supposed to be an insult, you could use some pointers in that area.”

“It’s not, I just don’t know many people who say exactly what they mean as much as you do.”

“It’s hard to teach healthy communication skills if I’m not willing to live by them.”

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