Page 84 of Drop Three

I legit look homeless.

Deciding I have no other choice but to greet him, I turn to meet Bodhi’s piercing green eyes—they resemble the tranquility of a hidden spring.

Uniquely his, and I decide then I want to get lost in them.

I’m terrible with directions, but I could navigate through his emerald green forest any day of the week.

“Bodhi, hi. Yes, I’m okay.” I perk up at the sight of sweat pouring down his tan skin. Copious amounts of slick sweat, and he’s never looked more gorgeous. I’ve seen this man in tight baseball pants and the fanciest of suits, but nothing compares to the version of Bodhi that just finished a workout and is glistening with sweat.

I’m a dirty woman.

“Are you sure? Is this all of your stuff?”

“Uh, yes.” Shit. He can’t tell Callaway about this.

“Why is it outside your apartment?” He’s onto me, I know it.

Bodhi knows I live, now lived, here. Jethro, the team’s newest rookie, signed a lease in the same apartment complex.

Bodhi has been here, helping Jethro get settled.

Which explains why I would run into him, of all people, outside the doors of Luke’s place.

“Oh…uh. Luke put it there for me. Nice guy.” I’m a terrible liar.

Bodhi walks closer, eyeing me top to bottom like he knows I’m full of shit. “How kind of him. What for, Navy?”

Intuitive caveman.

“You know Luke…he knows how much I love my…hand towels.” I look at the miscellaneous bag in my arms.

“Hmm.” His graveled hum worries me. I’m caught and he’s deciding how to handle it—handle me.

“Anyway, it was great seeing you, B.” I do my best to dismiss him so I can get out of here, spinning in a hurry. Bodhi is a busy guy. Chances are, he’s got somewhere to be.

The feeling of Bodhi hovering behind me halts my retreat. He hovers, not touching. But I feel him all over. I’m taller for a woman, and Bodhi still manages to tower over me. His chest meets my head, and I can feel the heat radiating off him. “I’ll ask one more time, Navy. Why is your shit outside the apartment door?”

I can’t avoid this. Bodhi is too stubborn to let me go that easily. Especially since he knows all the problems I’ve had with Luke over the past few months. Bodhi has been such a great friend to me, listening and offering advice when needed.

When Kodi and my brother officially started dating, I saw her less. Rightfully so. She has a lot on her plate and was working really hard on bettering herself, so I knew I could never burden her with my problems.

Unexpectedly, Bodhi found me in a situation where I was falling apart. He helped me. He comforted me. And we’ve been friends since.

I take a deep breath and answer him, “Luke tossed it out here.”

A conniving smirk ghosts his face. “I’m sorry, I thought for a second you said Luke threw your things out here. Tell me I’m wrong.”

My stomach drops. “You’re not. I’m sorry you had to see this.”

I don’t want him to be angry with me. I tried to talk to Luke but it was useless. I’d never want to disappoint Bodhi, and for some reason, I feel like I now have.

I almost turn around to face him and apologize, but I don’t have a chance. Strong arms wrap around my chest, wrapping me in his hold as his low voice finds my ear. “Don’t you dare apologize for a damn thing. You are not at fault here. You are not the problem—he is. Never apologize for doing something about it.”

My body freezes at the weight of his words, and I’m hit with a wave of unfamiliar emotions. All this time, I’ve felt like the problem. Like the reason Luke and I didn’t work out is because I’m too much to handle. I let myself soak in Bodhi’s caring affirmations and fall into his embrace.

If I’ve observed him correctly, Bodhi doesn’t make an effort to hug anyone. He has mild social anxiety, but he’s hugging me by choice right now and it feels nice.

I can’t remember the last time someone hugged me without me being the one initiating it.God, it feels so good.

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