Page 94 of Beyond the Stroke

“It’s a good thing I’m here.” He chuckles. “You’re already lost.”

“Or maybe you’re a distraction and I’d be fine without you,” I mutter, pulling my hand from his, knowing full well my brain has a tendency to get sidetracked when he’s nearby.

He lets my hand go, but his fingertips on my back steer me in the right direction.

Once we’re making our way down Wavecrest Way, our bodies naturally fall into a rhythm that feels effortless, yet I’m hyperaware of the space between us, or more accurately, how little space there is. As we stroll down the narrow sidewalk, our arms brush every now and then, and each time, my skin tingles like it’s remembering something that my brain refuses to acknowledge.

Like the kiss I’ve been replaying in my head since this morning.

You’re attracted to Rory.You like him.It taunts me.

That’s when I notice he’s humming a familiar tune. It’s “Go Your Own Way.”

“What?” His grin is all innocence. “It’s catchy.”

I narrow my gaze.

“Logan did a repeat performance after you left.”

My jaw drops. “In his underwear?”

“No, he kept his clothes on.”

“God, that was embarrassing.”

“You don’t have to be embarrassed. It was adorable.”

All I can do is shake my head as I relive the humiliation that was Rory’s teammates walking in on me singing in my underwear.

“Just so you know, I collected the guys’ keys and told them they had to knock from now on.”

“Thank you.”

We walk in silence for a beat, the air outside heavier than it was earlier. A breeze picks up, stirring the hem of my skort and carrying the scent of salt into the air.

The wind blows the loose hairs from my ponytail into my face, so I lift a hand to smooth them back.

“Who’s this Connor guy?” I ask.

“Connor Fisk.” The name comes out on a sigh. There’s a beat of silence before Rory continues. “I mentored Connor when he was in high school and I was in college. I recognized his talent and I wanted to help him navigate the industry. There was a sponsorship opportunity that came up. A flashy and lucrative brand deal but the company’s practices were questionable. I turned it down and advised Connor to do the same. He didn’t listen. Took the payout, then became this guy I didn’t recognize.”

“So, he went to the dark side?” I ask, using the only analogy I can think of for this situation…Star Wars.

Rory laughs, and the sound resonates in my chest.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“Connor is Darth Vader, and you’re Luke Skywalker.”

“Except he’s not my father.”

“And you don’t have a crush on your sister.”

He laughs. “Speaking of Whitney, she’ll be here next week.”

“That’s exciting. Does she have a place to stay?”

“She’s moving in with Winnie.”

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