Page 36 of Away We Go

Or I guess, it remained. Cherry and that dimple got me again.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever seen.” She is now doubled over and holding her stomach she’s laughing so hard. James the traitor has joined her, laughing a belly laugh I’d never heard from him before.

“Give me that.” I snatch the phone from her and pull my cap further down over my face. I wear it in public to help me go incognito, but right now I’m wishing it was something more substantial. Something to hide my burning cheeks.

Blushing. Another new thing Cherry has brought into my life.

“But, but,” she splutters, pointing to the phone I’ve just stashed in my back pocket. “It’s just so bad.”

“Shut up.”

She snorts and abruptly stops laughing.

“Did you just snort?”

“Shut up.”

I smirk and she launches herself at me, her small hand sneaking around my waist and into my back pocket. My hands land on her tiny waist and I draw her into me. We freeze. She inhales sharply, pressing her chest into mine. From this position, I can feel the thumping of her heart racing. It’s almost as fast as my own.

“Nicky?”

My name is a soft question from her and it knocks me out of the moment. Another moment where I almost kissed her.

Clearing my throat, I drop my hands away from her body and step back. “Give it up. There’s no way you’re watching that video again.” The words are teasing, but my tone is all wrong.

“Fine.” She blows a few wayward strands from her face and stands up straighter. “But don’t think I’m not googling the crap out of that when I get back to the hotel.”

Groaning, I walk behind her as she marches back in the direction of the Yasaka Shrine, losing the battle to keep my gaze on the shopfronts on either side of me and not on the tendrils of her red hair stuck to the back of her neck. Or the way her bum fills out her jeans.

“You’ve got it bad, man.” James sounds almost sympathetic and I ignore him. If I don’t acknowledge how my eyes are constantly drawn to her like a heat-seeking missile, then maybe I can fool myself into not seeing her as the gorgeous woman who’s captured all my attention, and everything can go back to normal.

To the world where I’m just her brother’s best friend. And she’s not the woman who’s becoming everything to me.

• • • • •

Cherry

OMG, this Pocari Sweat commercial!!

It’s so bad!!

Is there an award for worst acting in a commercial?

If so, I’d like to nominate you…

Nicky

You have a cruel streak; do you know that?

And STOP watching that video!

Cherry

No can do…

• • • • •

Cherry

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