Page 44 of Ace My Heart

I admit, I had trouble. I might be an athlete, but Joel was something else entirely. He was naturally good at everything physical that he tried his hand at. It drove me berserk.

Joel climbed straight out of the pool and dripped his way over to the spa, pressing a button to start the jets and sliding under the bubbling water.

“Come on, Stink, this is the relaxing part!” He beckoned me over with his head. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to join him in there, but I walked reluctantly over and climbed in.

The spa was nestled among the tropical plants, so you almost felt like you were in a hot spring in the middle of the jungle. It would have been a really romantic setting if I hadn’t been sharing it with Joel.

“So, let’s talk strategy.” Joel was all business now. “Norieva’s weakness is her volley, so concentrate on your short returns. She’s very fit though, and she’ll be getting you moving a lot to try and take advantage of your weak ankle.”

My breath caught, the lump that I’d been combatting with some success swelling in my throat. A garbled sob burst from me.

“What’s up, Stink?” Joel asked, moving closer and leaning down to look up into my face. I looked away from his aqua eyes.

“You sounded … just like your dad …” I choked out. Joel sighed and he moved closer until his arm pressed against mine. My head tilted until it was resting against his shoulder.

“I miss him too,” he murmured. “It’s still so fresh. I’ll think I’m okay, and then it’s like a bolt of lightning to my chest.”

I rubbed at my throat. “I … whenever I’m not keeping myself busy, I get a sudden flash of … of the things I saw –wesaw,” Iadmitted in a hoarse voice. “And for a moment my heart feels like it stops, and it won’t start again.”

“Do you still dream about it?” he asked. “Because I do. It’s not shocking enough that I scream anymore, but I still wake in a jolt, and I’m sweating and icy cold.”

“When will it stop?” I asked through my tears. I felt Joel’s shoulder move in a shrug.

“No idea, Stink. But you know, I’m always here if you need to offload. I feel like I can’t really talk to anyone else about this. You’re the only one who … gets it.”

“Same, Joel,” I managed.

“You know, he wouldn’t have wanted us to dwell over it when you’ve got a tournament to play.”

I nodded. I wouldn’t think about Steve. I wouldn’t.

I leaned my head back against the edge of the spa, closing my eyes. Minutes trickled by in comfortable silence. I focussed on Joel’s body, warm next to mine.

Something brushed against my thigh. And again. Up and down, so gently it tickled. It was at once soothing and … stirring.

“Joel?” I asked quietly.

“Hmm?” he responded.

“Is that your hand on my thigh?” I opened one eye to peer at him. He was peering back at me the exact same way. The tickling touch didn’t stop.

We stared at each other for a long moment. His knuckles continued to feather tiny circles up and down my outer thigh.

I was holding my breath. Why was I holding my breath?

“It’s definitely your hand … on my thigh …” I reached down and placed my hand on top of his. For a second Joel’s fingers curled around mine, then his lips twitched and he slid his hand away.

“I thought it wasmythigh I was touching. Jeez, Stinky, haven’t you ever heard of a razor?” His voice was soft.

I gathered myself, throwing him what I hoped was a withering look. “That’s the worst excuse for feeling a girl up I have ever heard. You must be getting really antsy – I mean it’s been what, weeks since the last time you got any?”

“But hey, it felt good, didn’t it?”

Damn him, he was right. I climbed out of the spa like lightning, willing myself to get it together.

“Where’re you going?” he asked casually, leaning over the edge of the spa and watching me.

“I’m going to shave. Wouldn’t want you mistaking my leg for yours again.”

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