Page 32 of Searching for Sunshine

I laugh, remembering the similar conversation we had about Mr. Marshall a few weeks ago.

Wyatt: My bad. Bobby’s the plumber in town. He was one of your grandfather’s close friends, so I feel like he’ll do everything he can to get us taken care of as soon as possible.

Stella: God, okay. I’ll be there in a few minutes, but start moving your stuff that isn’t soaked into my room. We’ll figure out what to do with it when I get there.

Wyatt: I don’t have to crash your room. I can stay on the couch until they’re able to get everything fixed.

Stella: I’m not arguing over this, Wyatt. That couch is tiny. There’s no way I’m letting you sleep on that thing when the only reason you’re even in this situation is because of me. Plus, it’s a king sized bed, so there’s more than enough room.

Stella: As long as you don’t mind sleeping in the same bed as me and my seventy-pound lap dog.

Wyatt: Wow, you’re really selling this whole thing aren’t you?

Wyatt: Just kidding. I don’t mind at all as long as you’re sure you’re okay with it.

Stella: I’m sure.

Blowing out a breath, I walk back into the house and look for an old towel to start drying off Duke. Once I find one, I walk back into my flooded bedroom and find the dog exactly where I left him. He’s staring at the wall like he’s waiting for the water to start pouring out of the wall again any moment now, and I shake my head at his antics.

“Come here, buddy. Let’s get you dried off before your momma shows up,” I tell him, just as Stella walks into the room.

“Too late,” she teases, before turning her attention to the room in front of us. “Oh my god, Wyatt, this is way more than a minor incident! This is going to take forever to get fixed.”

“It’ll be fine. Look on the bright side—at least it happened out here and not to some of the guests at the hotel right?”

Her eyes widen in alarm. “Holy shit, what if this does happen in the hotel?”

“I’m sure it won’t, Stels. I know your grandparents had the pipes redone in the hotel pretty recently, and I’m sure the ones out here are just old. And if you’re sure you don’t mind having a roomie, then it really doesn’t have to be a big deal.”

I hear the words coming out of my mouth, but internally I know that’s a lie. It feels like a major deal to put myself in this position when I can already feel my self-control slipping every time I’m around this girl. I promised her we’d spend the year as friends, and we’re barely a month in, and I’m ready to throw all that to hell.

But despite how badly I want to push for more, I know I’ll never forgive myself if she feels like I’ve taken advantage of her. I’m just going to have to suck it up and ignore whatever I’m feeling for her.

“No, I'm sure I don’t mind. Honestly, can we just go to bed and deal with this tomorrow? I’m absolutely exhausted and I’m pretty certain the mess will still be here after a few hours of sleep.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good plan. I’ll let you get changed, and I’ll work on getting Duke dry.”

“Thanks, Wyatt. Give me ten, and then you’re welcome to come in whenever.”.

“Sure, no problem. Now, come here, Duke,” I say, shifting my attention to her lab at our feet. He’s on his back rolling around in the water, and Stella lets out a chuckle.

“Yeah, you boys have fun with that. I’m officially at my limit of chaos with this place for today.”

With that she leaves, and I look down at the lab still splashing at my feet and squat down so that I’m closer to his eye level.

“Okay, Duke, this is how this is gonna go. You’re gonna stand up, and I’m gonna dry you off so we can get this shit over with. And then we’re going to go to bed, and you’re gonnastay between Stella and me all night to keep me from doing something really fucking stupid, okay?”

The dog blinks at me before running to the door and bringing back his ball, splashing my legs as he runs by.

“Great, good fucking talk, dude. We’re not playing right now, but maybe when you’re dry,” I tell him, grabbing his collar to lead him gently into the hallway and closing the bedroom door behind us. “Okay, just be still. There you go. Give me your paw.”

After a few minutes, I pause and make sure he’s relatively dry and decide he’s probably as good as he’s going to get. “All right, you can go play now.”

Duke immediately runs off to Stella’s room, and I spend the next few minutes getting ready for bed. After I’ve procrastinated and reminded myself how bad of an idea this all is at least ten times, I blow out a breath and knock on the wall beside Stella’s open door.

“Come on in,” she calls.

“Hey, I think I managed to get Duke—” I cut myself off when I catch sight of her sitting on top of her covers in a tiny pair of shorts and tank top. Her brown hair is piled on the top of her head and I have the sudden urge to run my fingers through it. She looks so fucking sexy, and I focus on ignoring how turned on it makes me to see her like this.

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