Page 13 of Until Presley

“Nope. Showered at your place. I have a bag in the back,” he says nonchalantly as he continues to drive into the core of Key West.

“Oh, okay.” He must do this often if he keeps a packed overnight bag. Pain hits my chest, and I look out the window.

Ham

We pull up to the warehouse where Walker, Otto, and I opened the dive school two years ago. Walker’s truck is already parked outside. Presley has been quiet ever since I mentioned the bag in the back of my Jeep. I can imagine what’s going through her head, but I’m not ready to tell her the truth just yet.

As I come around the Jeep to let her out, she’s already jumping down. I move toward her, trying to keep my anger in check. I press her body against the side of the vehicle and lift herup with one hand around her hip. My fingers almost graze her core.

“Sprite, I keep a change of clothes in my Jeep because I like to be prepared for anything. Sometimes shit happens, and I stay here, or I’m out on charters where my clothes get wet. I love the water but hate the feel of the salt on my skin all the time. Spent too many years with that feeling when I was in the Navy. I don’t do one-night stands, and I haven’t been with a woman in a while. Got it?”

“Yes,” she says as she looks up at me.

Her trust is so fractured and broken, telling me it’s going to take a lot to get her to trust me more than she already does. I kiss her, and her full lips open. Our tongues duel until she gives into my dominance.

“Hey, you guys coming in?” Walker’s voice booms across the space. “By the way, brother, there’s some of my revenge.” He laughs, and I remember interrupting him and Hanna a couple of times.

I take Presley’s hand, and I can feel the excitement coming off her. Leading her into the interior of the warehouse, with the large pool in the center and equipment all around, I can’t help but smile at the surprise in her eyes. It makes my chest swell with pride to share what I’ve achieved.

“Unc Ham!” Axton toddles over, and I scoop him up as his little brother, Landon, follows, asking to be held too. I turn, hearing Presley giggling as she watches me with my nephews.

“Here let me help.” Hanna walks over and takes Landon from my arms. “Nice to see you again, Presley.” Hanna smirks at her as she moves over to where Walker is getting our equipment ready to go out.

Axton starts pushing at me, and I let him down too.

“They are cute,” Presley says.

“Yeah. Axton is two, and Landon is one. They’ve been swimming since they were tiny little monsters.”

“I bet.”

We’ve got everything ready and are about to load it into the vehicles when my phone rings. I glance down and see the facility’s number flash on my screen.

“Shit,” I mutter.

My mom is not feeling too good today, so I told her I would help.

“Hello,” I answer, expecting to hear Win in the background causing issues, but it’s quiet.

“Ham, Win is having a bad day and needs someone.”

“Julia, I’m kind of busy right now. It doesn’t sound like Win is having issues.

“Ham, you promised to be here for him. You can’t just forget about him because you’re dating now.”

Her words hit me, and I glance at Presley, who’s watching me closely. The moment I mentioned Julia’s name, Presley’s body tightened, and she stopped helping. I can see the worry in her eyes over who Julia is, and it’s all because I haven’t been honest with her.

“I know I promised, Julia.” I try to move away and get Hanna’s attention to distract Presley. “How bad is it?”

“He’s throwing things and acting out,” she says, and I look back to see everyone watching me.

“I’ll be there shortly.” I hang up without saying anything else and watch as Presley’s face falls.

My long legs eat up the distance between us, and I watch as she straightens, pushing her shoulders back and lifting her head. But it’s her eyes that change the most. The blue-green of them becomes still, like calm waters, devoid of emotion or recognition as I move closer. She’s closing herself off, and I’m not sure howI’m going to get her back. But I have responsibilities, and she needs to understand that if she’s going to be with me.

“Why don’t you go snorkeling, and I’ll catch up later?” I run my hand down her soft cheek, and she nods at me. “I have to go.”

“Okay,” she says so softly that if I hadn’t seen her lips move, I wouldn’t have known she spoke. “Julia and Win need you.”

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