Page 57 of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

‘Died,’ I say matter-of-factly, knowing how much that response can shut down a conversation.

She pulls a hand to her chest, planting the other on my shoulder. ‘I’m so sorry. Was it recent?’

‘Nah…’ I lean back, hoping to dislodge her hand from any part of me. ‘I was ten.’

‘Well, that’s even more heartbreaking.’ She leans back with me, now resting a hand over mine.

I immediately change positions, pulling my hand from under hers and focus back on Hollyn. She’s still got her back to me, but when she glances around, she looks right at Celeste sitting way too close and her smile fades.

‘Celeste, I’m only here for the money. I’m not looking for any kind of relationship.’

‘Me either,’ she says quickly. ‘Had my heart broken once. Same for you?’

I look back out at Hollyn. ‘Absolutely crushed.’

‘I get it,’ Celeste says. ‘Well should you ever get lonely, I’m open to casual.’

Damn, she’s even more ballsy than I usually am. I shake my head.

‘No worries. I’ve got to get, anyway. I have a wedding this afternoon, and I don’t want to be late. I couldn’t help but spend a few extra minutes with you.’ She grins sweetly as she stands from the sand, brushing herself off. ‘I’ll email you. The show gave us everyone’s emails.’ She ruffles my hair. ‘See ya next time, Daxy.’

Daxy? I run a hand through my hair, undoing whatever she did.

Usually, I’d have taken the bait Celeste was throwing and probably be on my way to her place right now but I just can’t do it this time.

I look back out at Hollyn. She’s turning away from me, probably having seen that whole thing. After a few minutes, she walks back over to me, one hand holding her skirt above her knees.

‘So,’ she says, sitting down, ‘you and CeCe had a little moment, did ya?’ The way she says her name, the one only her closest friends call her, makes me laugh. She doesn’t like CeCe, and she’s not even attempting to hide it.

‘It was nothing. Besides being florists, the only thing we have in common is tattoos.’ I lift an arm Hollyn’s way as if she hasn’t already noticed them.

‘They’re nice tattoos.’ She runs her fingers over my skin above the ink, sending sparks through my entire body. ‘But I’m sure she was admiring the man they’re on more.’

‘Nah,’ I lie. ‘If so…’ I lift a shoulder.

‘You don’t want to sleep with her? She’s pretty.’

I glance over at Hols. ‘So are you. But no, not feeling it today.’

Her brow furrows. ‘Aren’t you happy you won?’ she asks, leaning back on her hands and staring out at the ocean.

‘I’m thrilled.’

‘This isthrilled, Dax? I’d have expected you to be dancing in the surf then Ubering yourself straight to The Flower Patch to sleep off some stress.’

I laugh out loud. ‘You don’t really see me as a guy who’s out boning every woman in town, do you?’

She lifts her shoulders. ‘I mean, I’ve heard rumors, but I haven’t witnessed that in you, so I don’t know.Isthat you?’

I sigh, blowing out a breath and lacing my fingers together, stretching my arms out in front of me. Looks like it’s time to clear my reputation if I want anything to ever happen between us.

‘Honestly’ – I side-eye her – ‘ithasbeen me. Lately, though, I’m just not into it.’

‘What changed?’ she asks, leaning back on her hands, her face lifted to the sun.

You. That’s what I want to say. I haven’t slept with anyone since the moment Hollyn came back into my life. Like my loins went on strike the second I saw her at the airport. I want exactly one woman, and she doesn’t even know it.

‘I dunno.’

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