Page 85 of Let It Breathe
“Whatcha writing?”
Clay jumped. He looked up to see Larissa padding barefoot into the kitchen. Her hair was rumpled, but she’d changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt that must’ve belonged to Reese. Or maybe she kept a stash of her own clothes here for occasions just like this. Her still-smeared eye makeup made her look like a hungover raccoon.
“Nothing,” he said.
She rolled her eyes and reached up to grab a water glass out of the cupboard. Her shorts stretched tight over her butt, and Clay was surprised to realize he wasn’t at all interested in staring. Not the way he’d done earlier when Reese had stretched and reached the same way.
Larissa said nothing as she filled her glass at the sink and downed it in a few quick gulps. She refilled it and did the same thing again. Then she set the glass on the counter and looked at him.
“Here’s what you say in your note,” she told him. “Reese. You are amazing. Period. That’s it.”
Clay stared at her, not sure how to respond. “We didn’t?—”
“Of course you did. I know you’re a gentleman these days, but there’s no protecting Reese’s virtue when she moans that loud. Nice job, by the way.”
Larissa turned and filled her glass again. Clay swallowed and looked down at the notepad. “I don’t want to blow this.”
“Funny, I said that to Derek earlier.”
Clay laughed in spite of himself. “I’m serious. I’ve screwed up with her before. A lot.”
Larissa shook her head. “You’ll do fine. You’re a different guy now, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“So prove it. Write your damn note and get out of here before Grandpa Axl shows up and starts giving you sex tips.”
Clay winced and looked back down at the page. Finally, he scrawled a few words. Not what Larissa had suggested, exactly, but the sentiment felt right.
“Want me to give it to her?” Larissa asked.
“No, I don’t want you to give it to her. I want you to go back to bed and pretend you have no idea anything happened here tonight, got it?”
Larissa grinned. “So this is a secret love affair?”
“I don’t know what it is. But I do know your family thinks of Reese’s love life as public domain, and it really shouldn’t be anyone else’s business. I’m asking you to keep this one quiet for now, okay?”
Larissa sipped her water and shrugged. “Is that because you care about her or because you’re worried what Eric will think?”
“Does it matter?”
“To me or to Reese?”
Clay looked down at the page, then back up at Larissa. “Either, I guess.”
“Yes. On both counts.”
“Okay, then. I’m asking you, as a friend, to keep this quiet. I care about her a lot. A whole lot.”
Larissa studied him for a moment, so intently Clay fought the urge to look away. She took a few small sips of her water, then shrugged. “Thank you for bailing me out earlier.”
“Not a problem.”
“I don’t know what I saw in him.”
“Beer goggles,” Clay said. “Happens to the best of us.”
Larissa snorted. “Guess so.”
