Page 60 of You're The One
Apparently, that’s not enough, because he catches my hand and pulls me in, wrapping his arms around me in a hug that lingers longer than expected.
For a second, I freeze, caught off guard by the sudden proximity. And by how badly I needed it.
My hands find his back, fingers brushing over the soft cotton of his shirt, damp with sweat. I let myself lean in. Just a little. Enough to feel his heartbeat thud steadily against my ear.
And when he doesn’t let go, I don’t either.
I breathe him in—linen and leather.
We stay like that, still and close, as time slips sideways. Not even my restless thoughts can pull me out of the moment.
His fingers dip underneath my T-shirt, tracing the warm skin of my back just above the waistband of my jeans. The soft touch leaves my skin overly sensitive, the feeling staying long after his touch retreats.
The door creaks open, and we jump apart. Thankfully, it’s Summer. I wring my hands in front of me, and Dominic clears his throat.
What the hell was that?
“Did we win?” Dominic asks, the question laced with more hope than I think he meant to show.
Summer’s lips drop into a grimace. “Nope. Sorry. We beat you fair and square.”
Emma bounces on her heels, rushing over to Dominic. They embrace, and Summer slips an arm around me.
“It’s okay,” she whispers.
“Of course it is.” I brush her off quickly, not wanting to make a big deal out of something so dumb. “It’s only a game.”
TWENTY
Summer has been actinglike a shield between me and Mia all afternoon. She keeps stepping between us, shifting the conversation, making sure Mia doesn’t end up alone with me. I can’t figure out what her goal is here… Did Mia ask her to play interference?
I know our coffee date—or whatever you want to call it—wasn’t ideal, but Mia didn’t seem bothered at the escape room. And that hug, it definitely didn’t feel like she was upset with me.
Not that there’s much risk, even if I were trying to sneak off with Mia. We’re walking along a jetty, on a mission to spot sea lions.
Sea lions.
I still don’t understand how production comes up with this stuff. It’d actually be nice if they sent me home with a binder of date ideas. Something practical. Because I’m pretty sure my usual, “Want to grab dinner?” won’t cut it after the women have been treated to deep-sea puzzles and sea lion scouting. Not to mention all the other weirdly specific ideas production has already thrown at us.
Does Summer know something I don’t?
Wouldn’t be hard. I feel completely lost.
The disappointment that sank into my chest when we didn’t win the challenge was concerning.
Then Mia let me hug her—actuallyhug her. Not the stiff, obligated version I’ve gotten used to. This felt different.
Over the last week, we’ve grown closer. I know her coffee order. I know the exact expression she makes when she’s trying not to laugh. I know she’s more comfortable snipping at me than talking about herself.
But she still keeps most of her walls up. Which is fine. I’m not expecting an overnight breakthrough.
Still, that hug felt like a crack, a split-second shift in whatever we’re doing here. But now it’s like she’s behind glass again, and I want to break through.
Or at the very least, find a way to talk to her.
Not to mention I can’t keep myfuckingeyes off her. And not in the watching-to-make-sure-she-doesn’t-fall-into-the-ocean way. In the what-does-she-look-like-without-her-clothes-on way.
And I shouldn’t be. I really,reallyshouldn’t.
