Page 6 of Undeniable
I pushed to my feet, needing air from the kind of distractions that didn’t wear cutoff shorts and smell like summer.
Erik gave me a nod as he glanced between Mazzie and me. No doubt our massive tight end had ensured no one entered the house to disturb Mazzie and me. I would bet Ryker had put Erik up to the task. I’d seen Ryker’s look when he’d thrown me the towel. It was his classic “go for it she’s hot” look.
“I’m ready to leave,” Mazzie said to Bailey. “I want to get out of these clothes. My body is itching.”
The word no shouted in my head as I grabbed a dish towel from the sink, about to wipe up the water that had dripped onto the floor from my swim trunks.
As if Ryker could see my struggle, he waltzed over to me and whispered, “She could borrow Leigh’s clothes.”
I cocked an eyebrow at my best friend. “Are you sure?”
“Dude, my aunt will be cleaning out all the rooms. I’ve taken what I needed to from Leigh’s room.”
Mazzie was similar in size to Ryker’s late sister. But as much as I didn’t want her to leave, I felt odd extending that offer. “It needs to come from you, dude.”
Bailey was standing by Erik when Ryker and I turned around. Mazzie, on the other hand, was on her feet, wringing the water out of her hair with the towel.
“Mazzie,” Ryker said, “my sister might have some clothes that you could borrow.”
Her eyes went wide. “Thank you, but no. I couldn’t. I’m ready to leave anyway.”
Bailey was right beside her in a flash. “Take the offer. You can’t sit for forty-five minutes in wet clothes.”
Mazzie scratched both her arms. “Fine. But can I keep the witch hazel with me until the Benadryl kicks in?”
Hallelujah!
Erik must’ve seen the relief on my face because he snorted. The beefy flirt put me to shame when it came to picking up women.
“Sure, keep the witch hazel,” Ryker said. “Lucas can show you to Leigh’s room.”
My fucking pleasure.
Bailey whispered into Mazzie’s ear, and Mazzie playfully slapped her friend on the arm.
After the loss of the game and the argument with my mom, my bad day was looking better and better. Best birthday so far.
As we wound down the hall to Leigh’s bedroom, the high I was on waned as we passed the room that had belonged to Randal, Ryker’s younger brother. Then the second I opened the door to Leigh’s bedroom, the air rushed from my lungs. Memories hit hard and fast, and I felt Ryker’s pain as if it were my own.
“Wow!” Mazzie’s awe made me smile. “This art on the walls is stunning.”
You are too.
But I kept that to myself. “Leigh was a great artist.”
Mazzie set her sights on one sketch in particular.
“That’s Mrs. James,” I said. “Leigh found a photo of her from a debutante ball and recreated it.”
“The detail in the frilly pink dress is incredible,” she murmured, holding her stomach. “You know, I’m a little squeamish about borrowing Leigh’s clothes.”
I walked over to the closet. “Ryker would feel good if someone he knew used his sister’s clothes.”
“So sad.” Her voice cracked. “This room is filled with so much love that it’s almost hard to breathe.”
I swallowed, blinking away the sting in my eyes. Watching Ryker fall apart in here had gutted me. Now, it was my turn.
Mazzie’s forehead creased. “Are you?—”
