Page 17 of Seven Year Itch
I’m not so sure Cozy would understand my reasons for going there either. She knows of my struggles with Randal: the constant fights we’d have when he was drunk, and so on. But there’s a lot I’ve kept from her. I didn’t want to pop the love bubble she’s been living in. She’s all happy and domesticated now. A mother of two, a fledgling charcuterie board–making business she does for fun while being married to a millionaire who can charter private jets and take his family to Mexico. She doesn’t need my drama.
We were childhood best friends who grew up watchingFamily Feudtogether and eating nutty bars in each other’s living rooms. Me going to sex clubs isn’t the life we dreamed of as kids. Maybe that life doesn’t exist for me anymore.
“Don’t hate me for saying this, but this room is huge and gorgeous. You can hear the ocean all night long.” She pulls the curtain that separates the spaces. “Is it really that bad to share?”
“Yes, it’s that bad,” I whine. “Your brother-in-law is disgusting. I bet he doesn’t shower the whole time we’re here.”
“It’s not like you have to hang out in the room with him all day. You just need to sleep.”
I roll my eyes and cross my arms, feeling stubborn about this.
“Okay, okay. Maybe Calder can bunk with Max in our room, and I can stay here with you.”
My face falls. “I’m not about to rob you of a sexy getaway with your husband. Max will hate me! And he’s pretty much the only civilized one of all the Fletcher brothers.”
Cozy laughs at that and rubs a spot on her neck. “He has his caveman moments, but you’re right. Those three living on the mountain together still kind of weirds me out. I can’t imagine ever liking my sister enough to live next door to her on a remote property.”
I cry in “only child syndrome” but agree, even though I have no context to compare to it. “They all kind of look the same too. Do you notice that?”
“Bearded, tattooed, flanneled, and shockingly well-scented? Yes, I do notice that.”
My cheeks heat as I recall Calder’s scent in the small closet at the sex club. It was unlike anything I’d ever smelled before. If he was a different man with that scent... who knows what would have happened in that tiny room.
Shaking off the heat rising up my cheeks I murmur, “I didn’t notice the scent part.”
“Max smells amazing too, don’t get me wrong. But the others have a different musk to them.”
“Can we stop talking about their musk, please? They’re still all knuckle-dragging animals,” I say with a harrumph. “Poor Johanna had to give birth to all those giant meatheads.”
“She does kind of walk funny now that you mention it.” Cozy giggles.
I give her a playful shove. “You’re gross.”
With a sigh, she drops down onto my bed. “Seriously, though... we’ll figure this out. Carlos said there’s some resorts down the road a ways. I can book you a room there, no problem.”
I exhale heavily as Cozy begins checking out resorts on her phone. I really don’t want her worrying about me on this trip. I’m already here free of charge, and I know she and Max won’t let me pay for my own room somewhere else. The last thing I want to do is cost them more money just because of Calder’s... musk.
Plus, if I could live with Randal for seven years and whatever version of himself he came home as at night, I can handle Calder Fletcher for a few days. He’s child’s play compared to my ex. And it’s not like we’ll be spending ample time in this room together like we’re a couple. I’ve got this.
I grab her phone to stop her from looking. “Don’t bother with a room. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” she asks with concern etched all over her face. “I want this trip to be nice for you.”
“It will be, don’t worry. But I swear if Calder does anything creepy, he doesn’t get to come home on the plane. Deal?”
“Deal!” Cozy smiles triumphantly.
“And I get the big bed.”
She nods in solidarity. “Cavemen are used to sleeping on the ground, anyways.”
That brings a small grin to my face. I can handle this. It’s just a few days. I can handle anything for a few days.
Chapter 8
Bump, Set, Spike
Dakota
