Page 21 of Lessons in Falling
I remember,I said, and tried my hardest to make it seem casual.Like I wasn’t rememberingright now.
Caden hummed.I’m sure you do.
There was a scratchiness to his voice this morning, probably because we’d both just woken up and despite the cold water—that was pleasantly warm by now—our bodies hadn’t quite caught on yet.It did not make keeping my eyes closed easier.In fact, I’d argue his morning voice was the reason I’d failed.
Caden stood right in front of me, blocking the sun and keeping me from having to blink against it.A lucky coincidence, I supposed.A few freckles spread across his nose; a product of eight-hour-sun-days, because I would’ve remembered if he’d had them the last time we’d met.
They gave him an innocent, boyish look that stood in contrast to everything he’d just said to me and everything he’d done that night.Unfortunately, I was a big fan.And I became an ever bigger fan when my eyes dipped lower, just for a second.
Broad shoulders, defined chest—drops of water ran down his torso and back into the pool.I didn’t let myself linger, but I remembered his body like the last time I’d seen it—touched and licked and explored it—was yesterday, not almost half a year ago.
Caden cleared his throat, and my gaze jumped back up.It didn’t meet his.
Should I get you a dry shirt?he asked, head turned to look at God-knows-what.Anything but me would do.
The reason for that startled a new sense of awareness through me.
Immediately, I dipped my body back underwater.Where it hadn’t been for the entirety of our conversation, I feared.Drenched, see-through shirt leaving everything underneath on full display.
I only managed to mutter aYes, please.And Caden fled the pool like it had been his personal hell.
Fuck.
CHAPTER 10
CADEN
Valentina Rhodes was going to be the death of me.
CHAPTER 11
VALENTINA
After the pool fiasco, it seemed Caden had needed more distance between us.Like he couldn’t look at me without thinking about the outline of my breasts against the wet fabric of my soaked shirt, nipples poking against it.Like he still remembered the way I’d climbed out of the pool after he’d gotten back with a dark shirt, one arm pushing against my chest to spare him the sight a second time.
When we’d split into groups, he’d always make sure to stick with Mike and Anni.When I was the first one to go to sleep, he’d be the last.When I stayed up a little longer, he’d excuse himself in sync with the last person leaving, only to not be left alone with me.
I should’ve been happy—relieved—about it.After all, it was the reason why I’d acted the way I had: so that he’d leave me alone.But it was as refreshing as it was driving me crazy.
The fact he and Mike had stayed home tonight, and weren’t with us at Blitz felt… strange.It also felt like it was entirely my fault.
What my friends saw it as, though, was the first opportunity to openly talk about him.Which was fair enough.I loved gossiping as much as the next girl in her twenties, but the fact he was their topic, meant I had no excuse not to tell them about what had happened between us.If I didn’t do it now, there’d be no way back.
I’d had one opportunity last week and missed my chance, and that couldn’t happen again.
If you love him so much, and you’re convinced he loves us, too, why isn’t he here then?Alfie raised an eyebrow, and impatiently waited for Iris’ counterpoint.Iris, who,of course,had been the one convinced that he loved us, and had been even more adamant on the point that she loved him.
Because this situation hadn’t already been bad enough.
Iris shrugged.Maybe they needed a boys-night in,she reasoned.Maybe Mike needed a break from Anni—
Hey!Anni narrowed her eyes, hand brushing through her blonde hair once.Don’t blame me for that.I’m sure they’re having a much worse time at home, probably in front of the TV, watching one of their old games.Her head shook in disbelief.If anything, I feel sorry for Caden that we left him behind.Mike gets a little… intense when he’s in captain mode.God, I hate that term.Captain mode,she trailed off.
Meanwhile, I could’ve easily put a stop to their guessing games:
Oh, no, guys, it’s easy.Caden’s trying to stay away from me because I don’t want a repeat of what was the best one-night stand of my life, and after I accidentally flashed him in the pool last week, he can’t seem to think about anythingbuta repeat.Me neither, by the way.I can’t look at the man without thinkingabout the way he’d fucked me.Fun!Right?Right?Why is nobody laughing?
That’s probably how it would’ve gone.How itwouldgo— because Ididneed to tell them, and there was no better opportunity than now.
