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I drop my bag, and even though I’m dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, I kick off my sneakers and jump into the pool to fish out…Ember?
Big blue eyes stare up at me as I wrap my arms around her to lift her from the water. She gasps and wipes her hair from her eyes, staring at me like she’s seeing a ghost from her past, and when it comes right down to it, she is.
Since that night in her brother’s room, when he kicked me out of his life, I lost all contact with Ember. My gut clenches just thinking about it, and to this day, there’s a big cavern in the center of my chest. How could I have slept with my best friend’s sister? It’s all my fault, and I don’t deserve to have Liam’s friendship.
“Embee,” I ask. “Are you okay?”
“Josh?” Her confused gaze races over my face as she stares up at me. “Is it really you?”
“It’s me,” I answer quietly, and glance around as I carry her to the edge of the pool. “What are you doing here?” Houston Texas is a long way from Nova Scotia, and how can she be on vacation? She’s fourth year at the academy and classes are in session.
“I…ah…what are you doing here?”
“I’m here for the series playoffs, with the Flashers. We’re the away team, staying at this hotel.” She blinks up at me, and I get the feeling she knew that. “Is that why you’re here?”
She snorts out a laugh. “No,” she shoots back quickly and definitively, and my heart sinks a little. Yeah, why after all these years would she even want to see me? The hurt look on her face after I told her brother I’d made a mistake still haunts me. In a way, it was a mistake, but Jesus, I wanted her. I still do. If only I had talked to Liam, told him how I felt and that I wanted more than one night with her, things might have turned out different. Hindsight really is a wonderful thing.
“What are you doing here?” I ask again and her body tightens. I suppose I should set her down at some point.
“I…uh…it’s for one of my college classes.” Her gaze darts around the pool. “There’s a conference, and I’m working on a thesis.”
I want to press, and ask for more information, but really, it’s none of my business. She coughs, and I set her on the edge of the pool. “Are you sure you’re okay?” The sun goes behind a cloud, and she shivers. Maybe she’s cold or maybe she’s still in shock.
“I’m going to my room. It’s getting late anyway.”
“I’ll take you.”
Her body stiffens. “I’m capable of taking myself.” There’s a hardness in her voice now. I guess she must be thinking back to the last time we saw one another.
She stands, and I nearly swallow my tongue as I take in her body, covered in a small bikini. If I thought she was beautiful three years ago, it’s nothing compared to now. She’s stunning. A woman like Ember, she has to have a boyfriend. Not that it matters to me. I could never be with her. After fucking her in her brother’s room, breaking the bro-code, and hurting her, I don’t deserve more.
“Are you here alone?” She stares at me, like she’s not sure how to answer. “Do you have a girlfriend or boyfriend I can call to walk you back to your room?” Subtle, Josh, real subtle.
“I’m here alone. Like I said, it’s for research.”
She walks over to a lounge chair, picks up a light dress and pulls it on over her bathing suit. She reaches for her big beach bag and I take it from her. “Come on.” Giving her little choice, I grab my things, put my hand on her back and guide her inside the hotel. “Which floor?”
“Fourth.”
“You’re sleeping under me.” Her gaze jerks to mine. “I mean, I’m on the fifth floor.”
She nods and goes quiet, staring at the elevator button after I press it. “How’s your final year going?” I ask.
“Good.”
“Do you know what you’re going to do after graduation?”
“I’m not sure yet,” she answers.
“You used to always talk about being a journalist, or even a teacher.”
“Yeah, I’ll probably pick one of those things.”
Wow, I don’t think her voice could lack any more enthusiasm if she tried. “How is…Liam?” I swallow against a tight throat.
“He’s playing for Miami.”
I nod, knowing that. I’ve followed his career and I was so happy for him when he went to play for Miami. I debated phoning him for house when he made the team, wanting to call and congratulate him. In the end, I chickened out. He doesn’t want to hear from me, and I don’t deserve his friendship.
