“Why is that always your first question?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I’m superficial.” He’s actually not. Jem’s young, but he’s one of the most considerate guys I know. He’s got a good heart, so I don’t know where he gets that impression of himself.
“Remind me to never introduce you to my sisters,” Lee grumbles, while Jeremy’s face falls.
“At least I’m honest!” He smacks a hand to Lee’s chest. “Besides, I still know how to be a gentleman. I mean, look at this face.” Jem mainly points to the pornstache decorating his lip. “This just screams pleasure.”
“Yeah. I’m definitely not introducing you to my sisters.” Lee folds his arms over his chest. “Anyway, what’s happening with your neighbour?”
What’s not happening with her would be a better question. She’s turning me upside down and inside out. This past weekend with her was unlike anything I expected, and nothing like I’ve ever felt before. Maevyn’s fun, daring, and so fucking sexy. She’s a mystery box of intoxicating traits. I’m not even certain which side of her I’m going to get when I’m with her. But every side is just as good as the last. I would have counted it a successful weekend before she kissed me in front of Phoebe, but then everything else happened. My body and soul were intimately introduced to hers in a way that felt binding.
I was bummed I didn’t see her again last night, but once I was done at my parents’ house, Mum called to say Dad needed an X-ray. Mum’s usually the strong one in the family, always hiding her emotions. That’s why when she called me from the hospital with a slight waver in her voice, I knew she needed me.
I texted Maevyn when I got home, but it was just after nine p.m. The lights in her bedroom were off, and my message never flicked over to read. I figured maybe she was spending time with Aurora, or she crashed early.
I leave the house by five-thirty most mornings. She didn’t respond until a few hours after that, explaining she fell asleep on the couch. She also asked me how my dad was, and I liked that she wanted to check in on him.
She agreed to meet me on the balcony later tonight, but all morning, my mind has been tossing and turning over what our interactions will look like now that our fake arrangement is done.
Mum invited her and Aurora over for breakfast, and Maevyn didn’t refuse the offer once we were off the phone. Maybe she’ll bring it up later. I’d understand if it were too much for her, meeting my parents. It’s a little too soon, and a little too real, for what our situation is. But I think I want to propose something more. Iwant real dates. Real confessions under the stars. Spending time with her and her daughter. Another woman who’s gotten under my skin. Aurora has such a big, beautiful heart and such a unique outlook on life. Something inside me screams to protect it. Every time I’m reminded that some guy out there didn’t want them, it makes me want to erase the hurt of rejection, to show them I want them. I’ll always be there for them.
“We’ve been kinda dating?”
“Kinda?” Jeremy asks. “Like friends with benefits?”
I shake my head. “She needed a fake boyfriend, I needed a fake girlfriend, so we’ve been helping each other out, but along the way things… changed?”
“Is this some weird form of dating I’ll understand once I’m in my thirties?” Jem turns to look at Lee, who’s wearing a look of defeat.
“Damnit,” he huffs. “I owe Bombshell a pineapple.”
“A pineapple?” I ask.
“Fifty bucks,” Lee says with a shrug.
“Oh, that kind of pineapple.” Jeremy drops into a seat at the table and starts digging into his lunch.
Lee and I stare at each other, equal parts scared and curious.
“Jem, what’s your kind of pine—actually, I don’t want to know.” Lee shakes his head, then sits opposite Jeremy. “So, you and Maevyn?”
“We met a few weeks ago outside Sweet Escape, and then it turned out she was my new neighbour. We kept running into each other on our balconies and started chatting. Flirting.”
“Ohh, flirting. Hope you wore protection,” Jeremy says over a mouthful of food.
“Flirting can be just as hot as anything physical, young grasshopper.” I playfully smack Jeremy across the back of his head. “You should take notes.”
“Totally agree. Flirting with Claire is more fun than anything I’ve done with any other woman,” Lee says, just as Britt walks in,coffee cup in one hand and nose in an ereader. Lee leans over the table, speaking low. “Don’t even get me started on the physical stuff.”
“Should I come back?” Britt asks as she scoops a teaspoon of coffee into her mug.
“Not at all, Britt. We’re just talking about relationships.” I smile.
Britt’s dad, John, used to own this construction company before Lee bought him out when he retired and renamed it Connors Construction. She stayed on in her role, helping with design consults and admin, but she also became a sort of mother figure to most of the guys here.
“I’m happy to hear that. Not enough men talk about their relationships.” She looks over to Lee with a smile. “How’s Claire?”
“She’s great. I couldn’t be happier.”
