I raised a brow.“Different how?”
She groaned, frustrated and embarrassed all at once.“You know what I mean.”
“Uh-huh.”I chuckled softly.“Look, there's no set time for the trip.We're heading to Sunset Creek this weekend—me, the guys, and Nerissa.”
“For what?”she asked, wary now.
“My birthday,” I said.“We try to go every year before the snow hits.”
“Isn't it a bit too cold for beaches and barbecue?”
I gave her a smirk.“All part of the fun.The guys and I have a longstanding competition over who can stay in the water the longest.Ari lost last year, so he's gearing for that rematch.”
She giggled.“You're all crazy.”
“Crazy is good sometimes,” I added, smiling at the pleasant sound.“You could come.If you want.”
She didn’t answer right away.I could see her weighing it—logic against instinct, rules against whatever lived in that quiet space between us.
Before I could say,We'll have to keep up our little rouse,Nerissa’s voice shrieked up from downstairs.
“SAV—JAX—WHY ARE YOU TWO HIDING?WE NEED HELP UNLOADING!”
Savannah exhaled a quiet laugh beside me.“We should probably go help them.”
“Yeah, let's go.”
I could still feel the imprint of her against me, the warmth she’d left behind like a ghost pressed into my chest.I watched her turn toward the door, the sway of her hips unintentional and devastating.
Yeah.Helping.Sure.
We headed downstairs together just as Ari came barreling in through the front door with a box nearly as big as his torso.
He stopped short when he saw us, narrowing his eyes at me and adjusting the box.
“Just because your girl is here doesn’t mean you get to slack off.”
I snorted.“Relax, relax.I’m helping.”
He muttered under his breath as he walked by us.Shaking my head, I passed Savannah and brushed my hand across her waist.Her breathing hitched, but I didn't turn back to look at her.
Because nothing good would come from that—trust me.
An hour later, we were all sprawled across Savannah’s—and Nerissa's now, I guessed—living room like casualties of war.
Ari groaned as he twisted to crack his back.“I’m never lifting anything again.”
I laughed, dropping onto the arm of the couch, a little too close to Savannah.“That’s what you get for lifting with your ego instead of your knees.”
He flipped me off without even looking.
Nerissa ignored both of us, sinking deeper into the couch and tossing her legs onto Jesse’s lap like she always did.“I need a cold beer and pizza.Immediately.”
Jesse nodded solemnly.“Seconded.Possibly a miracle.”
“Are we still going out tonight?”he asked, glancing my way.
I groaned.“Absolutely not.I am done peopling for the day.”
