I swipe my index finger over the spotless granite. Yosh shivers like I just committed a crime.
“Don’t do that,” he says over his shoulder, taking a carafe of ice water from the fridge.
“Love, I know you’re into the whole white-and-sterile aesthetic, but this is a kitchen, not an operating room. One pot of pasta Napolitana and you’ll implode.”
“They’re switching the countertops next month. Until then, absolutely no cooking.”
I throw my hands in the air. “Fine, your house, your rules. But you take care of the food.”
He gets that twinkle that betrays he knows something I don’t.
“Actually,” he says, closing the fridge with his hip, “I’ve been thinking about that idea you had. It is indeed more convenient to stay at Palm Oasis during the week.”
“That so?”
He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Tiffy’s not thrilled about it.”
“I can imagine,” I smirk. “Is she very mad at you?”
“Ugh. She called me—and I quote—maldito traidor.”
I almost choke on my first sip. “She called you a traitor?”
He swallows his water and does this helpless little hand-flip, like, I know, right?
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to drag you into trouble with her. When I asked you to stay at Palm Oasis, I didn’t think about Calvin. I just thought it’s my place too, so of course you can stay there.”
“It’s okay. It’s on me. I knew exactly what I was doing when I needed to get out of Arcadia.” He shrugs. “And honestly, living with Calvin wasn’t that bad.”
“Now that surprises me.”
“He’s mostly in the basement anyway, so the house is pretty quiet. Sometimes he brings a girl, but he only lasts, like, two minutes, so I put on my headphones and play my favorite album of yours.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “The girls usually drink tea with me afterwards while he’s passed out.”
I snort. “Cozy.”
“Calvin and I actually had some serious conversations about Heatherfell. It felt good, talking to someone who gets it.”
I throw my arms over his shoulders.
“Yeah, I get the traitor thing now. Bonding with Cal and his one-night stands.”
“First of all, we’re on an island. Everyone’s exes are everywhere.”
His hands find my hips, stealing a quick kiss.
“Tiffy’s friends with a guy I slept with, and every time he comes over I want to duck behind the nearest palm tree, but I always offer a polite smile.”
“Oh, not your signature pager scheme?”
He scrunches his face in a way that is a distraction at its finest.
This is why I tease, because he always ends up giving me that stubborn little smile and those beautiful shy eyes that betray how flustered he actually is.
He tries to punch me but I grab his wrist and pull him closer.
He lifts the other hand, pointing a finger at me. “Second, there’s this girl, Regina. Calvin’s brought her home four times in the last two weeks, so… not exactly a one-night stand anymore.”
