Why the fuck did I tell him to go for it?
I know why. That man is perfection. And he’s dedicated to his family who isn’t on the wrong side of the law. They’ve probably never even stepped a toe over the line.
But I’m not good. I’m the problem. He could be my perfect match, able to give it as well as he takes it. James is actually the real problem. He started out okay, but after the first slap across my cheek it all went downhill. I don’t even know if I can trust my gut anymore. I’ve lost trust not only in relationships, but in myself.
“Soph!” Aubrey calls from the door.
“Up here!” I call down from the lofted bedroom.
Footsteps cross my kitchen and start to clomp up the stairs. For someone so petite, she’s the loudest walker I’ve ever met. Clearly she never had to sneak around her house.
“Hey. What are you doing? I thought we were hiking?” She takes in my pajamas.
“Sorry. I had a late night. Couldn’t sleep, and I woke up pretty late.” Grabbing my shorts from the drawer next to me, I slip off my cotton pajama bottoms, getting dressed.
“Ugh. Lily wouldn’t sleep last night either. I’m so glad she started camp for the summer. I love her, but it’s so much easier when she’s in school.” Aubrey flops down onto my bed.
“Do we need to hike? We could just take a nap. Right here,” I joke as I slip Wyatt’s tee over my head. Then I freeze.
Shit.
“Why do you have a Balsam Cliffs PD shirt?”
Slipping my head through the neck, I only have one option. I can’t lie to Aubs. She’ll know in seconds.
“We went running together.”
“And you ended up with his clothes… how?” She raises an eyebrow and cocks her head, taking me in to judge if I’m lying.
“We went back to his house. And I was only wearing a sports bra from the run so he gave me a tee to wear while we made dinner.”
Her eyes bug out. “You and Wyatt? Running and making dinner together? That’s it?”
“It’s kind of become our thing. He texts me when he’s free, we run, and then either cook breakfast or dinner, depending on his shift.” I shrug, turning to go down the steps, except she follows me.
“And that’s it? Just running and cooking.” She hops off the last step and places herself between me and the bathroom.
“Yup,” I squeak.
“You’re fucking lying to me!” she screeches as I push past her to brush my teeth.
“Am not!”
“Ooooh, yes you are. Don’t try to lie to me. Not only am I a mom to a sneaky little girl who has her Cooper wrapped around her finger, I’m your best fucking friend!”
I spit out my toothpaste and take a deep breath. “Fine. You’re right. I’m lying to you.”
She rubs her hands together with a huge smile splitting her face. “Oh, this is going to make the five miles totally worth it.”
“It’s not the mileage that sucks, it’s the elevation gain.” I roll my eyes. “I fucking hate hiking.”
“This was your idea, may I remind you.” Aubrey laughs.
“I like the views. What can I say?”
“And I like the gossip.” She slaps my ass. “Let’s go. I want to know everything, right now.”
Sighing, I slip on my hiking boots and lace them up. Grabbing my backpack and dropping in the protein bar and the sandwiches that I made last night while talking to Wyatt as Giana, I head out to meet her. The trailhead is just at the end of the dirt road, through the trees. Wyatt made a small path for the tenants.
