AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He straightens. “Really?”
“Yes, absolutely.” The longer I can pretend my life’s okay, the better.
“All right.”
I put everything on the nightstand but my laptop. Then I shift my pillows around on the bed to be more comfortable before placing the laptop on top of the blanket again. Bacon jumps on the bed and plants himself on my chest, telling me exactly what he wants with his purring.
I brush my fingers through his soft fur and stare at Ryan. Something has changed in his eyes, in the way he watches me. It’s intense, and my nerve endings tingle in response. I like it.
He gets comfortable, as well, leaning against the headboard with two thick pillows propped up behind his back. The laptop on his lap. He looks comfortable. “All right. I’m actually not sure what to tell you. I don’t want to bore you to death.”
He chuckles, and I grin in return.
“I promise you won’t.” I pause, thinking of a question despite already knowing the answer. “Why don’t you tell me about your favorite stroke?”
He gulps.
Did he squirm like I did at the word stroke? The more I talk to Ryan, the more my thoughts land in the gutter. Maybe I should feel embarrassed by it, but I’m not. These crazy pregnancy hormones definitely do come in handy sometimes.
“Breast.” He drags his teeth over his lower lip.
Well, screw this. What a terrible, terrible idea. Now my breasts tingle. Great.
“Breast, huh? Uh, that’s a great one.” I clear my throat. I started this whole game, so I only have myself to blame. “How old were you when you started to swim? Did you always want to be a swimmer?”
There. That should be safe.
“Yes and no. I’ve always loved swimming, but when I was younger, I wanted to be a marine biologist. We went to Hawaii when I was five, and I was immediately fascinated with the ocean. Fish and other sea animals surrounded me everywhere in the water. I still remember the first time I swam with a turtle. I was a goner.”
I gasp. “The turtle tattoo on your back.”
I’d almost forgotten about his tattoo.
He grins. “Yup.”
“I love that. So what happened to the marine biologist dream?”
His grin deepens, and he almost appears boyish. “I was lazy in school. It’s a miracle I finished high school at all. But since I always loved the water and was pretty good at swimming, I focused on that.”
I love learning more about him. Minutes tick by while he indulges me with more stories about his career, the three Olympic Games he attended, and his family.
I listen and listen, smiling like a lunatic until the yawns take over. Then I close my eyes to rest them. Just for a moment.
Until my dreams take over, and I’m in the ocean with Ryan. With our hands interlaced, we swim side by side with the turtles he loves so much.
But even my dream self can’t escape reality.
You need to tell him the truth, Harper. Do it before it’s too late.
Once I’ve got everything sorted with this new job—if I get it—I’ll book the next flight out to California, hoping like hell Ryan will forgive me.
