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Dirty marks streaked his forehead from where he’d wiped his hand across his face one too many times when chopping wood. Groaning, he closed his eyes, blowing out a long breath.
Scrubbing one hand over his face for good measure, Asher picked up the washcloth and wiped it over his forehead, his cheeks, and his neck. It wouldn’t be worth taking a shower until later.
The washcloth didn’t make a whole lot of difference, but it was better than nothing. With no time to style his hair or even make himself look a little bit more respectable, Asher pulled on a clean t-shirt.
To his surprise, Willow was already waiting for him outside of the bathroom in the main building, but she still wore the same clothes from ten minutes ago.
“Which one do you like?” Holding up two different pairs of yoga pants, Willow raised one eyebrow.
Asher’s jaw tightened. “What do you mean?”
She lifted them a little higher, just as her lips pulled to one side and a line drew itself between her eyebrows. “It’s not a hard question. Which one do you like better?”
“You’re asking me for my opinion on whether the black yoga pants or the pink yoga pants would look the best on you?” Now it was Asher’s turn to frown. “Why? Who are you trying to impress?” He hadn’t meant it to come out like that, but the harshness of his words bit down hard, making Willow scowl.
“I’m not trying to impress anyone.”
“You’ll look great in either one.”
Willow opened her mouth to say something, then obviously thought better of it. “Okay. Thanks.”
“I’m being dumb.” Another sigh.
“Dumb about what?”
“About this.” She flung up the yoga pants but didn’t manage to meet his gaze. “One of the guests invited me to join him for a yoga class. We just went out on the canoe, and I’m kind of nervous.”
Great. So now she’s getting hit on by some of the guests.“That sounds fun.” Even to himself, he didn’t sound genuine. “I meant what I said. You’ll look great in both. And I don’t think you need to worry about making a good impression. He obviously likes you enough to invite you to yoga.”
Her shoulders rounded as she turned her back. “Thanks, that’s nice of you to say. I’ll just wear the black.” She walked past Asher to use the bathroom that was in his office. “I’ll be a few minutes, and then we can head out.”
Asher waited until the bathroom door shut, then walked to his desk and sat down.
I’m jealous.
It wasn’t just about this yoga class. He was jealous of whoever it was that was getting Willow’s attention. He was jealous that she was interested in dating someone else. He was jealous that she didn’t have eyes for him.
Shaking his head, Asher pushed himself up from the desk and headed to his mini-fridge for a bottle of water.
I can’t let this go on.
He’d told himself so many times he was happy just being with his best friend, but right now, he’d let his own feelings upset her, and he knew it.
Asher was annoyed and being in dirty clothes wasn’t helping his mood. He was hot and sweaty, and he didn’t want to go back outdoors because it was a particularly warm day. But then, he remembered that he had a meeting, and he wouldn’t have time to go home to shower and change.
Going back to his desk, he opened up the bottom drawer to find a box of cornstarch.
Chewing on his lip, Asher picked up the box, remembering that one weird tip Chuck, the camp’s handyman, had given him the last time they’d been out working together. It had been a hot, humid day, and Asher had been complaining that the sweat was making his clothes stick to his skin. Chuck had told him that cornstarch on his pants would stop the sweat from showingandfrom sticking. All he had to do was sprinkle it on.No reason I can’t give this a shot.
“Uh…mind if I interrupt whatever is going on between you and the cornstarch?”
Asher jumped so hard he almost dropped the entire tub of cornstarch on the floor. One hand was a little white from where he’d been digging it into the cornstarch, while the other had been tugging at his pants, holding them at various angles so he could sprinkle the cornstarch on. “Willow.” Swallowing hard, he tried to find something to say to explain. “Hi…I was…”
Her eyes were dancing, and a giggle escaped from the corner of her mouth, which she tried to hide by covering it with her hand. Once she’d composed herself, she dropped her hand to her side, tilting her head to arch one eyebrow. “I don’t think there’s anything you could say that would explain this.”
Setting the box on the counter, Asher shoved one hand through his hair, remembering too late that he still had cornstarch all over his hand. “And now I have grey hair too, right?”
Her laughter filled the room. “More like white, I’d say.” Trying to cover her laughter with her hand for the second time, she let out a loud snort. “What on earth were you doing?” Dropping her hand, Willow walked toward him, dressed in her black yoga pants with a hot pink crop top.
