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“He was spouting off about how he had no place to go. And I reminded him he was going to live with you. Then he complained that you had no place to go either.” He growled low in his throat. “So, I pulled up the house on the listing. I showed him the pictures you’d sent me. He obviously managed to get the address fromthere.”
I rubbed my face. “You let an addictoutsmartyou.”
Laney threw her towel over the back of the lounge chair closest to the hot tub. I held my breath as the robe slid down her arms. She stood with her back to me and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She seemed perfectly proportioned. The way her black bikini bottoms hugged her hips made me want to go to her,touchher.
“I suppose I did,” Tymumbled.
“You suppose you did what?” Everything had fallen out of my head as I stared at Laney. Her long hair was collected at the nape of her neck in a ponytail holder. I wanted to take it out and run my hands throughherhair.
Ty huffed. “I let Drew outsmart me, okay? I get it. I’ll be better. I didn’tthink.”
I shook my head. “Right. So, what’stheplan?”
“He’ll need to be picked up tomorrow. They’re letting him go after rounds, unless he makes another attempt at a daring escape. Then he’ll be off to rehab.” Ty blew out abreath.
Leaning heavily on the cool stone counter, I stared longingly at the beauty waiting for me in the hot tub. “Is it wrong of me to wish he’d fuck this up? I don’t know if I’m readyforthis.”
Laney ducked under the water, then came up with her head back, the water rolling down her face and neck. She opened her lids, facing me, and when our eyes connected, the air was knocked from my lungs. I had to cough a few times to catch mybreath.
“No one is ever ready for this,” heremindedme.
“One time. He screws up one time, and he’s out of options.” I wandered through the kitchen as we spoke and then rushed straight to my bedroom to change. No way was I making Laney wait any longer than shealreadyhad.
“I understand. We’ll make him go to rehab even if he refuses.” Ty made one last attempt at ending the conversation on a pleasant note. “Go get to know her. I think Kate was right. You two would be perfecttogether.”
Somehow, it felt like having his blessing. Finally, we seemed to be on the same page. A smile played at the corners of my mouth. “Thanks, man.” Then I endedourcall.
Minutes later, I had made my way out to the patio. Laney leaned back with her head on the edge of the hot tub, feet kicked out, relaxing. Despite my haste to join her, I’d stopped in the kitchen to grab a fresh bottle of wine, two glasses, and the tray of chocolate-covered strawberries the caterers hadprepared.
“Mind if I join you?” I squatted beside her and set everything on thepavers.
“Please do.” She smiled up at me in a way that made me forget everythingbuther.
“How do you do it?” I questioned as I kicked off my flops and settled inbesideher.
Laney frowned. “Dowhat?”
“I don’t know. Compartmentalize. I’m exhausted. The dealer was the last straw.” I sighed as I sank shoulder deep into thewater.
“Oh that.” Her head tilted. “Wait. Last straw? Last chance? Like…Drew’s going torehab?”
“Nah. I just mean it was the fork in my day. I’m done.” Ishrugged.
“You said one chance,” sheremindedme.
I nodded. “I know what I said. Apparently, this doesn’tcount.”
“When does it start counting?” Laney moved to swim up between my outstretched legs and laid her hands on my thighs. “When is enough, enough?” She pressed her chest against mine. Then she slid up my body until she straddled my lap. “When do yousaywhen?”
My eyes widened. I couldn’t even think with her that wet and close, with her settled on my growing erection. I didn’t know any man that could. “I…I…”
“You do have to think about yourself once in a while. It’s not just about what’s best for Drew, but what’s good for you too.” She leaned close and murmured in my ear, “Alcoholics and addicts are tough on all relationships…family,friends…”
“Would-be girlfriends?” I swallowed hard. I had no idea where that came from, but I refused to take it back. Inside, I realized Imeantit.
“Is that the question?” Laney gazed up at me through her thick, long lashes. “Yes, it’s hard ongirlfriends.”
“No, I meant, did you want to be my girlfriend?” I sank under the water in shame, unwilling to face the rejection. Why would someone like Laney ever consider any form of commitmentwithme?
