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“You’re dating and not getting all the benefits of it, like snuggling by the bonfire with him and spending the entire night in his bed. You should just own it.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Don’t sell yourself short. Whose idea was this? His?” Evie’s voice raises. She’s gone from concerned to pissed off. Do not pass Go. Do not collect two hundred dollars. She’s cast Carm as the villain in this situation.
“It was both of ours.” I shrug. “He doesn’t do relationships, and to be honest, if we don’t label it, there’s less of a chance that someone gets hurt in the end.”
“Why do you assume someone is going to get hurt?” Mae asks. “Maybe you’re meant for him.”
I smirk at her and she smiles, nodding. She’s single in New York. She understands most guys are Peter Pans.
“You’re holding yourself back,” Evie says. “The real you wants a relationship, not some magical cock that’s only around when the sun dips down.”
“Relax,” I say.
“You’re fooling yourself.” She shakes her head at me.
“Maybe she only wants Carm for the summer. A summer fling,” Annie offers, but something tells me she wasn’t so casual with Enzo.
“She’s not us.” Evie waggles her finger between her and Mae. “Bella doesn’t do unconnected sex.”
“There’s always a first,” Mae offers, smiling at me like she understands.
My best friend sure doesn’t.
“Don’t worry, Evie. I won’t come crying to you should this thing go south, okay?”
She sighs. “That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just—”
“Here we come. Your big strong men with the firewood,” Carm interrupts, approaching with stacks of wood. He looks around at all of us. “What’s going on?”
“I’m going out.” Evie storms up to the house.
Mae’s hand is on my thigh, rubbing up and down and alerting Carm that I have something to do with Evie’s mood.
“What happened?” Enzo asks Annie, but she shakes her head. He sits and snags another bite of her s’more, which spurs another make-out session.
My throat locks for a moment because Evie’s right. But this time, I’m taking what I want for however long I can have it. And I want Carmelo Mancini in my bed, to hell with future heartbreak.
“You okay?” he whispers in my ear, his finger running down my arm.
I nod, but from the length of time he stares at me, I know he doesn’t believe me.
* * *
The sun streamsin and a hand travels up my thigh, a big body rolling up next to me.
“I love having you in my bed when I wake up,” Carm whispers, casting kisses along my shoulders.
“Shit.” I bolt up, and he rolls over. “What time is it?”
“It’s eight. I let you sleep in since we got back from the Hamptons so late last night.”
I climb out of his bed, his white sheets pooled at the end of the mattress.
He’s on his back, one arm draped over his forehead, while I scramble for my clothes like a trail of breadcrumbs between the door and his bed. Having to pretend nothing’s going on all weekend turned into us hungry beasts the minute he put the key in the door.
He comes out of the bedroom fully naked. If he was trying to tease me, it’s working. “I’ll make you some coffee.”
