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“Maybe don’t mention the strip of chest hair Luca’s missing. It’s a sensitive subject.” She snorts.
There’s nothing like the sound of my best friend giggling after being apart. No matter the distance or time, everything is as it always was when we’re together. We’re still the same pair of souls from eight years ago. Avery, a turtle-saving Wonder Woman, and me, a liar.
An apprehensive knock sounds from the corner of the room.
“Cariño, can I interrupt?” Luca’s arm appears through the open door, holding another cup of coffee for Avery.
The Navarro brothers sure do love bringing their women drinks first thing in the morning.
No, wait.
Avery is his wife.
What Nico and I have is different—right?
“Come in. We’re just oversharing.” Ave beams at the sight of her six-foot-four husband dipping his head beneath the doorframe and walking over to her. A kiss on the head, a cup of coffee in her hand. Their routine is as simple as breathing. I pull the covers over my bare legs.
“Good morning, Lily.” He eyes me suspiciously. “Have you seen Nico?”
“Nope,” I say quickly.
Luca’s thick brows knot together. “Interesting.” He untangles himself from Avery before strolling over to my closet and yanking open the door.
“Luca,” Avery scolds him. “What are you doing?”
“Checking for moths.”
“Moths?” My voice croaks.
Avery gives me an apologetic look and drags Luca away from his search behind the shower curtain. “Your brother’s an adult. He wouldn’t be hiding in the shower or under the bed like some teenager. He’s probably already at the bar.” She loops her arms in his, walking him out of the room. “Let’s go look for him.”
On her way out of the room, Ave winks and tilts her head toward the nightstand. Tucked beneath it is Nico’s shirt from yesterday.
Well, at least one secret is out in the open.
The door clicks shut, and I run over to lock it. I turn around, and Nico crawls out from under the bed, his signature grin bright. I want to wipe it right off his gorgeous face.
“She knows,” I tell him.
“Of course, she knows. When she hugged me yesterday, she said, and I quote, ‘Lily only looks that happy after she’s spent the weekend with her vibrator.’”
“Avery’s become unhinged.” I wipe the back of my hand on my forehead. “Now climb out the bathroom window. I’m willing to bet my life that Luca’s standing right outside the door waiting for you to walk out.”
“The window?” Nico says, tugging on his boxer shorts and T-shirt.
“Be glad it’s not a doggy door.”
Chapter34
Lily
We sitaround a large table in the resort restaurant, an assortment of desserts spread between us. It feels similar to last summer, but somehow, nothing is the same.
Nico’s wandering fingers brush against the palm of my hand beneath the table. At every opportunity, he’s been sneaking small touches. There’s no use fighting him anymore. If anything, I want each of his grazes to be imprinted on my skin. Maybe then, when summer expires, we and these past few months will feel real—not like a fever dream.
“Just want to let you know that you’ve been playing footsie with my right leg for the past several minutes.” Luca’s low voice is directed at Nico.
“Oops, my bad, just a little antsy.” He fibs and tries to ignore my terrible attempt to hide my laughter.
