Page 15 of This Time Around

When I return and hand Luke his beer, his fingers brush over mine, sending a shiver through my body. His back was to us, so I know he wouldn’t have noticed our hushed conversation.

I can’t let Cash get the best of me.

Deciding to let it go for now, I return my undivided attention to Luke. He consumes it anyway, I might as well stop fighting it, for now.

Luke

Blake’s entire demeanor changed when we got here. She’s retreated into a shell I have never seen before, as if she is trying to make herself invisible. Quiet, reserved, not talking any shit to me as we sit in uncomfortable silence.

I think she’s a little threatened by Isa. She thinks there’s something going on between us. As a silent reassurance, I’ve tried to keep my distance from Isa, staying close to Blake.

I know I can’t have Blake, but I still want her to know how amazing I think she is. She kept looking across the fire at the group with tension in her shoulders.

With everyone else in bed, I decide to broach the conversation.

“Blake, I just want you to know I don’t have feelings for Isa. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, like I might take someone back to my tent right next to yours. She’s not my type.”

“How in the world is she not your type?” She laughs. “Fuck, she’s my type, and I’m not even into chicks. She is hot as fuck!” Her words are louder than intended.

“Shhh. You’re going to wake everyone up.” I laugh, putting my hand over her mouth, and her eyes widen at the touch.

Fuck me. I want to see that look on her face with my hand over her mouth and my dick buried inside her.

“She’s great, don’t get me wrong, I’m just not attracted to her. I think Noel ruined me ever attempting a relationship with someone from work. It’s too complicated.” That seems to do the trick. She settles into her chair and takes a long pull of her beer.

“It’s so beautiful out here.” She smiles. “The view is breathtaking.”

“Sure is,” I respond, admiring my view of her, not giving a shit about anything around us. It would pale in comparison anyways.

“How is work going? You seem like you’re fitting in.”

“There were a few hospitals that I was looking at, but this one was one of the top rated for emergency care. It was one of the things that enticed me the most.” I left out the fact that while the hospital was close to my family, it wasn’t the closest. Being close to her was also a deciding factor. “They get a lot more action than the hospital I worked at in Denver, so it’s been nice. I’m learning a lot.”

“That’s amazing. I bet your shifts go by fast.”

“They really do.”

“How come I haven’t seen you at the bar with everyone after your shifts?” She has a curious look on her face, genuinely curious. “Thought for sure after you mentioned that they all go there, I’d see you.”

“You looking for me, B?” I inquire, hoping I get the answer I want.

“No, just curious.” She pulls out her phone. “Shit, it’s almost 2. We better get some sleep.”

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. You go, I’ll wait until you’re in your tent to put out the fire, so you can see,” I offer.

She rises from her chair, a little unsteady on her feet and saunters to her tent. Each step creates the most delicious sway of her hips, and I can’t help but watch.

This girl is going to be my undoing.

I roll over and look at my watch and see it’s 8:30. The smell of eggs and bacon wafts through the air, arousing me from my sleepy state, and my stomach instantly growls. I throw on my sweats and hoodie and walk out to see Blake talking to some people she met last night. She fits right in, like she does in any setting, even though she always stands out to me.

Seeing her this morning is quite the contrast to the quiet, reserved version of her I witnessed last night.

She must have just needed time to warm up.

I stand back for a second and take her in. I have seen her in many states over the years, pretty much living in my home when she and April were in high school, but this right here is my favorite version of Blake. She is always beautiful, but her beauty in the morning is effortless, it’s similar to the one that caught my eye that one Christmas morning. Sleep still lingering in her eyes, in a dreamlike state. Her hair slightly tousled, skin slightly flush. Fuck, it’s perfection. If I could wake up to this sight every day, I’d die a lucky man.

“Morning,” she speaks gently as she hands me a coffee. “I was just getting ready to come get you so you could eat.”