Page 34 of Not You Again
DR. KENNETH LEON:
Living together also provides a new level of intimacy. Our couples will learn up close about their partner’s likes and dislikes and learn to negotiate the problems that pop up during a normal day.
DR. LAUREN SHAW:
These are the building blocks for our couples to create happy, fulfilling lives together.
CHAPTER FIFTEENANDIE
“Good morning, my newly married bestie!” Heidi’s voice fills my loft. She’s carrying two giant iced coffees in her hands, and I’ve never been more excited to see her.
“Oh, thank God.” I stand from where I was leaning over my workbench. My back aches from the flight home and sleeping on the very edge of another hotel bed. “You brought caffeine.”
She plops my coffee down on the edge of the table, far enough away from my pattern that the condensation won’t bleed into the bodice I’m translating to paper. I’m hoping to have at least one new design pieced together by the end of the day. Structurally, anyway. The devil is in the details. Making this bodice sparkle with a spray of beads to mimic how Kit’s fingers felt on my bare skin is a challenge for another day.
Heidi pulls up a stool and tucks some of her blond hair away from her face. “How was your trip?”
I reach for the iced coffee. After a cool sip slides its way down my throat, I answer, “Tropical. Pools, dinner on the beach, zip lining, salsa dancing. That kind of thing.”
Heidi narrows her eyes. “Zip lining? You did something … fun?”
“I know how to have fun.” I flip her off with my free hand. The memory of Kit catching me and throwing his head back in laughter is still fresh. My skin turns to gooseflesh, and I scrunch my toes in my shoes. Warmth rises in my chest, like I’m back in the tropical sun and not surrounded by bolts of fabric that only remind me of my business misstep and the pittance in my expense account.
Heidi scoffs. “And Kit? Does the rest of him look like his face?”
I snort. “What does that mean?”
“Come on, Andie. That man is gorgeous. Tell me the rest of him lived up to the hype.”
“Why would I know what the rest of him looks like?” I pick up my scissors again. I have to finish cutting the edge of this piece before I can move on. And I definitely don’t want to think about Kit shirtless. Catching me as we both fell into the pool, skin sliding on skin.
“Because you were on your honeymoon.” Heidi’s voice is frustrated, like when she’s arguing with the caterers about where to put the chafing dishes.
I stay quiet as I focus on the pattern piece. It needs to be perfect; I can’t afford to waste any fabric if I want to keep the lights on. I mutter a curse under my breath, directed at Kit, who isn’t even here to hear it.
There’s only twelve weeks left to perfect an entire line of dresses that will determine the fate of my business. Which would maybe be enough if I didn’t also have to film a reality show at the same time. Cassidy slipped me a production schedule for the week, and while I can still work, I have to spend plenty of time with Kit on camera, too.
I’m never going to sleep again.
“You do know what couples do on their honeymoon, don’t you?” Heidi teases, taking a sip of her coffee.
I roll my eyes. “Those couples usually meet before they’re at the altar.”
“You’re telling me you have that man with a dream of a body, and you haven’t made good on it yet?” Heidi picks up a scrap of muslin on my workbench and runs it through her fingers.
I shrug, biting my lip as I concentrate on keeping the line I’m cutting straight. “It didn’t feel right.”
Heidi frowns. I avoid most of the intensity by simply not looking at her, focusing all my attention on the pattern in front of me.
“Is he nice to you?” A serious tone weighs down her voice.
“He’s very respectful.” Too respectful, honestly. Treating me like I’ll break if he makes one wrong move. Kit has kept his emotions on a tight leash since the wedding day, and I miss the raw side of him I used to know. Maybe he’s completely tamed it.
When I look up, her brow is furrowed in concern. Once I finish my cut, I lean on the table and sigh. “Listen. There’s something you should know about Kit.”
Heidi’s eyes go wide. “He doesn’t have, like, a second family in a different state, does he?”
“No.” I take a sip of coffee.