Page 14 of Almost
“Can I get my bed back?” Owen grumbles, poking his head out from under the covers as I hug her tightly back. I know she had the best intentions, even if it majorly backfired.
“No. Don’t you have a workout or something to go do since you’re supposedly this big shot athlete?” I lean back from Blake to hold up my arm and pretend to flex. “I’m Owen, I work out every single day for hours and hours so I can stare in a mirror and tell myself I’m pretty.”
Blake tries to smother her laughter with her hand, and Owen’s mouth drops in disbelief. Then he smiles and reaches for his phone. “First of all, it’s Saturday, and I have a commercial coming up I do have to look pretty for. Secondly, why don’t I call Bash and see if he wants to come over to go for a run?”
“Owen, seriously?” Blake rolls her eyes at my brother. “Don’t be such a baby. I walked in on you in the bathroomdoing the whole spiel about how strong and handsome you are the other day.”
His face turns bright red as I lean forward, laughing. “No way.”
He gets out of the bed as Blake giggles next to me. “I’m going to take a shower. Lia, you better not be here when I get out,” he grumbles, shutting the bathroom door behind him.
I try to pull myself together, but one look from Blake has me laughing all over again.
~
I’m attempting to hang another portrait, but I’m struggling to find the hook on the wall. I’m not quite sure where Penelope disappeared to, but whatever. I’m slowly getting down to the last spots to hang stuff and to say it was stressful would be an understatement.
I move it around a little trying to get it to hook when another set of hands help steady the portrait. I almost let go in surprise, but I smile when I see that it’s Eric. “I thought we weren’t meeting until tonight?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light.
He smiles shyly at me, his handsome face a familiar comfort. “Did you consider that maybe I wanted to see you before then?”
The portrait finally hooks after Eric nudges it one way and I let out a sigh of relief before hugging him. I step away a moment later, tucking my hair behind my ears, and placing my hands on my hips. “So what’s up?”
Eric cocks an eyebrow at me. “What’s up?I think I should be asking you that question.”
I shrug, trying to hide how fast my heart is beating in my chest right now. “Well right now I’m hanging portraits,and later, I think I’ll be taking a sledgehammer to the bar over there.” I motion to the bar where I looked at Kiera and Sebastian’s wedding plans.
“A woman after my own heart. You always have known your way around tools,” he teases, and I gasp at the innuendo, hitting his arm firmly.
“You have a dirty mind.”
Eric laughs deeply, his cheeks reddening. “I swear, that’s not where I was going with that.”
I purse my lips, shaking my head at him. “Sure, Eric. Whatever you want to say.”
He helps me and Penelope hang a few more before my stomach growls hungrily. “I guess that’s my cue to go get lunch. What are you guys feeling?” Penelope asks, and a burger sounds delicious right now.
“Burgers,” Eric says, winking at me, and my stomach flutters a little.
Maybe calling Eric wasn’t such a bad idea after all. I mean, I am here for the time being at least. Nobody is saying that we have to get back together.
I nod as Penelope gives me an all-knowing smile having caught the wink too. “Burgers sound great.”
“I’ll be back in a little bit then. Try not to have too much fun hammering the portraits while I’m gone,” she teases playfully, and I can feel my face grow hot.
“Did she really just make hanging pictures sound dirty?”
“It’s a talent of hers. Can I get you something to drink?” I offer, heading to the back room where there’s a mini fridge filled with water bottles in it.
“I’m okay, thank you.” I can feel his eyes on me as I walk away, and I glance over my shoulder, catching Eric in theprocess of watching me. “What can I say? I love watching you walk away.”
I laugh in disbelief because he’s something else. When I get back out on the main floor, he’s sitting almost in the exact same spot on the floor as the girls and I were when we got shit-faced on wine and tequila. I sit down next to Eric, opening my water. “So how have you been?”
“I’ve been good. The business is doing well and all. I’ve missed you, though,” he says, sounding a little remorseful.
I glance over at him, not at all surprised we’re already talking about us. Both of us like to cut through bullshit. “I’ve missed you, too, Eric. We were good together, weren’t we?”
“I think so at least.”