Page 26 of Beautiful Crazy
I hand him the phone back after I send myself a text, and he pockets it before tossing me a wink that makes my pulse race and my mouth dry. “We’ll be back.”
The three of them pile into Everett’s car and leave, and somehow—miraculously—I’m able to focus on the task at hand and get a decent chunk of work done before they get back. Enough that I’m content putting the laptop down for the rest of the weekend. After we finish eating, I clean the kitchen as Sutton turns on the new DC movie that just came out that he’s been dying to watch for weeks now.
As I’m loading the rest of the plates into the dishwasher, Everett strolls in, and it’s like all the air in the room is sucked out by his presence. “Thanks again for fixing my dishwasher,” I murmur with a smile. “It’s been really nice being able to use it again.”
“No problem.” He rests his shoulder against the entryway. “Want help with anything?”
I shake my head, meeting his gaze. “You’ve done plenty.” I breathe out a laugh. “I hope you know you don’t have to stay and watch a movie with them if you have stuff to do or if you don’t want to. It’s okay for them to hear no every once in a while.”
A tingle trickles down my spine as I watch Everett’s eyes trail down my body appreciatively before landing on my face again. “Gemma, I don’t do anything I don’t want to,”he replies, voice deep. “I enjoy hanging out with them, and you. Frankly, I would love to hang out with you more.”
My body flushes hot, chest squeezing, as a smirk tips up on my lips without my permission. “Is that right?”
His bright blue eyes glint as his lips curl into a grin. “Yeah. That okay?”
“Depends.” Turning off the water, I dry my hands on the towel next to the sink, resting my hip against the counter. “Are you this friendly with all your students’ parents, Mr. Windward?”
The stark reminder that he is, in fact, Sutton’s teacher, and therefore should be way off limits, should put out the flame growing inside me. Except it doesn’t.
It makes it burn hotter.
He breathes out a laugh, scrubbing a hand over the stubble surrounding his mouth. “Only the ones I can’t stop thinking about.”
“And how many is that?” I arch a brow, biting back a smile. With our proximity, my body feels drawn to him. Like there’s a magnetic force between us, trying to pull me closer.
All humor fades from Everett’s face as his eyes gaze into mine. “Just one,” he murmurs, and those two words send goosebumps littering my skin all the way to my toes.
“Come on, you guys!” Sutton calls out from the living room, breaking whatever spell Everett just had me under. “You’re going to miss the whole movie!”
I blink, swallowing thickly against the dryness coating my throat. “He’s right. Let’s get out there. Wouldn’t want to miss thewholemovie.”
Everett steps to the side, gesturing for me to go. “Afteryou.” He grins, and my pulse kicks up a notch, knowing that he’s probably staring at my ass as I walk.
Suddenly, I’m forgetting every reason why I shouldn’t be flirting with my very hot neighbor.
Back in the living room, I sit in between Beau and Sutton on the couch, while Everett takes the recliner. They’re all on the edge of their seats for most of the movie, clearly enthralled with what’s taking place on the television. Sutton has been a die-hard DC fan since he was much younger, and while I don’t necessarily share the same love for the universe as he does, I enjoy watching them with him, mostly because I know how much it means to him.
Once the movie is over, Everett heads back to his house as I load the boys into my car to take Beau home. On the drive to Grace’s and back, my mind replays the entire afternoon incessantly. The way Everett came over and played catch with the boysagain,then the way he took them to get pizza so I could finish working. The way he so shamelessly flirted with me in the kitchen.
But more than that… how much I enjoyed it.
Yes, he’s Sutton’s teacher, which makes things a whole lot more complicated, but maybe having a little fun with him wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. A friends-with-benefits situation like Grace and Georgia suggested.
Remembering that I have his phone number now, I consider texting him later after Sutton goes to bed. Maybe invite him over for some wine and see where it takes us?
The thought alone makes my stomach clench, but it also makes my heart race a little faster. It’s a feeling that brings a smile to my face… one I want to feel more of.
Thirteen
Everett
It’s just about nine o’clock and I’m sprawled out on my couch, watching some rerun episode ofFriendswhen my phone lights up with a notification on the coffee table next to my half-drunk bottle of beer. I’m more than a little surprised when I see it’s a text message from the last person I expected to hear from tonight.
Gemma: Hey! I realize it’s kind of late, but I totally meant to send this earlier. I lost track of time when I sat down and realized Pretty Woman was on TV.
I wait a minute to see if another message comes through, because this one sounds incomplete, but it never comes. Chuckling, I thumb out a response.
Me: Can’t go wrong with Pretty Woman.