Page 66 of Just Like That

She stretched her arms. “I’m beat too.”

I pressed my lips together and nodded. The small space of the skoolie closed in on me. The air was filled with her citrus-and-spice scent mingling with the lingering smoky aroma of the campfire. “I’ll put out the fire.”

Hazel nodded, and I escaped the confined quarters to pull in deep lungfuls of fresh, coastal air.

I needed to clear her from my head.

After dousing the fire, I returned to the skoolie. I could hear movement from the back of the bus, and I had assumed Hazel was settling into the living quarters in the back. I opened a cabinet above the couch and was relieved to find an extra blanket.

I stared at the tiny couch and grumbled.

When Hazel emerged from the room at the back, she was holding a pillow and blanket. I reached for them. “Thanks.”

Hazel shifted, pulling the pile away. “These are for me. I’ll take the couch.” She gestured toward the queen-size bed at her back. “You can take the bed.”

I flattened my stare. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m not the one being ridiculous. You’re never going to fit on that couch.Ibarely fit on it.”

I scowled. “I am not taking your bed, Hex.”

Hazel plopped the blanket and the pillow onto the floor and crossed her arms. “And I’m not letting you sleep out here.”

I mirrored her stance with my arms crossed and stared down at her. With her chin raised and a glint in her eyes, she was feisty and not backing down.

I fought the urge to get lost in the comfort of her soft brown eyes.

“Rock, paper, scissors?” she asked.

“What?”

“If I win, we share the bed and both get a good night’s rest. If you win, you can be a glutton for punishment and sleep out here, and I don’t have to feel bad about your shitty choices.”

My jaw clenched as I fought a smile. “You are impossible.”

Hazel grinned and thumped her fist on an open hand. “Thank you. Ready? Onshoot.”

I rolled my eyes but readied my fist.

Rock. Paper. Scissors. Shoot.

Shit.

Her rock beat my scissors.

I blew out an annoyed breath. “Fuck me.”

Hazel tsked and grinned. “On the first date? What kind of girl do you think I am?”

My face heated as I watched her turn and head toward the back of the bus.

“Come on.” She smiled again. “Let’s get cozy.”

For a beat I stared at the couch. Icouldbe a pouty bitch and sleep out there ... I watched the curve of her ass as she retreated to the back of the bus—and temptation eventually won out.

TWENTY-TWO

HAZEL