Crushing by Kelly Kay

Author:Kelly Kay [Kay, Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Decorated Cast Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Elle

“Back,” I announce, and he just picks up the conversation where we left off before my bathroom break.

“I’m sure the pace is so nuts. You’re kind of a Northern California girl now. And I’m sure your desk is covered with all kinds of crap people thought you should see. You seem like you belong here now.” Hmmm, he wants to keep me here in California. That is too hot of a subject. I back off by flipping the conversation away from New York and back towards explaining Asher.

“To answer your other question. Asher had seminars in Tahoe and invited me to tag along. I didn’t go but joined him in Healdsburg the next week and never left. He extended a generous invitation to me to stay at the Hotel Healdsburg, and the fancy wine dinner was with your parents.”

“I know him. This doesn’t sound like him. He’s a hustler. Not a giver.”

“He’s not a hustler.”

“I will bet all my fucking money you paid for your plane ticket and the hotel room.”

I pause, sucking on my lips and raising my eyebrows. Then bite the inside of my lip. He’s so Josh lately. ‘Joshua’ the dick hasn’t been around in a couple of weeks. I don’t know why, but I find these nightly conversations to be grounding. My head’s spinning and swimming with him. But the pit of doubt that sits at the bottom of my stomach stays firmly in place. I’m curled on the cozy chair on the porch and looking up at the stars. I’m sipping, and suddenly, I wish he were here.

I say resolutely, “Yes, I paid. Do I hear water?”

“Yes, non sequitur. I live on the ocean.”

I clarify. “No, like bubbles.”

“Hot tub.”

“Really? Is your house like a hotel? It looks like one.”

“Have we been googling? Or was it Realtor.com?”

“Realtor.”

I giggle, waiting for his response, and he sucks air in quickly. “I redid the master bath, the kitchen, and put in this hot tub. Now can we please get back to the Asher thing?”

I admit it all. “Is the hot tub like your infinity pool?”

“You did do some research. Yes, similar style.”

“Mmm. Sounds nice.”

“You should come over sometime. Like right now.” He says this as a growl, and I feel it in my nipples. They rise to the sound of his voice. Friend. I need to bring him back to the friend zone.

“Yes. I bought the hotel room and a plane ticket. And the car rental.”

He’s laughing at me. Then he says, “You know if he took you skiing, you would have ended up paying for…”

“Lessons, lodging, and ski rentals?”

“You’re an idiot, Elle.”

I laugh loudly. I can’t stop giggling like I’m twelve. “Yes. Yes, I am. I paid for it all. Someday you’ll need to explain your hatred of him in detail. But here’s a gift.” I’m too drunk to keep secrets.

“I like presents.” I can imagine the smile breaking across his face, and now I wish I was there in his hot tub. No. I need to stop that thought.

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