Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(22)

I’m home. No one is acting like an old man or making any babies with his best friend’s sister. I’m leaving all the procreating to you guys. But thanks for thinking of me, Georgie. I say, give Princess Lowanda the Botox. And, Brinks, if you need me to come to the city and kick someone’s ass, you just say the word.





Brinkley



And this is why Hugh is my favorite today.





Finn



Because he’s a brute? I’m a lover, not a fighter. Sorry, Brinks.





Georgia



Love you, guys. Going to meet some friends for a drink. I’ll text you tomorrow.





Cage



Gracie keeps coming out of her room after I’ve put her to bed. Remind me to thank Mom for letting her eat an extra piece of cake tonight. Got to go deal with a fucking sugar meltdown.





A slew of heart emojis came through, and I tucked my phone back into my pocket and climbed out of the truck. I saw the light on in the casita when I’d pulled into the garage, and I strode into the house, making my way to her room.

I knocked lightly on the door to the casita.

“It’s open,” she called out.

When I stepped into the room, it smelled like lavender and honey—and Lila.

There was a candle burning on the dresser. Did she have a candle that smelled just like her?

I chuckled because the room looked much nicer than the way I’d had it. She’d added her own bedding that was a lot more girly than the brown down comforter I’d had in here. I’d told her to make the place her own, and she’d definitely done that.

But it wasn’t the white and pink bedding that had me gaping; it was the beautiful woman wearing a pair of tiny white pajama shorts and a little tank top lying on her stomach on the bed, legs bent at her knees, writing in a notebook. Her hair was tied up in a knot on top of her head, and she wore no makeup and looked fucking stunning. She hurried to sit and pulled the notebook onto her lap and patted the bed beside her for me to sit.

“Hey. How did the date end?” she asked, as she bit down on her bottom lip and waggled her brows playfully. I sat beside her, and she nearly tumbled into my lap when the mattress dipped down with my weight. We both chuckled, and I helped her straighten before kicking off my boots. We both moved to sit with our backs against the headboard.

“Exactly how it started. With Brax pulling his typical shit by offering me up and then begging me to go because he wanted to take out Carly, and she would only go if she brought Brenna.”

“Brenna Wilson? She was in your grade, right? A cheerleader?”

“Yep. And she and Carly proceeded to take about fifteen shots of tequila, and Brax joined right in. So, I got stuck driving their drunk asses home and paying the bill because Brax miraculously forgot his wallet. The fucker.”

Lila was laughing hysterically, and she turned to look at me. “Did you go for the kiss?”

“What are we, girlfriends?” I teased.

“We’re roommates, and we’re friends. So, spill it.”

“Well, let’s see. Brenna vomited before she got in my truck, then again after she got out of my truck, and once more on her doorstep when I helped her to the front door. She went for the kiss, and I shut that shit down.” I shrugged. “How about you? How’d it go with Kline?”

“It was fine. Thankfully, he didn’t go for the kiss, because I wouldn’t have wanted him to, you know? But he’s nice, and we’re going to dinner in a few days, so we’ll see.”

Why was I relieved that she hadn’t hooked up with him?

It didn’t matter the reason, really.

I wanted the best for Lila, and it sure as shit wasn’t Kline Barley.

“What are you working on?” I asked, glancing down at her notebook.

A pink hue covered her cheeks, and she turned to sit on her heels and face me. I couldn’t look down because I wondered if she was wearing panties beneath those tiny shorts, and I didn’t want to stare.

This was Lila fucking James.

What the hell was wrong with me?

“Well, I told you I was making a list. I don’t want to call it a bucket list because that sounds like I’m dying. So… I need to come up with a name.”

“It’s all the things you want to do while you’re home, right?” I asked, trying to block out the memory of her telling me she wanted to lose her virginity. That had shocked the shit out of me. The thought of someone touching her bothered me. But I liked that she’d shared something so personal with me at the same time.

“Yes. Like things I want to accomplish or check off, you know? Things I haven’t made time for before.” She beamed at me like this was the most exciting thing in the world.

“Like a rainy-day list,” I said.

“Exactly. But it’s not a rainy day.”

“How about a Snow Day list?” I laughed because it wasn’t even fucking June yet, but it was a good play on words with her nickname.

“Yes! A Snow Day list. I love it.” She pulled out a Sharpie and wrote the new name on the cover of her notebook.

“So, what do you have so far?” I asked, crossing my legs at the ankles.