Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(165)

Joe doesn’t say anything.

“How do you know it’s a girl?” Lee jabs.

“Joe is not gay. He’s definitely talking to a girl,” Jimmy defends.

“Who are you talking to?” Lee questions.

“No one,” Joe states, clearing his throat.

“She isn’t no one . . .” Jimmy disputes.

“Drop it,” Joe says with a stern, calm voice.

“You’ve never talked to a girl on the phone, ever, so . . .” Jimmy continues before Joe cuts him off.

“Drop it,” he repeats in the same tone, but louder this time.

A thud is heard in the room. Everyone looks around, but I know what happened. Maggie, Joe and I start laughing.

“It’s okay, Sadie. He wasn’t talking to you,” I comment, returning her bone.

Once everyone realizes what happened, they start laughing uncontrollably.

Other questions come up that are less intrusive and less personal until, over time, everyone starts to leave for the night. By midnight, I’ve got Jared, Nathan, Jimmy, Allen, Lee, Richard and Joe all walking me back to my cottage since it’s the first one we get to on the way back to our corner of the resort.

Laying in bed, all I can think about is how gentlemanly Joe was when he was being pestered. He didn’t confirm or deny who he was talking to on the phone. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t rat us out. In this moment of realization, I become extremely horny. Before I know it, I have my phone in my hand and I’m texting Joe. “Thanks,” I write.

“For what?” he replies instantly.

“Not saying anything tonight . . . sharing our late night conversations.”

“It’s none of their business.”

“I know.”

“And, thanks for talking to me.”

“Why wouldn’t I talk to you?”

“Because . . .” I’m not sure what to write back.

“Because why?”

“Never mind,” I say.

I’m not sure I want to have that conversation with him.

“Having trouble sleeping?” he redirects.

“A little.” I look at the clock and see that it’s almost one. “Shit. Sorry. Did I wake you?”

“No, not at all. Need some company?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I want to see him. I need to see him, but I’m afraid of what might happen or be said since last night with Javier.

“Why not?”

Before I’m able to come up with a reason and type it into my phone, Joe calls using FaceTime. “Hi,” he greets.

“Hi,” I utter.

“That’s better,” he claims.

“What is?”

“Seeing you . . . I love it when you bite your lip like that,” his sexy voice replies.

I pull the top of the covers over my face so only my eyes are showing. I’m flattered by what he said — a little too much.

“Don’t hide your face . . . please,” he begs.

Sadie suddenly shifts in the bed and is sniffing my ear, causing the blanket to fall down below my chin. “Hey!” I proclaim, pushing her face away.

“That’s better . . . now I can see you. Hi Sadie!”

Sadie perks up hearing Joe’s voice, scanning the room for him. “He’s right here Sadie,” I direct her to the phone screen. “Ewww . . . gross!” I exclaim.

I hear Joe laughing as I get up to wipe off her slobber. She literally licked the phone and my hand.

Once I’m back in bed, Joe comments, “Javier is a nice guy.”

“Uhhh . . . yeah.” I watch the corner of his mouth curl up.

“It’s okay. I know.”

“Know what?”

“You’re secret.”

“What secret?”

“You’re secret about Javier,” he chuckles.

“What are you talking about?” I deny.

“I know he’s gay.”

“What are you talking about?” I respond, trying to deny, but my voice is a little shakier.

“I saw him leave the lobby this morning after breakfast holding hands with his boyfriend,” he shares.

“Ohhh . . . .”

“Don’t worry, no one else saw them,” he confirms.

“Good. I don’t want Jared and Nathan to know.”

“Why?”

“They’ll stay off my back about stuff until I tell them,” I share.

“Nice. When did you know?”

“What?”

“That he was gay.”

“I saw how he smiled at the male bartender when I first noticed him,” I reveal.

“So you knew the whole time? You were purposefully baiting Jared and Nathan?” he says not really shocked.

“Yep.”

“Nice.”

“Thanks.” I mentally pat myself on the back.

“So what did you two do up there for two hours?”

“How do you know I was up there that long? Were you out in the lobby waiting?”

“No,” he replies, trying to remain calm.

“Really . . . ?” I muse.

“I heard Jared and Nathan talking on their porch. Jared was shocked that you didn’t talk to him when you got back to your cottage,” he reveals.