Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(42)

Getting out of the shower, I towel dry my hair. There’s no need to blow dry it since there are three more people to take turns. Securely wrapping the towel around my body, just in case there are people in my room or the bedroom door is open, I head to Maggie’s and my room. I’m relieved to find the room empty and that the door is closed, allowing me to begin changing.

Santa Monica is typically about ten degrees cooler than Pasadena, so I dress in blue jean, a cotton white tank top and a sky blue v-neck cashmere sweater. I put my makeup on, brush and dry my hair a little more before going out to the living room.

“Got kicked out of your own room?” I question Joe when I find him on the couch, still shirtless, with his iPad and Sadie.

Why is he still shirtless? I am shocked to see Sadie laying with him instead of being in the room waiting for me. This is new.

“How can you tell?” he responds with a hint of sarcasm.

I nod, rolling my eyes, not surprised.

We both look over towards Nathan’s room suddenly as we hear some soft moans echoing through the wall.

I laugh at the sound. “They must have forgotten to close the bathroom door.”

Joe nods in agreement but doesn’t seem flustered or irritated.

“Do you have access to your stuff?” I ask, wanting to redirect our attention to something else.

“Yes. I left my bags just over there. I figured I might be on the couch tonight. Why?” he says.

If he’s got access to his stuff, why hasn’t he put on a new shirt?

“Might as well take your turn in the shower,” I suggest. “I doubt that Maggie or Henry will be next. There are plenty of towels in there too.”

“Thanks,” he says, rising to get his bag.

I show Joe where everything is in the bathroom. Turning around to give him privacy, I almost bump into his impeccable, naked chest. “Apologies,” I offer trying to keep my composure and not show signs of being flustered. “Let me know if you need anything.”

A wicked grin forms on his face and he works hard to stifle it. “I should be good. Thanks.”

I head to Nathan’s door first, to hurry the boys along as well as to encourage them to muffle their sounds of pleasure. Pounding a little on the door, I give them fair warning and they immediately take the hint. I turn to head towards the room where Maggie and Henry are and I catch the sight of Joe standing in the doorway to my bedroom with nothing but a towel around his waist.

“Everything okay,” he questions.

It takes me a second or two to respond. “Yeah. Just giving them their warning. They know what it means. Sorry.”

He nods, smiles, and leaves the doorway. I take a deep breath in and out. I lost myself there — my mind imagining what was under his towel and what I would like to do to him. Focus, Emma. Breathe.

Our conversations are light and fun as we dine at Real Food Daily, our favorite organic, vegan restaurant in Santa Monica. We arrive just before the lunch crowd starts filling in, which makes it easy for us to get a table right away. We share a few appetizers, have entrees and now we’re considering our dessert options. Maggie declines, but all of the guys are in for something sweet. I happily join them.

“How can you eat all of what you ate and more, and . . . um . . . ?” Henry asks amazed. A small flush rises in his cheeks.

Joe snickers as he finishes the rest of Henry’s question for him, “And, have the body she has?”

This gets laughs from Nathan and Jared as they look to me for my response. Maggie tries to suppress a giggle.

I compose myself and my answer as I let their laughs die down, “I’m a very physically active person.”

More laughter stirs from Nathan and Jared. I know that their idea of my physical activities is not limited to only sports. But then again, they probably see sex as a sport as well.

“She loves to trampoline,” Maggie adds eagerly.

“Trampoline? Where do you trampoline?” Henry inquires.

“I have a rebounder, mini trampoline, at home and I go about two or three times a week to one of the local places that have larger trampolines lined up side by side. You can jump from one trampoline to the other,” I inform him.

“It’s so much fun,” Maggie shares. “We go all the time.”

“It sounds fun!” Joe states.

“Definitely,” agrees Henry.

“We should all go tomorrow then,” Nathan recommends eagerly. “Now you boys have to stay the night.”

As excited as I am to go trampolining, I’m not happy with the idea of them sleeping over, but it is Nathan’s home and he’s the host. Maybe this is a good thing. With Joe here too, I doubt that Maggie will sleep with Henry let alone share a bed with him. Plus, this allows us all to get to know each other a little better, and I wouldn’t mind getting to know Joe more. Henry. I mean I wouldn’t mind getting to know Henry more.


“Did you have the class or free jump in mind?” I inquire.

I know they won’t want to get up that early for the hour long intense workout.

“Free jump, of course,” Jared express with a hint of disbelief at the fact that I even dared to ask.

All I can do is laugh. Aside from the classes starting as early as 6:30 in the morning, I know Jared can’t handle too much of the intense workout.

“Fine,” I retort back, acting a little hurt and disappointed.