Unbreakable(3)

Everything about him makes me happy. I love his laid-back demeanor and silly teasing. Plus, no one is easier to talk to than Will. I should know—over the past eight months, I’ve spent more time talking to him than to anyone else.

My parents have been consumed with their impending divorce, going back and forth with their lawyers trying to work out every last, miserable detail. I’m trying not to take their lack of interest in my life personally, but lately, when they call, it’s usually to give me a verbal slap because they think I’m doing something to screw up my life. Or they try to use me as a pawn in their stupid head games.

I glance out over the still waters of the lake before turning around to survey the grounds.

Will probably hires someone to do the landscaping during the year, because everything is absolutely impeccable. The entire yard is lush, green, and gorgeous, and the seasonal flowers planted around the cottage are in full bloom.

I can’t resist doing an impromptu happy dance. Because I’m a terrible dancer, this probably looks like I’m swatting away a swarm of bees while being simultaneously struck by lightning.

“What the hell was that?” Will asks. “Are you okay? Do I need to phone a medic?” He pulls my suitcase from the truck bed and places it on the ground.

“What? You can’t recognize a happy dance when you see one?”

“Is that what that was?” He raises an eyebrow. “Sorry. Epic fail. A score of 1.5 from the Canadian judge.”

I snort and turn back around to face the cottage. Though calling this place a cottage is kind of laughable. It’s a luxury house on a ridiculously huge lot, with five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and is directly adjacent to the lake. The house has been in Will’s family since before he was even born. Because our mothers were close friends, his parents were kind enough to invite my family up here every year. I’m so glad that we’re trying to carry on the tradition.

Will slides up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Ready to go inside, happy girl?”

His voice is deep and soft, and it sends a blazing bolt of heat right through me, which zings straight to my long-neglected lady bits. It makes me all shivery. And though I try to hide my reaction, I’m afraid it’s another epic fail.

It’s been months since Aidan and I broke up, and even longer since I’ve had sex. And though Will is still Will, and one of my oldest friends, he’s… different. The sweet, cute boy I grew up with is now a big, sexy hockey player.

Honestly, any hot-blooded woman would have the same reaction if he’d wrapped his arms around them. Especially one who hasn’t had any action except her B.O.B. in months.

I wasn’t trying to pump up his ego earlier when I said he looked rugged. Even though he’s always been in good shape, playing for the Smoke has really elevated his level of fitness. He’s gotten majorly cut (hello yummy biceps) and gained a lot of muscle.

His dark blonde hair is longer now, curling up at the ends of his backward baseball cap. Since he got LASIK eye surgery last year, he has no need for his glasses anymore. I like this change a lot. His light blue eyes are one of his best features, and hiding those beauties behind a pair of frames was simply a crime.

I mentally shake off my visceral response to his embrace and drag him toward the cottage. “Am I ready? Ready is my middle name.”

“Really? I thought it was Rose?” he teases.

“Well, that’s better than Everett. William Everett Maverick?” I make a face. “Yikes.”

He sighs and unlocks the door. “Remind me, why did I ever tell you that?”

“Too many beers and a lost bet,” I say, grinning. “But don’t worry, I’ll only torture you with it until the end of time.”

He rolls his eyes. “Just get in the house, Emmeline Rose Sullinger.”

I give him a mock salute. “Yes sir, William Everett McBossyPants.”

The inside of the cottage is just as beautiful as the outside. It’s all gleaming marble and hardwood floors, complete with stainless steel appliances.

A black granite-topped island stands in the middle of the oversized kitchen, and a massive fireplace surrounded by decorative stones dominates one entire wall of the living room. Plush furniture in brown and cream colors completes the overall look.

God, this place holds so many happy childhood memories for me.

I feel a little guilty being so happy because I know it has to be extremely hard for Will to come up here every year. He and his parents spent a lot of happy summers in this cottage with us.

Even though it’s been three years since the plane crash, it still seems like yesterday. Will had just turned eighteen, and I remember thinking how incredibly brave he’d been when he’d gotten the news. He’d wanted to handle everything himself, from making the funeral arrangements, dealing with the lawyers and his parents’ will, to greeting people at the funeral home. He’d seemed so very adult. So composed.

After the funeral, I’d snuck next door to check on him and found him sitting on the floor of the living room, staring off into space. I hadn’t known what to say or do, so I’d just wrapped my arms around him and snuggled close. When he finally broke down, it shattered my heart into a million pieces. He’d cried so hard that I didn’t think he’d ever stop. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen him cry, and it really scared me. He’d held me tight and soaked my shirt straight through with his tears. I didn’t want to let him go, so we fell asleep holding each other that night.