Tucker (The Family Simon 1)

“Or a bad case of Island Fever Fungus.”

“Island Fever Fungus?”

“Yep. Island Fever Fungus.” Lisa nodded. “Sounds kind gross, don’t you think? Personally, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near that shit.”

A small smile tugged on the corner of Abby’s mouth. “I can’t.”

Lisa sighed. “I know. But I gotta warn you, Abs. He’s looking really, really good tonight.”

“Great.”

“Like he’d turn half the lesbian population hetero just by smiling at them.”

“Huh.”

“He’s all casual and denim and blue plaid and, oh my god, he’s wearing Doc Martens. I mean, what guy doesn’t look good in a pair of Doc’s?”

“True,” Abby murmured.

“So when I say that he looks hot—“

“Okay, I get it Lisa. We can stop this now.” Irritated, Abby grabbed her makeup bag off the counter and shoved it into her carry-on.

“Sweetie, I just don’t want to see you get hurt, and let’s face it Abigail, Tucker Simon could hurt you. Not on purpose or anything. I mean, he doesn’t know…”

Abby’s eyebrow shot up.

Her roommate squirmed a bit, her cheeks pink and spiky blond hair askew, though she refused to back down. “He doesn’t know that you’re into him.” She lowered her voice. “In that way. So, you know, if he breaks your heart or anything, it’s not really his fault.”

Abby cleared her throat.

“That’s all I’m saying,” Lisa said hesitantly.

“Are you done?” Abby asked.

Lisa nodded. “I think so.”

“Good. Because I have to go. I gave him my word and unlike the women he’s been hanging with lately, I won’t break it.”

Abby scooped up her bag and moved past Lisa, crossing the hallway to her room so that she could grab her suitcase, and then headed toward the stairs that led to the main floor of their open-concept loft.

“Oh and whatever you do, don’t get drunk.”

Here we go.

“God, drunk Abby is either messy Abby or horny Abby, and considering you haven’t had sex in like, forever, I’m guessing horny Abby would show up, and if you sleep with him—”

That was it. Totally pissed, Abby whirled around. “I am not sleeping with Tucker Simon.”

Silence greeted her words.

Words that echoed against the walls before settling inside her ears. Words that she was pretty sure the entire building had heard—a throat cleared behind her—including Tucker Simon.

“Okay, so now that we’ve got that out of the way…”

Abby winced. Why did his voice feel so goddamn intimate?

“We should get going, or we’re going to miss our flight.” Again. Voice like warm chocolate.