The Unhoneymooners

“Well then, I wish I had the energy to say something really bright.”

I snort out a laugh. I feel drunk. “I am so glad I’m allergic to shellfish.”

Ethan sinks lower into the water. “I know we’re paying the price, but did you have fun today?”

Maybe it’s the fact that the hot water has left me more Jell-O than sore muscles and bruises, but I actually did. “Even considering I had to throw away my favorite tennis shoes and can barely sit? Yeah, I did. You?”

“I did. Actually, aside from the whole Sophie thing, this vacation hasn’t been completely terrible.”

I peek at him through one eye. “Whoa, easy on the flattery.”

“You know what I mean. I thought I’d hang by myself at the pool, eat too much, and head home with a tan. I thought I’d tolerate you.”

“I feel like I should be offended by that, but . . . same, really.”

“Which is why it’s so crazy to be here.” Ethan motions around us before stretching to reach a pair of bottled waters on the ledge of the tub. My eyes follow the movement, the way the muscles of his back bunch and then lengthen, the way droplets of water roll off his skin. So much skin. “God, your sister would freak if she could see us now.”

I blink back to attention, reaching for the bottle he hands me. “My sister?”

“Yeah.”

“My sister thinks you’re cool.”

“She . . . really?”

“Yeah. She hates all the trips you and Dane go on, but she doesn’t get my Ethan hate.”

“Huh,” he says, considering this.

“But don’t worry, I’m not going to tell her I’ve enjoyed small snippets of your company. A smug Ami is the worst Ami.”

“You don’t think she’ll be able to tell? Don’t you guys have some kind of twin telepathy or something?”

I laugh as I twist open my water. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no.”

“What’s it like having a twin?”

“What’s it’s like not having a twin?” I reply, and he laughs.

“Touché.”

Ethan must be warm because he slides back a little before moving to a different bench inside the hot tub, one that’s a little higher and leaves more skin exposed to the air.

The problem, you see, is that it also leaves more skin exposed to me.

A lot more.

I see shoulders, collarbones, chest . . . and when he reaches up to push his hair off his forehead, I’m shown several inches of abs below his nipples.

“Have you guys always been so . . .” He trails off, waving a lazy hand like I know what he’s asking.

And I do. “Different? Yeah. According to my mom, since we were babies. Which is good, because trying to keep up with Ami would have driven me insane by now.”

“She’s definitely a lot. Is it weird now that she’s married?”

“It’s been different since she met Dane, but that was bound to happen, you know? Ami’s life is plugging along like it’s supposed to. I’m the one who stalled out somewhere.”

“But that’s all about to change. That’s got to be exciting.”