“Mn.” Henry swallowed another forkful of his dinner. “Or perhaps you and Etienne have always had a deeper connection.”

“What would you know about deep connections? You’re terminally single.” I winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that.” Ugh. I hated being mean, and Henry was the last person who deserved it. He was so kind. It was annoying sometimes.

He ate another bite and sipped his bubbly water before nodding.

I asked, “And wait—do you think this…connection goes both ways? You think Etienne likes me? As…more?”

“Possibly. Obaachan’s always said so. She’s usually right about these things.”

My pulse raced. “You don’t think it would be weird if Etienne and I…” I waved my hand. What? Hooked up? That thought sent desire ripping through me. Wow. Okay.

Got together? That thought made my heart go boom.

“He’s always made you smile like that.”

“Huh?” I glanced down at the little square on the corner of my screen. Holy shit. I was smiling. Like a goof. Like a geek. Like someone with a crush. Except, was this a crush after knowing Etienne all these years?

“I don’t think it would be weird at all,” Henry said, eating the rest of his dinner and keeping me company on-screen while my head exploded, the whole world whipped off its axis, and I realized I’d wanted this for so, so long.

And now I had to spend another night sharing the same bed with Etienne without destroying our friendship.

Fuuuuuuck.

Chapter Six

Etienne

Why had I thought the sauna was a good idea?

Sitting on the lower bench next to Sam, a foot or so between us, I stared at the fake rocks in the corner, rereading the sign in French and English warning not to pour water on the fake rocks in an electric sauna.

It was either that or look at Sam with only a towel around his waist. At least he wasn’t licking a candy cane.

No! Don’t think about that!

I only wore a towel as well, and if I let my desire bubble up, it would be disastrous.

“Okay?” Sam asked.

I glanced to my left. His eyes were closed, and he leaned back against the higher bench. He seemed completely relaxed, bare legs extended with ankles crossed tightly. Actually, Sam usually sat with his legs apart. Not extra wide like an asshole, but normally wide.

He cracked open an eye. “You’re sighing a lot.”

“Oh! Yeah, I’m fine.” I whipped my head back front and closed my eyes. “Sorry. Tired, I guess.”

“Don’t be sorry. Doing two shows a day must be exhausting. This is relaxing, though.” He was silent before adding, “Right?”

“Definitely.”

Neither of us sounded sure. It should have been relaxing. That was the point of a sauna, though I’d honestly take a jacuzzi any day. I got hot so quickly in a sauna. Sam being almost naked next to me did not help.

“Etienne, I need to tell you something.”

The hair on the back of my neck stood in a wave. I opened my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

He sat up super straight, uncrossing his legs. His foot tapped restlessly on the wood planks. “Nothing’s wrong. At least, I hope not?”

“Okay. Tell me.”

He nodded. “I should. I should just tell you. You won’t be, like, mad at me or anything.”

My stomach twisted. “I won’t. I promise. What’s going on?” I waited for him to relax and tell me he was joking. About what, I had no idea. This didn’t seem like Sam’s usual humor.

With a creak and blast of freezing air, the door opened. A guy and girl wearing swimsuits hung up their coats and robes and put their boots beside ours in the tiny antechamber.

She said, “Sorry!” and they scurried in with towels, shutting the sauna door behind them.

Sam moved closer to give them more room, our bare, sweaty arms brushing. The spark that skipped over my skin was too dangerous. I blurted, “I think I’ve had enough,” and Sam agreed. There was enough room for the four of us, but I’m sure the couple would appreciate privacy anyway.

And I had to know what Sam needed to tell me.

We said goodnight to them and squeezed into the antechamber to stuff our feet into our boots and throw on our coats. I had my bathrobe as well, and I offered it to Sam. I spent my life in ice rinks—I was used to the cold.

He smiled and wrapped it around himself before pulling on his coat. The more layers he wore, the better.

It was only about twenty seconds through the snow to reach the cabin. Bree and Tim’s next door was dark. Sam and I went about changing into nightclothes and using the bathroom in silence. Was he going to tell me? Had he forgotten? Maybe it wasn’t anything big after all.

Normally, we’d stay up later than midnight, but I turned off the lights and climbed into bed. There was a strange hush between us that felt better suited to darkness. Sam slid in beside me under the duvet.

Tags: Keira Andrews Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net