I go straight to the bathroom and start the water, but before I can get undressed, I get a call from Everleigh.
“Hey, whatcha doing right now?” she asks as I turn off the faucet.
It’s barely eight, but I’m exhausted and have to be up early for work tomorrow. “I was getting ready to soak in the tub.”
“Okay, what are you doing after that?”
I can already tell she’s up to something.
“Going to bed.”
“Instead of taking a bath, you should come over. I asked Katie, but she just put Owen to bed. I need help choosing which pictures of you two to post because I’m second-guessing which ones will get the most attention. I really love them all, but I need another perspective. There are too many to email to you, so would you mind coming over and helping me pick? Pretty please?” she begs.
Groaning, I look at the bubble bath and wait for her to tell me she’s joking. “You’re serious?”
“As serious as a heatstroke. I need your expert opinion! I want to get some of them posted tomorrow and start moving this new inventory. Plus, you always choose the best ones.”
I chuckle at the way she always wears me down with her compliments. However, being around her would help clear my mind and distract me from my own thoughts. “Fine, but you better have a glass of wine waiting for me when I get there.”
“Yay!” she squeals. “Red or white?”
“Surprise me,” I say. I tell her I’ll be right over, and we say our goodbyes. I throw my hair into a high ponytail, change into yoga pants and a tank top, then drive over.
When I show up, Everleigh swings the door open, holding a glass of wine. I snort as she hands it to me before my feet even cross the entrance.
“You’re gonna make some guy super happy one day if this is the kind of treatment you provide,” I say, then take a sip. “Oh, wow. The good stuff. You’re really trying to butter me up.”
I follow her into the living room, and she furrows her brows when she looks at me. “You okay?”
I shrug, not wanting to bring her mood down with mine. “I’ll tell you later.” Waving her off, I sit on the couch.
“Okay, you better.” Everleigh goes to the kitchen, then returns moments later with a huge bowl of fresh popcorn drizzled with butter. She hands it over to me, then grabs her fancy camera. Once we’re both settled and comfortable on the sofa, Everleigh scrolls through the photos.
“Oh my God, you took two thousand pictures?” I glance at her as she stuffs her face and nods.
“This is why I couldn’t decide!”
Shaking my head, I watch as she goes through them. “They’re all so good. If the boutique doesn’t work out, you should be a photographer.”
“Are you flirtin’ with me already?” She flips her hair.
“You wish.” I laugh. “Oh, I love this one of Katie where she’s looking off in the distance.”
Everleigh moves closer. “Yes, me too. She looks gorgeous. Every woman in a hundred-mile radius is gonna want this outfit. And look at you in that red skirt, you little sexy firecracker.” She waggles her brows.
“That is a good one,” a deep voice says from behind us, and every cell in my body comes alive.
Everleigh and I both jump as Tyler straightens up and chuckles. Everleigh grabs a pillow and tosses it at him but completely misses.
“I’m sad I wasn’t invited to the slumber party.” He smirks and walks into the kitchen. That’s when I notice he’s not wearing a shirt and see his joggers hanging off his hips. Immediately, I chug my wine, though the image of his ripped body and the way the muscles cascade down his back are now imprinted into my memory. Fuck.
“Well, you’re the one who didn’t want to look at two thousand pictures with me,” Everleigh counters. “You snooze, you lose.”
My mouth falls open. “So I was your third choice? I’m offended!”
She snorts and winks. “Third time’s the charm, baby.”
Tyler returns to the living room, sipping a beer. I avoid looking at him because I don’t think I’ll be able to pick my jaw off the floor before he notices.
“Welp,” he says. “I’ll leave you two hens to it.”
“Mm-hmm.” Everleigh continues to scroll through the pictures.
When I look up, he’s staring at me with so much intent that I stop breathing. Tyler blinks, breaking our contact.
“Good night,” I say, but it comes out in a whisper.
“Night,” he says, then leaves the room, taking all the air with him. If Everleigh notices my reaction, she doesn’t say anything, and for that, I’m grateful.
“How about this one?” she asks, bringing me back to reality. It’s one of Katie and me laughing our asses off at something Everleigh said without a doubt.
“Yes, I love that one! It’s perfect and looks so natural. The only thing it’s missing is you in there with us.”