Page 458 of Seasons of Love
He looked at me. “Get the job in LA, move out here, and live my life on my own terms.”
“I hope you get the job, and I know I’m partial to this place, but if you can commute to the island, then this is the best place to live, cheaper than in the city, and well, your best friend is already here. What else could you possibly want?”
“Sex? You’re not putting out these days, and I’m not cutting myself off from my parents to live like a monk.”
I laughed. “Sounds like Gabe and I need to show you around.”
He shrugged.
“Let’s get in the water one last time. You need to go to work soon, don’t you?” he asked.
I looked at the time on my phone screen.
“Yeah, let’s do it. You go ahead, let me just send a couple of messages.”
“Man, you’re so whipped.”
I took a picture of the beach and sent it to Mal and Griff with a caption saying I knew a couple of secret beaches on the island and then added a wink emoji.
“Every time I see you, you’re with a different hot guy. I have questions.”
I looked up at the man standing between me and the sun.
“One of them is my cousin, so he doesn’t count, and neither does my college roommate,” I said, standing up. “Hi, Sam. Nice to see you again.”
“How about the other two?” he asked, a knowing smile spreading through his lips.
“It’s complicated.”
He laughed. “It didn’t look too complicated that day at the hospital.”
I shrugged.
“So, which one’s this one?” He nodded to the beach where Zac was playing as if it were his first time at the beach.
“Roommate.”
“Free agent?”
“Hmm, I’m having a birthday party next weekend. Why don’t you come along?”
He looked out to the water and then back at me.
“Why do I get the feeling you want to use me to get your friend off your back?”
I shrugged. “I mean, would you feel really bad being used?”
“Hell no. Give me the address, and I’ll be there with bells on.”
“Give me your phone.”
I tapped my address and my phone number into Sam’s phone.
We’d only had a couple of awkward encounters, and I tried not to think of the drunken kiss we’d had when I’d been avoiding my feelings for Griff and Mal, but Sam seemed like a nice guy.
Maybe it was just what Zak needed.
And if they kept each other busy, maybe I could sneak out of the party earlier with my men and get to the real celebration. After all, it wasn’t every day you turned thirty.
