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Zach drops his fork to his plate and laughs. “You’re so random. I literally have no idea what’s going to come out of your mouth next.”

I pin him with a playful glare. “Says the man who chases a biscuit around a slippery surface for a living.”

His lips shake with the laughter he’s trying desperately to hold back. “I reckon your sass alone would be enough to fuel a mission to Mars.” Then he stands and rounds the counter before rubbing a rough hand through my slightly frizzy hair as he passes. “You’re like my pocket rocket or something.”

My body tingles all over.

But I’m not sure if it’s from his physical touch or the way Zach Evans just gave me a nickname.

ZACH

“So, how many bedrooms has this place got?” Luna asks. We’re sitting on the small couch in the living room, and with my size taking up most of it, she might as well be on my lap. Her proximity and sweet vanilla scent are doing things to me that friends never should.

I push away the thoughts before they have time to bloom. “Just two, but only one is usable at the moment. I don’t see the point in buying furniture when I need to rip the entire floor up since it’s rotten in most rooms.”

“Sounds like a big reno. Will you sell it afterward?”

“Unlikely. Yeah, I bought it for A—” I stop myself from saying her name. She’s out of my life, and there’s no point going over old ground.

“Amie?” Luna finishes for me before scoffing. “She didn’t deserve you.”

I nod slowly. “Yeah, especially after she cheated and got herself pregnant.” Luna doesn’t know about the potential pregnancy and paternity test results. I planned to keep the whole thing to myself and a couple of friends, but the words leave my mouth faster than I can stop them. “I recently found out the baby isn’t mine.”

Her mouth hangs agape at the bombshell I just dropped. “That fucking bitch.”

“Something like th?—”

Luna wraps her arms around my neck, almost straddling me in the process, and the way my dick twitches, I know I need this to stop fast because one, I’m not entertaining women, ever. Two, this is my friend, and my dick is being a traitorous asshole. And three, she’s my friend’s ex—a friend who clearly still has feelings for her.

Luna Johnson is off-limits for all kinds of reasons.

She takes a calming breath before she speaks again. “If you want to talk about it then I’m here. But I wouldn’t blame you if you just want to forget she ever existed.” She looks around the beach house. “I say renovate this place and keep it. Just because she fucked you over doesn’t mean you should sell it.” Pulling away from the hug, I drop my hands that involuntarily made their way to her lower back.

Offering me one of her bright smiles, she continues, “It’s perfectly positioned and will be a great place for you to visit and unwind in the offseason.”

Luna stands and walks toward the sliding glass door that leads out onto the veranda. The sun is starting to set and shinesa gorgeous glow on the horizon. Opening the doors and stepping out, she makes her way to the edge and rests her arms on the railings. “You can’t give up a view like this.”

I come to stand next to her and inhale the refreshing salty breeze. A lock of her auburn hair dances in the corner of my vision, and I take in the way the retreating sun complements her features perfectly.

Even if nothing else works out this summer, I know I’ve rekindled an invaluable friendship with a very special woman.

A few more beats pass as we listen to the crashing waves before Luna speaks again. “I don’t know if your dad and Luke plan to help you with this place, but I have time. I know I’m not exactly great with DIY, but I can paint, skim, and use a hammer.”

“You have teaching,” I reply, slightly taken aback by her offer.

“Nah-eh, summer break starts next week, and other than some lesson planning, I’m a free agent.”

“Well…I’ll need to get some stepladders,” I say, trying to keep my face as straight as possible.

She shoots me an unamused look. “And I’ll be able to reach all the places your oversized ass can’t get to, so it’s the perfect combination.”

I lean my forearms on the railing and nod to myself, my gut telling me this is a great and a terrible idea all at once. “Okay, Rocket; you’re on.”

CHAPTER SIX

LUNA

It’s the first day of summer break, and it’s nice to wake early, head to the beach for a morning swim, and then go over to Zach to help with the house.