Page 12 of Becoming Us

I stopped dead at the sight of him, a surprised laugh slipping out. “Or something.”

No wonder he was drawing a crowd.

Atty stood on the far side of the pool, hands on his hips, scowl firmly in place. Shirtless. Sunglasses on. He looked like a fucking wet dream if I’d ever seen one. His dirty-blond hair was pushed back from his forehead, still damp from the pool, and his body gleamed like he’d been dipped in oil. I knew that wasn’t it—probably just sweat and sunblock—but fuck, he looked like a god, all shimmering and shit.

“It will never stop being unfair.” Holly let out a long-suffering sigh.

I laughed and shoved her shoulder. “Quit ogling him.”

“Why? That’s what the rest of the world is doing.” She nodded toward a group of girls passing by, all giggles and heart-eyes for my boyfriend. Well—maybe not exactly my boyfriend. Not right now.

“Doesn’t this bother you?” she asked.

We made our way to the only empty sun chairs by the pool.

“Atty doesn’t give two flying fucks about it, so why should I?”

“That’s oddly mature of you.” She tugged off her shirt, settling in.

“Well, I am a changed man.”

Across the pool, his eyes met mine, and his lips twitched, just barely.

“Besides, he’s only smiling at me.”

“That part’s true. You couldn’t pay that man enough to snap out of the trance you’ve got him in.” Her voice was teasing, but the soft, gooey look in her eyes said it all. It was the same one she always got when I mentioned Atty. The one that came back full force after I told her we were giving it another shot.

“Aren’t you going to go say hi?”

Atty was mid-conversation with two guys in matching uniforms. I wanted to go over. God, Iwantedto. But I was trying to give him space. Not just assume he’d told everyone about us. The idea of hiding made my stomach twist, but he was allowedto ask for time. Hell, Atty was allowed to ask for the sun, and I’d still find a way to give it to him.

“When he’s not busy,” I said, brushing it off.

Holly started slathering on sunblock while I kept my eyes on him.

A million years could pass, and I’d never get tired of looking at his face. Atticus King was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. I didn’t even know if it was his looks or if I was just so far gone in love with him that I couldn’t see anyone else. He was all sharp edges and cold stares—but get close enough, and the ice melted.

They were setting up a practice game, sorting the girls into teams. Atty tried giving a couple of them instructions, but they couldn’t stop smiling at him. His jaw tightened. I chuckled, watching him grow more annoyed by the second, clearly trying to keep himself in check.

When our eyes met again, I shot him a grin. He answered with a small headshake, like he was silently telling me he was struggling.

Once the game started, he turned his focus to it, and I shifted my attention to Holly—doing my best to ignore the sinking feeling of him not coming over.

This is work, Noah. He’s working. His existence doesn’t revolve around you.

I stood abruptly. “I’m gonna grab a soda. Want anything?”

“Sure. But I’m pretty sure we could flag someone down.” She gestured at a nearby server.

“That’s fine. I’ll go. Wine?”

“White!” she called as I headed for the bar.

I sat on one of the stools and waited for a bartender, drawing a deep breath as I smothered the clinginess creeping in. Atty wanted me here. He could’ve said no if he didn’t.

Could he?

I shut my eyes and pushed the thought away.