Page 19 of Nailing Heat

I look at the ceiling and sigh. “It’s too early for this,” I grumble.

“Too early for what?” Dex leans against the counter, crossing an ankle over the other.

I glare at him. “I don’t have the energy to do all the verbal sparring with you today. Maybe another time after I’ve had more sleep and my head’s not pounding.”

“Have a hard time with hard liquor do you?” he teases me.

“How are you so fresh and peppy this morning? You haven’t even had your coffee,” I challenge.

He smirks at me. “I’m used to it. I’ve been drinking with August on so many occasions. I know how that man can be. Tolerance over time and learning to say no. You don’t always have to do shots when he says, you know,” he reminds me.

“I know. I’ve said no to him before.” My chin juts out in defiance.

He nods, holding his hands up in surrender. “Look, I was louder out here than I thought I was being. I’ll be quieter. Just working on getting some coffee in me. Thanks for the directions.”

I nod. “You’re welcome.”

“Go get some rest. I’ll be out of your hair all day, so you’ll have some time to relax and do whatever it is you like to do on your day off. But how about I bring you dinner to apologize?”

“What did you have in mind?” I ask him, thinking of taking him up on his offer.

“Pizza?” he offers. He stands there studying me, waiting to see if I accept or not.

“Pizza sounds good. Extra cheese, please. Unless you’re lactose intolerant or something like that,” I say, trying to take it down a notch so that he doesn’t think I’m so bitchy.

He nods. “I can do that. I’ll pick it up on my way home.”

“Thanks.” I smile warmly at him.

“Also, should we maybe exchange numbers or something? That way if we need to reach each other, we can.” Dex sputtered out the words so quickly, like he was afraid I might snap at him again.

I push off the wall and rock back on my heels twice before answering him. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. I don’t have my phone on me. Give you me yours and I’ll send myself a text. That way you’ll have my number.”

He hands me his phone, extending his arm out so far that I think it may dislocate. Anything to avoid taking a step closer to me, I think.

I take it slowly and open up his message app, type in my number and send myself a message.

Dex:Sorry for waking you up.

I hit send and hand it back to him.

Dex laughs out loud when he reads the message that I sent myself.

“I figured that’s what you would want to say, if you could.”

“Sure is,” is all he says before adding, “I’ll try and keep it down.”

Dex turns back to the coffee, and I make my way back the hallway to my room.

I lay in my bed, I hear him finishing up making his coffee and leave the apartment. He carefully closes the door and locks the deadbolt from the outside. I sigh, lying there praying that I can get back to sleep. My interaction with Dexter keeps playing in my mind and I wonder what he thinks of me. Then I think about how he looks in his tight shorts and realize I am smiling. Eventually, sleep does find me again.

I wake up hours later and get myself ready to head out to the beach with Mac, Cassie and Hendrix.

The drive is silent. We’re all a bit too hungover for conversation and I’m thankful for that. It gives me time to be lost in thought over the newfound friendship that Dex and I are forming. Once all the towels are laid out, I ask the girls the question that has been on my mind since meeting Dex in the kitchen this morning.

“Do you guys think I’m scary?”

Three heads snap in my direction. Mac immediately starts laughing. Cassie follows suit. Hendrix shakes her head at all of us.