Page 35 of Raise Me Up

Patting my hands to my cheeks, I mutter, “Get it together, Stas.”

Undressing, I ease into the steamy shower and wait for the tension in my muscles to dissolve.

Things will be okay. It’s Sunday. I have the entire day to recuperate and watch football. I’ll resume my normal schedule on Monday.

And things with Liam… they won’t change.

Everything isokay.

Browsing through his expensive products, I use all of them to wash the sex off my body. I smell like glorious man spice when I get out of the shower and redress.

As I head downstairs, I notice that the house is dreadfully quiet. It reminds me of nights when Hail and I would stay up late waiting for Liam to arrive.

Seems I’m destined to wait on him forever.

Deciding I shouldn’t linger, I toe on my flats at the front door. Footsteps thud on the stairs, and I hesitate with my hand on the doorknob.

Beau appears, wet locks curling over his forehead. The black shirt and sweats he put on look like they’re a size or two too big for him. Did he raid Liam’s closet? Would Liam be upset?

My nose scrunches. “I should probably leave.”

“Or you could stay. I ordered food. Thought we could use a good meal after last night’s activities.” He waggles his brows, and I can't help but smile.

He moves to pull me into his arms, a place I'm beginning to like more than I should. “Hey, sweetheart?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for last night.”

I shut my eyes and squeeze him tighter. Without Beau, I’m not sure I ever would have found the courage to make a move on Liam.

Without Beau, I would have woken up alone.

Somehow, I find myself watching football in Liam’s townhouse with the pretty musician he brought home, and we both had sex with.

It’s not my worst decision.

Beau nestles beside me on the sectional, a piece of bacon in his hand. He doesn’t seem to think twice about physical contact, which I don’t mind.

“You’re gonna have to explain the game to me,” he says, biting through half the bacon in one go.

I smirk. “Not into sports?”

“No TV at my place. No TV growing up either,” Beau says with a shrug. “So what’s the goal? To score baskets?”

My eyes nearly bug out of my head. When Beau laughs, I push out a breath of relief. “I thought you were serious.”

He leans forward to snatch another strip of bacon from our spread of styrofoam boxes and paper cups on the coffee table. I survey the mess with a prickle of guilt. “Liam’s going to be annoyed.”

Beau flashes me one of those dimple-popping smiles. “Mission accomplished then. My time here is done.”

He’s teasing, but a frown pulls at my mouth. I don’t like the idea of Beau disappearing.

“Are you not planning on staying long?” I ask.

Beau doesn’t meet my eyes. “I shouldn’t...”

The desire is there to ask him to stick around. But this isn’t my house to offer up, and I don’t have the extra space in my cramped apartment.