Page 32

E ndy adjusted the stack of empty, folded moving boxes in her arms as she walked through the courtyard to her casita. Clouds lingered from the recent overcast, dark, and gloomy days, obscuring the moon and bringing an unusual desert chill to the evening.

With the news of Paul Rothman’s death, the last couple of days at the racquet club had been difficult for everyone. So many of Paul’s friends would gather for hours inside the pro shop, talking about how wonderful he was, trading stories of their time together with him.

But hearing his name over and over, Endy’s heart broke with each mention. She felt drained; her legs felt as heavy as lead and her body cold.

The cardboard boxes she carried seemed to weigh tons, and she stumbled as she went up the path.

Sebastian took three steps out from the dark of the patio and caught Endy in his strong arms. He relieved her of the boxes, placing them on the ground next to their feet, then wrapped Endy tight in an embrace, his cheek resting against her hair.

“What are you doing here?” Endy asked, her voice quiet. “I thought you were playing mixed doubles with Sloane tonight.”

“We got an early start and then won the match pretty quickly,” Sebastian answered.

“And since you and I actually haven’t seen each other in a while, I figured I’d see if you were home.

” Endy’s face pressed against his chest, his T-shirt still damp with perspiration from his tennis match. She shivered.

“You okay, Endy?” concern filled Sebastian’s voice.

“I’m just so cold.” Her voice was so soft he could barely hear her.

“You’re cold? It’s like fifty-five degrees right now.”

“Is it?” murmured Endy.

Sebastian picked Endy up in his arms, cradled her, and carried her into the casita. He laid her down on the lumpy sofa and then walked into the bathroom. Endy heard the water running in the shower, and then Sebastian was standing over her, lifting her up again.

“Let’s get you warmed up.” He carried her into the bathroom and sat her on the edge of the bathtub. “Lift up your arms,” he said.

He pulled her T-shirt over her head, then pulled off her shoes and socks. He worked her leggings down and tossed them aside.

He held out his hand, and Endy grasped it and stood up. Once she was standing, Sebastian reached around and unhooked her bra, then eased her panties down over her slender hips. Endy stepped into the warm cascade of the shower, the hot water spraying on her face. She sighed.

Then the shower curtain pulled back, and Sebastian, naked, stepped in next to Endy.

The steam swirled around them as they stood together, enveloped in the warmth.

Endy closed her eyes and leaned her back against Sebastian’s chest. He lifted her hair and kissed her neck, and then he turned her around, kissing below her chin, and ran his nose along her jaw to her ear.

“You are so beautiful,” Sebastian said softly. His hands rubbed up and down Endy’s arms, turning her skin rosy.

She reached her arms up and wrapped them around his neck. She pulled his face down to hers, kissing him hard.

“Are you warm yet?” he murmured, his lips still pressed against hers.

Endy reached out for Sebastian’s hand, then guided it between her legs. “Not quite,” she whispered, her tongue slipping past his lips.

Endy rolled over, out of the tangle of bed sheets, and patted the nightstand, searching for her phone.

She and Sebastian had tumbled into bed, warm from shower sex, and had promptly fallen asleep, their legs twined together, her head on his chest. She felt better, not so cold anymore, but still something bothered her.

Something she couldn’t put her finger on.

And then the buzzing of a phone had awakened her.

Endy climbed out of bed and pulled a T-shirt over her head, her hair still damp from their shower. In the dark, she searched for the buzzing phone, finally following the sound to the kitchen, where it lay on the counter.

Endy picked up the phone just as the buzzing stopped, and she turned it over. Six missed calls glowed on the phone’s screen: two from BIBI and four from SHORTY.

Endy’s shoulders sagged and she bent her head, resting it against the kitchen wall. A lump formed in her throat, and the shadows in her apartment seemed to press heavily against her.

She was deathly still when Sebastian stepped into the kitchen. He had pulled on his shorts, and his hair spiked wildly up from sleeping on it while it was still wet. He rubbed his hand across his jaw.

“Hey, you alright?”

Endy looked up, then slid the phone across the countertop to Sebastian. “Your phone was ringing.”

Sebastian checked the phone’s screen and frowned.

Endy walked away to the living room and stood looking out at the stack of moving boxes still lying in the darkened yard. Sebastian approached her and saw what she was looking at.

“U-Haul boxes?” he asked.

“I told you that my landlords are selling the house, didn’t I?” Endy replied.

“But I thought that wasn’t for a while, like in a couple of months.”

“Yeah, but why should I wait? I might as well start packing now,” Endy said.

Sebastian’s frown deepened and his eyes grew wary. “But you’re just moving to a new apartment,” he said. “You’re staying in the desert, right?”

Endy leaned forward, her head resting against the window.

She bit at her bottom lip. “I might, but I’m just not sure now. I kind of think it’d be nice to live by the beach or the mountains again. Maybe someplace cooler.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

“Someplace cooler? You were shivering like crazy earlier,” Sebastian said. He paused, staring at the moonlight playing across Endy’s face. “Endy, what’s really up?”

“I honestly don’t know. Maybe I’m just tired …

tired of caring.” She closed her eyes. “I care too much about Picklers … and I care too much about my job … and I cared so much for Paul Rothman.” She swallowed.

“And all of it’s going to be gone.” Endy couldn’t bring herself to include that she cared so much for Sebastian, but two other women were determined to keep him away from her, so he would be gone too.

Endy took a deep breath. “I just can’t …”

“When you say you just can’t, what does that actually mean? You and me—we’re good, right?” Sebastian asked, his jaw tense. “Right?”

Endy looked down at the floor. “Oh, Sebastian, it’s obviously not working out with us.” She thought of how things were before Sloane had arrived.

“You think it’s not working out with us?” Sebastian repeated, staring at Endy, his light eyes intense. “Why would you think that?”

“Well it’s pretty clear that Sloane wants back in your life—and, I mean, look at her. You guys are perfect together.”

Sebastian raked his fingers through his hair. “Forget about Sloane,” he said.

“Forget about Sloane? How is that even possible? She calls you constantly. She texts you constantly. Anywhere I go, you two are together.” Endy threw up her hands. “How can I forget about Sloane when you’re with her more than you’re with me?”

“But Sloane means nothing to me,” argued Sebastian.

The phone on the kitchen counter started buzzing again, the screen lit up with SHORTY across the top. Endy looked from the phone to Sebastian.

“Oh, really … does she know that?”

“Endy …”

Endy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You should probably leave,” she said and walked toward her bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her.