Page 70 of The Renter

“It’s triggering,” I say, throwing my hands up. “I don’t like to think about the company and everything.”

“It was the first time you took a big swing. You should be proud of what you did.”

“The failure is still so fresh …”

He squeezes my arm reassuringly.

“I’m with Adam,” instinctively comes out of my mouth as I flinch, looking at his hand on my robe.

“I’m painfully aware,” he says, not moving his hand.

“You’ve had chances.” I shake his hand off. “You could have responded to one of my fucking texts over the last five fucking years.”

“No,” he says firmly. “I couldn’t have.” His face tenses. “When have you ever texted me sober?”

How are you defining sober?

“When have I ever seen you sober?” He stares deeply. “Three times. Yesterday, now, and in the lake before you went to Italy.”

“You saw me at the cottage before Adam got me a glass of wine.” I bat my lashes sassily.

“Come on.” He cocks his head. “You’re going to lie and tell me you hadn’t had one drink that day before you arrived?”So, we’re defining sober as sober, sober.

I want to be sassy. I want to tell him to fuck off, but it sounds so bad when he puts it that way. The implications, his accusations. They frustrate me.I’m not a drunk.I know what that looks like. I know very well what addiction looks like.

“I live a sober life,” he says when I don’t respond. “Whoever I’m with has to live the same way.”

“For the record, because it seems like you don’t get it … I have a boyfriend.”

“If we’re stating things for the record, Adam’s not the guy for you.”

“Keep your drug money!” I yell, slamming the door. “Ahh!” I loudly sigh. Why does he get me so worked up? Why does he think he can talk to me like that?

Needing to release this energy and clear my mind, I throw on a yoga outfit and start a class on my phone. Obviously, I can’t have a drink right now after being called a fucking drunk. Not that I can buy one in this place. I hate Utah.

53

That run in the high altitude kicked my ass. Tapping the fob on the door, I hear a calming voice and see Dani in some yoga pose.

“You’re more flexible than I thought.” I admire her while leaning against the wall.

“Go shower,” she sasses, staying focused on her practice.

Watching her for a moment, I can’t believe she’s in my life in this way. It’s a good life.

Pulling off my shirt, she breaks focus with her phone. “Shower,” she commands, and I know exactly what she wants. With a smirk on my face, I walk into the bathroom, turning the water on. My sex life has never been this good. I bite my lip, replaying so many of the memories we’ve made this summer.

Dani joins me moments later. “You love shower sex,” I tease, sliding her top off.

“Maybe.” She grabs my shorts and pulls them off. Leaning down, I start kissing her neck, my fingers playing with the top of her yoga pants.

“I want you toreallyfuck me.” I take that as my cue to move my kisses and myself down her body. Teasingly, I take off her yoga pants.

“No underwear.” I breathe, kissing her stomach. My hands squeeze her ass as I teasingly kiss her hip bones before standing and pulling her by the hand into the shower.

Guiding her under the showerhead, I watch the water run all over her. “We need to do some more crazy stuff since you’re so flexible.” I run my hand down her neck and take a handful of her chest.

Dani runs her tongue along her top teeth.She likes this idea.