Page 10 of Under My Skin

Chapter Ten

EVERETT

I like pineapples? If I wasn’t worried she’d hear me through the bathroom door, I’d groan and let my head fall on the counter. Did I just flirt with Lucy? Poorly? I knew I was rusty, but pineapples?

I run my hand through my hair and try to refocus on the text I was sending a client.

Leaning against the counter, I let my eyes bore into my phone.

My half-written message might as well be in a different language, though.

All I can think of is the way Lucy looked when she walked out here.

Wet hair, bare shoulders, wearing nothing but a towel that barely covered her.

Jesus Christ.

I wasn’t thinking about her this way when she came into the shop tonight. Is this really how desperate I am? I see a girl in a towel, and I can’t function?

Maybe Simon is right. Maybe I do need to get laid.

Images of a steam-filled bathroom and a very naked Lucy flood my mind. Her sitting on the counter, legs spread open. The way she’d feel and taste. The sounds she’d make when I’d?—

No .

If I need to blow off some steam, it’s one thing. But not with Lucy.

Simon’s. Little. Sister.

That’s all she is. That’s all she’s been. And that’s all she’ll ever be.

The front door opens, and Simon walks in with bags of Chinese takeout. He nods to me. “Hey, I got you General Tso’s Chicken. You’re welcome.”

“Thanks,” I say while trying to hide my guilt and reaching for one of the bags.

Simon’s. Little. Sister.

“Hey, you didn’t mention Lucy was staying with us,” I say as casually as I can manage.

Stopping in his tracks, he says, “Yes, I did. We literally had this conversation earlier.”

“You said she was coming into town, but I had no idea she was staying here. Where’s she going to sleep?”

Simon looks up like he’s trying to recall our conversation this afternoon.

“Oh. Yeah, maybe you’re right.” Looking back at me, he says, “Hey, Lucy is going to crash on our couch while she’s here.

Hope that’s cool.” Walking toward the counter with the bags, he adds, “Just be glad I didn’t give her your bed. ”

I imagine Lucy’s blonde hair splayed over my dark sheets, and something inside me tightens at the thought. But something else inside me wants to offer her my bed anyway.

As if on cue, Lucy opens the bathroom door and walks out wearing leggings and a CU Denver pullover. Her hair is up in a damp bun. She isn’t wearing any makeup as far as I can tell, but there’s no denying Lucy Blake is gorgeous.

“Ooh, that smells amazing,” she says as she walks toward her brother to get her share of the food.

She doesn’t even look at me, which is probably a good thing because for whatever reason, I can’t stop staring at her.

I don’t know what I’m more surprised by.

The fact that Lucy is nice to look at, or the fact that it’s taken me this long to notice.

Maybe I’m just suffering from some type of temporary impairment.

She’s Lucy, after all. She’s the same girl who used to throw a fit when Simon would pick to be Princess Peach in Mario Kart.

It’s maybe been a few years since I’ve been around her, but she’s always been around.

She reaches into the bag and grabs her takeout container, and her shoulders do a happy wiggle at the sight of whatever’s inside. That’s when she looks up to find my eyes already locked on her.

“What?” she asks with a shrug. “I like food.”

She doesn’t wait for me to say anything. Instead, she walks around me, makes an obvious peek at my food by standing on her tiptoes to peer into my container, and pulls open the drawer next to me for a fork. She offers it to me. “Here you go.”

I shake my head. “I’m okay.” Snapping out of my daze, I reach into the bag for chopsticks and head toward the living room to take a seat.

“Yeah, Everett is a purist. He doesn’t eat Chinese food with a fork,” Simon chimes in.

I huff a laugh as I sink into the recliner next to the couch. “You’d be one too if Toni handed you your ass in front of the entire shop for being ‘lazy and uncultured.’”

Simon sighs wistfully as he and Lucy take a seat. “I’ll take anything Toni’s willing to give me.”

I scoff. “Good luck with that.”

Lucy looks back and forth between us. “Toni?”

“One of the artists. She was there tonight. Her family is from China, and she still goes back every year.” I shrug. “I figure if anyone knows how I should eat Chinese food, it’s her.”

“Oh, right. I think I remember seeing her. Maybe I’ll meet her when I go back for my tattoo.”

Simon nearly chokes on his food. “You’re getting a tattoo?” Without waiting for his sister to answer, his eyes jump to me. “She’s getting a tattoo? ”

I give him a heavy-lidded stare that lets him know what I think the chances are.

Lucy catches my reaction and points her fork at me. “You, stop it. I’m getting that tattoo.”

Preparing another bite with my chopsticks, I shake my head. “Luce, if you want a tattoo so bad, that’s fine. But for the love of God, take some time to think about what you actually want instead of getting one to shock people.”

She blinks, lowering her fork back to her bowl. “How did you—that isn’t why I’m getting one.”

Does she think I’m stupid? No one arrives in town late at night with their luggage and a fucking cat, and then decides to get a tattoo for all the right reasons.

“Look, if you still want Pudge on your ankle, I’ll do it.

” Whatever tattoo she wants is up to her, but I at least bought her some time to reconsider.

“Thank you.” She nods like she’s somehow won this argument.

Simon’s eyes dart between us before settling on Lucy. “Wait. You went to his shop tonight?”

“She didn’t know it was mine,” I clarify. “She must have missed that detail while she was doing all her research.”

Lucy shoots me a glare before answering her brother. “Would you two leave it alone? I’m getting that tattoo.” She sends another warning look my way, but I just shrug and pop a piece of broccoli into my mouth.

Silence falls over the three of us as we eat until Simon asks, “So, Mom and Dad still haven’t said anything?”

She takes in what might be a steadying breath before shaking her head. “Nope.”

I’m suddenly not sure I should be here for this conversation, so I keep my mouth shut.

What the hell are their parents thinking?

How can you tell one kid you’re splitting up but not the other?

Did they really think she wouldn’t find out because she lives in another state?

The holidays are right around the corner.

It’s not like they’d be able to hide it for long.

“What a load of shit.” Simon practically takes the words out of my mouth, and I look up to find that he’s stopped eating.

I don’t think I’ve seen him upset about the divorce this entire time, but it takes a lot for Simon to set his food down.

“Seriously. What’s wrong with them? They can’t just pretend they’re not getting a divorce with you and tell me the truth.

I thought they were just dragging their feet, but the house is literally on the market.

Were they not going to let you come claim your stuff? It makes no sense.”

“To be fair, I’m not sure how much stuff in there is worth claiming.” She takes another bite and covers her mouth to add, “There’s only so much I can do with a box of Polly Pockets.”

“It’s still your stuff,” Simon says with a bitter edge to his voice. “I took my Legos.”

I tilt my head slightly. I had no idea he went to the house to sort out his childhood bedroom already. He’s told me he had to help his parents a few times, but he’s never mentioned anything personal.

Lucy looks over at him, equally surprised. Maybe the two of them haven’t talked much about this either. “You did?”

Simon tries to shrug it off, but there’s a weight in his shoulders now. “Yeah. You know, memories and all that. Plus, if I ever have kids or whatever.” He doesn’t look at either of us. Instead, he picks up his bowl and goes back to eating.

Lucy looks at me wide-eyed, but all I can do is offer a clueless look in response because I had no idea Simon even wanted kids. He always made settling down sound like a death sentence.

Shifting her attention back to her brother, she gives him a light pat. “I think that’s really sweet.”

Simon gently brushes her off. “Yeah. Well, you should be able to do the same thing. If they sold the house and had to pick and choose what they kept for you, it wouldn’t be fair. ”

“Maybe they think they still have time,” I offer.

I felt good about saying it until they both turn their attention to me.

Simon’s eyes narrow, but Lucy just waits for me to explain further.

Clearing my throat, I say, “The market usually slows this time of year. There’s a good chance they won’t sell until after the holidays.

Maybe they wanted to tell Lucy in person the same way they told you? ”

I hold my breath, unsure if what I’ve said makes sense or if I look like an asshole for defending the liars, but Simon’s expression softens slightly and Lucy nods.

“That’s true,” she says quietly. “Usually, homes don’t sell as quickly over the holidays. There’s a chance it could sell between now and mid-November, but once it’s Thanksgiving, I doubt people will want to uproot their families.”

Simon stares at his sister, clearly unsure why she’d agree with me on this.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Lucy goes on to say. “I’m still pissed, but if they really want to tell me in person, I guess they’ll have their chance sooner than expected.”

She pushes her food around with her fork, and I wish I wasn’t paying close enough attention to see how weighed down she seems by all of this.