Page 6

Chapter Six

Lainey

“Hey.” Sitting at the kitchen table, Bash looks up from his phone. “Good morning.”

I flip him off. All I need is my water bottle and I’m leaving. I swipe it from the fridge, keeping my expression frosty.

We haven’t spoken since Shane left Saturday. Shane is pretty much over it, but I’m not. I spent all day yesterday exploring Cleveland on my own. I checked out bookstores, coffee shops and boutiques. When I got back to Bash’s with the carryout I’d picked up for dinner, I took it to my room.

I’m so ready to get back into the lab today. My shitty weekend was entirely Bash’s fault, and if anything, I’m even more pissed off at him now than I was then.

“Come on, Lane. Do you want me to say I’m sorry?”

My plan to give him the silent treatment goes to shit, thanks to my temper.

“Why would I want that? You’re not sorry! You’d just be saying it to placate me.”

“Isn’t the point that I’m willing to say it?”

Anger seeps out of my pores. It’s not just anger at him but at myself, too. Because despite him being the worst person in the world, I can’t help noticing the way his arms look in his T-shirt. His shoulders and biceps fill it. And he’s wearing a backward baseball hat, which is my weakness.

On him only, which is even worse. Shane doesn’t wear baseball hats, and when I asked him to wear one backward once, it did nothing for me.

But my own biochemistry hijacks me when I’m around Sebastian Stone. No matter how many times I tell myself I’ve moved on and I’m not attracted to him anymore, when I’m around him, my brain floods with phenylethylamine.

I can describe it scientifically, but the reality is like jumping off a cliff with my eyes closed. Racing heartbeat and dry mouth. Pounding pulse and inability to concentrate. It’s terrifying but also exhilarating.

Why did I think living with him for an entire summer was a good idea? It’s saving me money, but it’s costing me peace. His few days’ worth of unshaven, dark stubble is doing things to me. Making me sweat. Making my breasts feel heavier.

He stands up and walks over to me, the cedar and amber scents in his soap making my heart pound.

“I’ll never think he’s good enough for you,” he says softly.

I shake my head. “He’s not perfect, but neither am I.”

“Yes, you are. In all the ways that matter, you are.”

I push my glasses up on my nose. “I was lonely before Shane asked me out, Bash. My best friend lives in London and I’m not exactly a social butterfly. Now I have someone, and it’s nice.”

His brown eyes are locked onto me. I think of the lovesick teenage me who wanted nothing more than this—his undivided attention. Even if it wasn’t the kind of attention I really wanted from him.

“It shouldn’t be nice, though.” His low voice has a hint of gravel. “It should take your breath away. Take over your life. Make you question your sanity.”

I force myself to swallow, my heart pounding as I hold his gaze. “It’s not like that for some people.”

“Not for people who settle. And I don’t?—”

The shrill ring of an alarm stops him. I look away, sorting through my bag to find my phone, which is sounding with my seven fifty a.m. pulling out of the driveway on weekdays for the lab alarm.

“I have to go.”

I grab my bag and water bottle and leave, my breathing still erratic as I get into my car.

It’s the Bash effect. He could recite a dictionary and I’d react this way. I’d die of mortification if anyone knew I still feel this way about him.

I take a deep breath as I fasten my seat belt, switching my mind into research mode. That’s why I’m here. If my research keeps going the way it has been, it’s going to open professional doors for me.

This is my life. My career. I can’t get sidetracked by my childhood crush.

“Encouraging results so far, Miss Morris.” Professor Tom Carr eyes me over the rim of his glasses. “Keep me apprised.”

I nod. “Of course. Thanks for looking it over.”

“Anytime. I wish I had more time to work with you on this, but filling in teaching these summer classes changed my plans.”

Our plan was to work side by side in the lab for a full month, but then one of his colleagues was injured in a car accident and he unexpectedly had to teach three summer classes. So now I’m in charge of the project and he assigned two grad student interns to assist me.

“I think we’re in a good place with it,” I say. “We’re actually a little bit ahead of schedule.”

“Glad to hear it.”

I stand up to leave his office, stopping when he says, “Before you go, are you available to sit in with my TA on September 1? My wife and I are traveling that day for a wedding.”

It’s all I can do not to jump up and down with excitement.

I’ve idolized Professor Carr since I started reading about his research in high school.

He’s a trailblazer in studying the connections between the microbiome and mental health, and he’s open about his passion for it.

He has a daughter who has depression, and he wants to help her and everyone else who battles it.

“I’d be honored to do that, of course.”

He smiles. “Excellent. I’d like you to lecture in all three classes that day and include an overview of your current project for the advanced microbiology course.”

“Absolutely. Thanks for asking me.”

He nods, cueing the end of the conversation. I take my phone from my pocket to text Claire, my best friend, to tell her my good news. She’s in London, so there are lags in our communication, but we text daily.

I have a waiting text from Suki.

Suki: Hi! Reminder that it’s fondue night! 6 pm, come dip all the things in melted cheese and chocolate with us.

I smile at my phone, texting her back that I’ll be there. She’s been so welcoming to me. At the cookout, she did everything she could to smooth over the tension Bash caused.

And tomorrow night is trivia with the Smartinis. Without Suki and her friends inviting me into their group, I’d just be working late at the lab or doomscrolling on my phone over takeout at Bash’s house.

I know I’m quirky and nerdy. I’ve never been ashamed of who I am. It’s unusual, though, for a group as clever and funny as Suki and her friends to get me the way they seem to. I wish I had friends like them back home in Columbus.

I’m going to soak up every minute with them I can this summer.

I close my eyes, shamelessly moaning as I get my first taste of Harry’s cheese fondue. It’s creamy and slightly savory, pairing perfectly with the cube of toasted bread I dipped in it.

“That’s life changing,” I say.

Harry grins and puts his palms together beneath his chin, nodding. “Thank you, my dear.”

Mara has a bowl of cheese fondue, her breads and meats submerged in the melted cheese. True to his trim body, Dex has a plate of raw veggies and just one chunk of bread with a little fondue on it.

That’s what I should do, but I don’t. Instead, I make a plate of roasted meats, veggies and fondue, with several more chunks of bread. It’s a good thing I stopped to get two bottles of wine to bring over since I’m eating like I’m on death row awaiting execution.

“What’s in the fondue?” I ask Harry.

“I use Gruyère and Swiss. There’s also some butter, herbs and white wine.”

I close my eyes as I take another bite. I’m not sure I’ve ever tasted anything so delicious.

“See why fondue night is the best night of the month?” Mara says.

“Mm-hmm.” I’m chewing, so I don’t give a full answer.

The girls are dipping strawberries and marshmallows in the chocolate fondue fountain, Darling the pig snuffling up at the kitchen island the fountains are sitting on. The youngest girl, Hallie, slips him a chunk of bread.

“So, how did the rest of Saturday go, Lainey?” Suki asks me.

I set my plate down and thank Dex for the glass of wine he passes me. “Not great. Shane left when we got back to Bash’s when Bash said we had to sleep in separate rooms.”

Mara gasps. “No, he did not.”

“He did.”

I fill Mara, Dex and Harry in on what happened at the cookout, Mara slapping a hand over her mouth when she cackles over Bash’s “speck of dust” comment.

“I’m so sorry for laughing,” she says.

I wave a hand. “It’s fine. It is a tiny stone. I just don’t care. A relationship isn’t supposed to be about how much things cost.”

“Totally agree,” Harry says.

Dex wrinkles his nose, leaning his hip against the kitchen counter. “True...but it’s also about how much of what someone has they’re willing to share with you. If he’s just starting out and doesn’t have a lot of money, that’s one thing.”

I don’t really know how much money Shane has. The pool business he and his brother own seems to be doing great, but I don’t know how much of their profit they have to reinvest back into the business. I’ve never thought of asking.

“Well, I went out with that investment banker I’ve been talking to.

” Mara looks over her shoulder to make sure the girls can’t hear.

“I was hoping to get railed within an inch of my life because it’s been seven months and thirteen days, but who’s counting?

We were having a drink and he went to the bathroom.

I ended up going to the bathroom, too, which is the only way I was able to see him asking another woman for her number on the way back to our table. ”

My jaw drops with shock. “No.”

“Mm-hmm, girl. It’s hell out there.”

“What’d you do?” Dex asks, biting into a carrot with a crunch.

“I told her I was on a date with him and then I dumped my drink in his lap and left.”

Suki walks over to Mara and clinks her glass.

“What do you do for a living, Mara?” I ask.

“I’m an attorney.”

She’s telling me about her work when I get an all too familiar rumble in my stomach.

Shit. Shit, shit, shit . I knew better than to eat so much cheese fondue, but I was excited about the invite here and wanted Harry to know how much I liked his food.

And now irritable bowel syndrome has joined the conversation. I know my body well, and I have less than thirty minutes until my intestinal tract detonates.

I can’t spend thirty minutes or more shitting my guts out in one of Suki’s bathrooms. I’d rather end up at a gross gas station bathroom if I can’t get back to Bash’s house on time.

The next rumble in my stomach is stronger, sending a little shot of pain through my gut.

Shit! Literally—shit incoming. I have to get out of here. I casually take my phone from my bag and pretend to read a text.

“Oh, crap.”

“What is it?” Suki asks.

“One of the research assistants at the lab forgot to do final checks.” I lie. “We have to make sure everything is off that’s supposed to be off and everything’s on that’s supposed to be on. He has another thing and can’t get back there to do it, so I have to.”

“Fuck that guy,” Dex says. “Fire him immediately.”

I force a smile, but inside I’m freaking out. There have been a few times when I was trying to make it to my home bathroom and I didn’t get there in time. Bash knows I have IBS, but he’s never seen me at my worst during a bad flare or a pants-shitting incident.

“I’m so sorry, I have to go.” I stuff my phone into my bag, begging my intestinal tract to let me make it back to Bash’s. “You guys were so nice to include me, and this has been amazing. I really hate to leave.”

“No, don’t worry about it,” Suki says. “Go do your thing and come back.”

Shit. That wasn’t a well-thought-out excuse. I can’t come back. It’ll be a minimum of a few hours before this episode is over—maybe even longer.

“I might. It’ll depend on how long it takes me to get everything done at the lab.”

I practically run to the door, the gurgle gaining momentum. This is the absolute worst.

“See you!” I wave over my shoulder as I bolt for my Camry, parked in front of the house. “Thanks!”

I start the car up and stomp on the gas pedal, my tires squealing as I peel out.

Please, Intestinal Gods, let me make it to Bash’s house in time. I won’t eat cheese for the rest of my life if I can just make it there on time.