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That only fuels my annoyance. He’s acting as if this is all some kind of game. "Jealous Tilly doesn’t like Tommy. In fact, she’s ready to smack that smug expression off his face."
He leans in closer, his breath warming my lips as his eyes dart between mine. "So do it." His voice drops, sending waves of heat through me.
I try to hold onto my irritation, really, I do. But with him so close, I can see the quickening pulse at his neck and the anticipation in his eyes. Our gazes lock and I instinctively arch toward him, our lips barely grazing.
But then, he pulls back just slightly, his grin widening, leaving a space between us. I’m nearly ready to combust at his teasing. Just fucking kiss me, damn it! As if reading my mind, he’s back, his lips teasing mine without fully committing to the kiss. It feels like a playful tug of war, and he is clearly enjoying the game.
A part of me is infuriated by his teasing, yet, paradoxically, I find myself even more drawn to him than before. The mixed emotions make me giggle, a sound that delights him even further. “You like that, Tilly?”
Yes. Yes, I do. The closeness, our bodies pressed together as if we were melding into one entity, is intoxicating. “Mhm. I’d like it more if you actually let me kiss you,” I find myself admitting.
“Yeah?” His eyes flutter shut as he brushes his nose against my cheek, prompting me to close my own eyes and breathe him in. Why in the hell does he smell so damn good? There must be some sort of charming man body spray that he buys in bulk. And I’m here for it.
What are we even doing?
Suddenly, Sam's voice cuts through the thick atmosphere of the shop. “Holy shit!” It jolts me back to reality. I shove away from Tommy, turning to see Sam looking around, trying to find something to focus on other than the two of us. Her cheeks are burning with embarrassment. “Sorry, I was looking for…” Her voice fades as her gaze flits across the room, then she quickly turns and retreats down the hall. “I’ll just let you guys…uh, get to it, I guess,” she says halfway down the hall.
Tommy wastes no time trying to pull me back into him, eager to recapture the moment. “Cat’s outta the bag now, babe.” But I put up my hand, stopping him. Seeing the discomfort on Sam’s face reminded me that there will be explanations owed. Until Tommy clarifies things, I won’t let myself get any deeper with him than I already am.
Shaking my head, I walk away, grabbing my purse as I head for the door.
Before stepping out, I turn back, my gaze sharp. “Flirt with whoever you want, Tommy. I’m going to Tahoe.” His calls follow me as I leave, but I don’t pause. The situation is so beyond confusing. Was this all just a game to him, similar to how he flirted with those women?
No, that couldn’t be right. He said he missed me. And I know he wanted that kiss as much as I did.
Stepping outside, I let out a heavy sigh. Why am I letting him stir up so much turmoil inside me? It’s ridiculous. I’m headed to Tahoe, and he is returning to Costa Rica. Whatever spark has ignited between us, it is doomed to flicker out eventually anyway. The quicker I forget about him, the easier my life will be.
Chapter ten
Tommy
I'm tucked away in the back of the store, sorting through new shipments of sunscreen, my thoughts swirling. Why did I hesitate? I wanted to dive into that kiss, to explore her mouth as I've longed to for years. Yet, I held back, craving assurance that she truly wanted to, and that it wasn’t just some sort of impulse.
The anticipation, the flirtatious dance of it all, was undeniably intense. It set my veins pumping, the kind of heat that screams for a cold shower and a long talk with Grandma about her newest bunions. But then, Tilly's irritation snapped me back to reality. For some reason, seeing Sam cooled everything off in an instant. I think I understand Tilly’s avoidance of her friend better now. Sam is reality and I'm some sort of dream.
Sam and Tilly have always shared everything. They have some sort of weird bond where they hardly need words to talk anymore. A simple look or eyebrow arch can send them into a fit of giggles. For some reason, Tilly doesn’t want Sam knowing. Whereas I was so stoked about the progress I’ve made with Tilly that I practically yelled it out to Greg as soon as I saw him.
Lost in these thoughts, I barely notice Sam and Greg coming back to the store. They had left for a quick lunch break and me being the awesome friend that I am, told them I would help watch the place.
“What's up, guys,” I say, not lifting my head. If they see my expression, they'll probably know I'm lost in a confusing battle within my mind. That brings questions. Ones that I don't know how to answer yet. All I truly know is that I already canceled my return flight to Costa Rica tomorrow. Something I haven't told anyone yet. But I can't leave until I know Tilly's okay. Her dad did just die. Whether we're together or not, she's someone I care about. I can't leave when she's going through this.
"Hey Tommy, want some pasta?" Greg asks.
I nod, and we move to the front, where Rick is lost in some video on his phone. "Thanks, Rick, you can head out," Sam tells him, dismissing him to his usual lunch routine. Rick, the old surf legend, now more known for his midday tokes than his waves anymore, touches his finger to his forehead before walking out. God, I love that guy. He's goals. Just surfing and working without a real care in the world.
As I'm handed some food, Greg and Sam exchange a meaningful glance.
"What?" I ask, mouth already full of the first bite.
Greg takes a deep breath and looks at Sam with a cutesy smile. "We wanna name our son Thomas Joshua, call him TJ."
The burger nearly falls from my hand. I've known I held a special place in Sam's life, I like to consider myself some sort of surrogate brother but this... this is beyond what I'd ever imagined. "Uh, yeah, no problem."
Greg's eyebrow arches. “No problem?” He’s got a gleam in his eye — a clear sign that he’s enjoying my attempt to keep cool.
"Well sorry, but is it for me? Or you just love the name?" I have to ask. I’m not stupid, it’s for me, but for some reason, I need them to label the reason.
"For you, Tommy," Sam says between her laughter.
