Page 39 of Big Dill

I hug myself. “I’m never sleeping again.”

“Smoothie?” he asks.

“Love one.”

“Kale.”

“Perfect.”

He slides his hands to my hips and lifts me from the table, and suddenly there’s this new, dizzying closeness between us. I wish I hated it, but I don’t. He hands me my sweater and I tug it on, and then finger comb my mess of hair.

We walk to the door, the comfortable silence nice, full of warmth as he turns to me, his brow arched, a quick check in before we leave the room.

With his hand on the knob, I reach up and smooth his hair down. “You look like you just got out of bed.” I don’t hate the look. “Such a mess.”

“All the more reason we never kiss again.” His words are followed by a playful wink as he swings the door open. He touches my back, guides me out first and he follows me. We walk along the perimeter of the courts, and I spot Jaxon warming up.

“I can’t wait to see you guys play.”

“How about now?” Jaxon lifts his head when he sees us. “Game?” Brody calls out.

Jaxon nods. “Let’s make you a smoothie first.”

We head to the juice bar. “Who works this?”

“People make their own.” He gestures with a nod to a cash box. “It’s the honor system, until we can hire more employees.”

“Maybe I can help with this. In between yoga classes.”

“You think?”

“Sure. It’s not like I have anything else to do.”

He opens his mouth like he wants to say something but then closes it again. “Yeah, I’m okay if Jaxon is.”

He tosses juice and kale into the blender, and slaps the lid on. The machine buzzes to life and a minute later, he pours a thick green concoction into a plastic cup. He tops it with a lid, slides a straw in and slides it my way.

I take a long pull and promptly moan. Oh wow. “This is delicious.”

He shifts, uncomfortable. Was it the moan?

Nah. Couldn’t be. We’re past that. Completely. One hundred percent cured of whatever this used to be. That kiss was like penicillin, but for bad decisions.

“Is pickleball hard to learn?” I ask, casual as anything.

“Not even a little.”

“I’ve played tennis.”

“A bit the same. A bit different.”

“Oh good,” I deadpan. “That clears it up perfectly.”

He grins. “Such a smart ass.”

I lift a brow. “And you’re annoying.”

“Yes, we’ve established that.”