Page 45 of Sand in My Boots

She doesn’t laugh or say I told you so. Even though she must be thinking it. How could she not?

“Maybe we never speak of this again.”

“That’s probably for the best.” At the car, I unlock the doors and toss the bag in the trunk, making a note to have it detailed soon. I don’t need any evidence of this in my life. “I’m sorry, Jude. This was one of those ‘better left undone’ ideas.”

Her expression softens. I don’t deserve her kindness. “No big deal, Cameron. The sand will wash off.”

“I’m not convinced.” Forgoing my boxers, it irritably rubs against my shorts in the worst of places.

“You must be coming out of your skin right about now.” How she keeps any malice or ill will out of her comment is beyond me.

Resting against the seat back, I close my eyes and blow out a breath. Thankfully, this mistake happened with Juli. I’m still embarrassed as fuck, but she’ll let it go, knowing how stupid a decision I made for myself. Other women might not be so generous with their tolerance.

“I should hand over all the reins to you. Let you make all the decisions over the next few days.” Nothing she could concoct could be worse than this.

“Be my date for the wedding.”

It flies way too easily off her tongue, like this isn’t the first time she’s had this thought. Crooking my neck, I open my eyes, only to find a look of hope masking her face. If I wanted to, I couldn’t say no.

“Who did you intend to bring?”

She nibbles her lip, not wanting to share the truth. “Originally, there was this guy I was seeing, so I RSVP’ed for two. The day after I mailed the invite, he called us quits. I wasn’t devastated, but it slipped my mind I had included someone else. When Erica mentioned it in a text a few days ago, I figured I could convince Preston to join me. A win-win for me.”

“I’m sure he could make the time.” The doubt in her expression alerts me she’s not convinced he could. He should, that’s for damn sure. He seems to have something extra on his plate, even busier and more aloof than normal.

I’m ignoring the whole “there was this guy.” He doesn’t seem like a problem.

As if this lasts longer than Monday, anyway.

“Even if he could, I don’t want to spend that time with him. I’d rather go with someone who won’t be checking his phone all night long. Who will actually dance with me. Who wants to spend time with me.” Her words are laced with sadness that her brother can’t be that person for her. His loss is my gain.

“I can be that person for you.”

A grin parts her gorgeous lips. “I’d like that.”

Having used up every ounce of resolve left in me, I start the car. Without warning, I put it into gear and peel out, needing to get home and into the shower.

The closer we get to my condo, the more irritated I get. My butt barely moves, but sand still rubs. All parts of my skin burn, even if there’s no sand to be found.

I don’t bother with the garage, killing the engine and hopping out. The bag remains in the car, along with Juli, who doesn’t move as fast as me. I’m up the front steps in a flash, keying in the code as I undress. By the time I turn the water on in my shower, I’m about ready to crawl out of my skin.

Selfishly, I spend a good ten minutes scrubbing and detoxifying, ridding my body of every tiny morsel of sand. I give no conscious thought to anything but the task at hand.

When I emerge from my shower in a towel, Juli sits on the edge of my bed.

“Feel better?” she asks, her voice full of concern. I try to find traces of anything else, but it’s lacking.

“Yes. Sorry I bolted.”

“No worries. Can I shower?”

“Of course. I’ll leave a clean towel on the vanity.”

She stands but doesn’t immediately move. Instead, she shifts from foot to foot. “Despite the sand, today was fun.”

I let out a snort. “Considering the sand was a huge culprit of today not being fun, I’m going to disagree with you.”

She comes over to where I stand, leaving a foot of distance between us. “Your bed seems comfortable.” Her eyes don’t leave mine.