Second Dive (Kings of the Water #3) - Jasmin Miller Page 0,17

me an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry, but I have to take this. Let me know if you need anything, okay? I’ll check in with you next week to see how things are going. Have a great weekend, everyone.”

And just like that, she’s gone. Leaving me alone with these two men.

One who looks like he’d rather be anywhere than here, with me.

And the other one seems to be a flirt and possibly friend to the man I once thought of as my soulmate for life.

Since I’m not sure where to look, I decide to stare at the wall. The blank wall that was thankfully primed and is ready to go.

“Well.” I clear my throat and try to be as un-awkward as possible. My face still feels hot, and since I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, I can’t even hide my flaming cheeks behind it. “Have you painted walls before, Hunter?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He beams at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I’ve had guys hit on me before and have dated a little over the last few years, even though nothing ever lasted very long. But I don’t think anyone’s ever been as flirty and charming—without seeming like a douchebag—as Hunter.

Of course, things were different with a certain someone, but I’m still doing my best to ignore him. Plus, we were teenagers. Kids, really. That doesn’t count that much, right?

“Noah’s experienced too.” He hooks his thumb over his shoulder but keeps his gaze on me.

I wave him off. “Oh yeah, I know. We’ve done—” Shit.

What am I doing telling Hunter about Noah’s and my past? About the times he helped me paint my bedroom walls, because I loved it so much and he wanted me to be happy and spend as much time with me as possible?

My mind is off on a crazy ride again, images of Noah and me filling my head. The laughter, the joy, the pure bliss of not knowing what ugly things might lie ahead of us. The roadblocks so high they’d seemed impossible to pass. And the pain that would be waiting at the end of the road . . . so much pain that life would sometimes feel like too much to bear. No, we definitely didn’t know about any of that when we were together.

I blink and look down, trying to swallow past the thick lump in my throat but the feat seems almost impossible.

Pulling at the high collar of my shirt, I hope no one notices my shaky fingers. How embarrassing. First I zone out with Tammi, and now I’m having a small emotional breakdown in front of Hunter. Being around Noah is screwing with my brain a lot more than I thought it would.

“Hey, are you okay?” Hunter’s voice is quieter than before, the cheerfulness now missing. When I look at him, the smile is gone too.

I nod, clearing my throat several times before I manage to push out some words. “Yes, sorry about that. I swear, I’m not usually like this.”

“No worries.”

Another set of footsteps comes closer, but I can’t look his way. I barely just got my emotions back in check, and I can only take that much.

Work. I need to work. Lose myself in the familiar throngs of what’s always been my escape. Just like I did last week at home when I poured all of my energy into the kids’ book I’m currently illustrating.

Sadly, I still haven’t gotten much further with my draft for the competition with the publisher, but I’ll get there.

Another deep inhale, and my spine straightens infinitesimally.

I’ve got this.

I knew there was a chance of running into him, just like Cody had predicted. But I didn’t think it would happen like this. Not here, not in my space. Now, I have to figure out how to deal with him because this project will take a few weeks to complete. At least.

So, new motto for this task: finish it as soon as possible to get away from this strange connection with Noah. The faster, the better. Then we can go our separate ways again.

Turning my back to them, I walk to the storage closet and pull three rolls of painter’s tape from one of the shelves, pushing them over my hand and onto my wrist. The ladder comes next before I close the door again.

With everything in hand, I walk the few steps back to where Noah and Hunter stand together, heads close as they whisper to each other. Noah’s jaw is tight, the