Second Dive (Kings of the Water #3) - Jasmin Miller Page 0,25

on the blender, and you’ve always loved smoothies. Would you like to come inside and have a shake? I always double the recipe. I promise it’s delicious and super healthy.” The words rush out of her mouth, and she bites on her lower lip when she’s done.

My mind is blank.

A total shutdown.

“As a thank-you for all your help. It’s the least I can do.” Her eyebrows move up in question.

My brain finally reboots, powering up with a big, fat “Fuck no, absolutely not,” as I lift my shoulders and say, “Sure.”

I mentally shake my head at whatever part of me that’s acting like a total loser. I’ve lost sight of who’s in charge of me right now, but it certainly isn’t the rational part of my brain. To make a point, and show my utter displeasure, I scowl like my life depends on it.

Since it doesn’t seem to deter Chloe, I follow her into the house, keeping my eyes up, on the back of her head. That’s a safe spot. I will absolutely not look at her ass. No fucking way.

The kitchen is just around the corner. It’s small and clean. Simple. Wooden cabinets, light countertop. A few random items strewn around. The backyard is just beyond the window and patio door, flooding the kitchen in bright morning light.

“Let me just get this started quick.” Chloe picks up the blender from the other side of the counter where she must have put the ingredients together.

The blender base is right next to where I’m standing by the stove, and I barely move out of the way before she touches me when she clicks the jar into the base.

Her finger pushes the smoothie button as she turns toward me, and that’s all I remember for the next few seconds as total chaos descends on us.

“Oh my gosh!” Chloe squeals, her hands flailing around amidst the smoothie attack. She bumps into me as we both try to shield our faces from the liquid the blender continues to throw at us and pretty much everywhere else in the kitchen.

I beat her to the button by a second, and the monster machine turns off.

Our gazes collide, both of us wide-eyed and looking like . . . I’m not even sure like what. We look hideous, that’s for sure. Covered in muddy-green goop that’s dripping down our hair, skin, and clothes.

Chloe looks back at the offending machine. “I swear I pushed the lid on tight. At least, I thought I did.”

When her gaze meets mine again, I press my lips together.

I mean, what is this? After all the strange meetups in the past week with this woman. Now this. And it was supposed to be her thank-you to me, and look at the mess.

Is this the universe’s way of telling me to listen to my inner voice that’s telling me to turn the other way whenever Chloe is involved? Because that voice sounds incredibly legit, now more than ever. It actually couldn’t be any louder. Yet, here I am. Ignoring it over and over.

Neither one of us moves, too shell-shocked.

And then Chloe laughs. Full-on laughter accompanied by her signature snort. She laughs so hard, that after only a few seconds, she’s gasping for air. Right before she slaps her hands on her thighs several times. Something she’s always done when she has a laughing fit like this. She also manages to fling some more smoothie my way, hitting me almost in the eye with it.

Me, on the other hand . . . all I can do is stare at her. It sounds so much like the Chloe I knew. It’s subtle, and I’m almost ready to admit that I miss it—miss her—but I’m not there yet. However, under the surface, something shifts inside of me.

Things have always been effortless with her, and I suddenly crave it like nothing else. This easiness. The familiarity. Something that isn’t loaded with a ton of pressure and a million responsibilities or expectations like everything else in my life seems to come with these days.

Swimming used to be easy for me. It used to be my happy place where I could let go of everything and just be. But something has changed there too in the last year. It’s started to feel lonely. Too lonely.

Damn it, my sister was right. My whole life’s started to feel lonely. Even with all the people in my life. Not only do I help my sister with her two sons a lot, but there’s also