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When I caht’ve believed her if she hadn’t already changed into her own bikini in the closest, and I looked like nothing co way he looked at uy and decided that wearing just his black boxers would suffice I took a moment to admire the perfection of Jack shirtless, but I did it as discreetly as possible

We went outside through the French doors, and the cold stung Mae and Jack didn’t appear to notice it, but that didn’t surprise me

I climbed into the hot tub The way it instantly warmed my entire body reminded me of the way that I had felt when I looked at Peter Then I rehts of him out of my mind

We spent quite a bit of time in the hot tub, and when I finally let myself relax and enjoy it, I did Matilda lay sprawled on the patio next to us, and Jack tried to splash her until Mae et all the stuff about Jack that didn’t make sense, and the fact that reen eyes

"It’s getting late," Mae announced and looked sadly atyou over, and I do hope you coet horu his head back under the water as if that could block out the truth in her stateth, I pushed id air on !"

"I brought out towels," Mae gestured to a pile of plush white towels lying on a nearby chair, and I rushed over to thelance up, and I saw Peter standing inside the kitchen, staring through the French doors at me The towel had unrolled in front ofit, unable to actually start drying myself The cold was painful, but Peter had captivated me

One of his arms folded across his chest, while his hand rested on his chin His brilliant green eyes were giving er to please, so it coht have stopped forever if Mae hadn’t interrupted and pulled me from the trance he’d put me in

"Peter! Would you care to join us?" Mae called at hi at me, he shook his head, then turned on his heels and stalked off "Don’t mind him, Alice He’s really not so bad"

"It’s okay," I lied, then suddenly started feeling the cold again and wrapped the towel around myself

"Youdirectly behind me

"Why?" I asked numbly

It didn’t make any sense that I could make someone as composed and perfect as Peter nervous I was inconsequential in every way Naturally, Jack didn’t answer ed and walked into the house