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To me, it’s the sexist part of a man--the delicious slope at the back of their neck where their shouldersabout that spot on his body, the straining muscles of his trapezius and deltoids The freshly triht fit of his dark shirt and the proers if I had the nerve to caress it Or hook the tip of one finger inside his collar and trail it along his warh his neatly shorn mop Run my palms down his smooth shoulder blades slowly Daydrea from shower stea Wade’s shower

Lifting his red bottle of liquid body gel fro the et to curl up with hiht sendsmyself clean Wash, rinse, repeat

Smooth a bar of Dove soap over hs I lather up s, th of each one until all the hair is sliced off Strokeaway the suds

Shave between ray towel, patting it alongmy flesh Slide on h ular bathroom routine: lotion, moisturizer, body spray

Pad down the hall when I’ve finished in the bathrooive a little tap and push the door open

Bite down on

Loathe to sit here by y for company while he sits downstairs with his parents, I rifle throughit overdown the back stairs when the sound of his ives me pause at the bottom step, foot poised to continue

"Where is Scarlett, sweetie?" Mrs Wade asks

"In the shower Then I’ll just h ht, cherry red

"Haha, very funny Mine" He’s shameless "We couldn’t find any sheets to fit the bed in the spare bedroo a bed?"

"Dammit" She hmphs "Those sheets are probably still folded up in the laundry rooet when I’o check, so no funny business under this roof, okay? We’re trusting you"

Rowdy sighs "Mo us in a private rooer anymore I don’t want to trust you--I have to trust you That doesn’t ht"

"Oh ue "What happens on the high seas stays on the high seas--as long as what happens doesn’t come back to haunt us in nine months Ha"

He isn’t a funny?"

"Yes, I honestly think I’ funny" She titters "It’s my job as youras I roa his eyes "And another thing: please don’t watch everything we do with a calculating look on your face"

"Calculating--good word, sweetie"

"Moh is drawn out "Why do you think I’o any favors"

"Co us for research"

"I am appalled by the accusation" His mom huffs dramatically but doesn’t deny it

"Well, is that what you’ve been doing?"

"I ht be…just a little" Another pause "Count yourself lucky I’ actual notes--this little back and forth between the two of you is roold I can feel the tension inanyone ho anyone ho anyone hoh, not even Chelsea Newirl"