“Can you see the elastic of your underwear over the top of your jeans?”

“A little bit, yeah.”

“Holy fuck,” I whisper. “That’s so fucking hot.”

“Seriously?” He laughs and crunches on more popcorn. “Why do women find that hot?”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not hot on everyone. But it’s hot on guys like you, who have that sexy V in their hips and defined abs.”

“It sounds like you’ve done a lot of research on this.”

“Oh yeah, I’m an expert,” I reply and wish again that he were with me so I could drag my fingertip down that sexy V.

“Okay, now you tell me what you’re wearing.”

“Nothing.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve gotten used to sleeping naked.”

“Tell me you and Jax are not sharing a room.”

“No.”

“Send me some dirty pictures.”

“No!”

“Come on.”

“Hell no.” I giggle uncontrollably, loving the playful side of Mark.

“Just send me your boobs. You don’t have to include your face.”

“Not on your life!”

“Okay, I’ll take a pussy shot.”

“You are so dirty.” I try to make my voice sound stern, but fail miserably.

“Only when it comes to you, baby.”

“I should hope so.” I sigh and feel my eyelids grow heavy. “I miss you already.”

“I missed you before you boarded that fucking plane.”

I grin. “Sweet talker.”

“Get some sleep, baby. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“We should wrap up by about five, so I’ll call you no later than five-thirty.”

“Okay. Goodnight, M.”

“Goodnight, M.”

He ends the call and I switch my phone to camera mode, flip on the flash and take a selfie then text it to him. The sheet is tucked under my underarms and my hair is fanned out around me on the pillow. I don’t have any makeup on and I look exhausted.

Several seconds later, he responds with a photo of himself, smiling softly at me through the lens. He’s written one line: Love you, beautiful.

Chapter Eleven

~Mark~

“I was surprised to hear from you today,” I say and take a bite of my cheeseburger.

“I escaped the lab. I left Colin to fend for himself,” Lena replies and winks at me. “We haven’t seen you in a while.”

I shrug and pop a greasy fry in my mouth. “I’ve been busy.”

“Who is she?” She smiles knowingly and takes a bite of her grilled chicken sandwich. “Why did I get this? I should have got a burger.”

My phone beeps with an incoming text on the table next to me.

“Sorry, I have to check this.”

This is Jax. I borrowed Mer’s phone. Here’s a photo of her working.

The photo is stunning. Mer is standing behind Starla and both are looking in the mirror before them. Mer is talking and pointing to Starla’s stomach, clearly coaching the celebrity.

God, I fucking miss her like crazy.

I quickly type out a thank you and set my phone aside.

“Meredith,” I finally answer Lena and smile widely.

“The Meredith who broke your heart after high school?” she asks in surprise. “The one that broke your heart so badly that you wouldn’t give me the time of day?”

I chuckle and shake my head at the beautiful brunette. Lena is curvy, with long dark hair and big blue eyes, and a killer rack.

Not that I’d ever tell her that. Or her husband.

“You only had eyes for Colin,” I remind her. “Maybe it was you who broke my heart.”

“Whatever.” She sips her diet soda and glares at me. “Tell me everything.”

“Yes, the same Meredith from high school. We’ve reconnected with each other.” I sit and tell her everything, from the minute I saw her at Addie’s funeral to our conversation last night. “I’ve been nervous about this trip.”

“You don’t seriously think she’d leave you again for a dance job?”

“I don’t think so,” I concede and cringe when I think of the way I broke out into a cold sweat when Mer told me that she and Jax were going to LA for this job.

“Building trust in a new relationship is a process,” she says and checks her own phone when it buzzes. “My turn to be rude. Colin’s calling. Hey, babe.”

I pull the photo back up of Mer and Starla and smile at my girl. God, she’s so gorgeous. Her hair is up in a messy knot, as usual. She’s in a tight tank and yoga shorts.

Her body makes me want to sit up and beg.

Just as Lena is finishing up her conversation my phone rings.

“Hey, baby, what are you wearing?” I grin, excited to hear Mer’s voice.

“Uh, sorry, Hot Tamale, it’s just Jax. But I’m in shorts and a Nike tank top. How about you?”

“Is she okay?” I ask as ice forms in my stomach.

“Oh yeah, she’s still working.”

“I’m stealing half your burger,” Lena announces and snatches my burger away.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Jax says. “I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

“You didn’t. I’m having dinner with an old friend.”

“Anyway, Mer’s still working, but she promised to call you no later than five-thirty, so I’m letting you know she’ll be a little late.”