My heart had been hammering against my chest ever since I ended the call with Nica. Ronnie had mentioned her going as we were headed to his house, but until she called it didn’t seem like a potential reality.
As we walked towards the gazebo at the front of the beach access, I opened a text thread with her and sent her our location. We walked up the steps and in some act of divine timing, one of the restroom doors opened and Nica stepped out.
I swallowed as I stared at her. It was like seeing her for the first time. Not the version of her at Jasper & Jade, or the version of her that was a server. Just... her. It wasn't just because she was practically naked—though that didn't hurt—it was because this was Nica without the facade that came with clocking in.
Time seemed to stop as my eye
