JOANNA

Something is off.

As I pull up to my house, I spot a black Toyota taking up my spot in the driveway. Taking hurried steps towards the door, I pause when I see it's ajar.

Shit! Did someone break in?

I'm so still that I hold my breath as I hesitantly put my ear to the door, straining to hear if I can detect any sound. "Baby, you're so hot," I hear someone say, and my jaw drops.

I know that voice.

Jaxon. The man who I've been dating for the past few years. The guy who only yesterday was saying he loved me. The cheating bastard whose ass I'm about to kick.

A feeling of sickness comes over me as I follow the trail of discarded clothes through the hall. The sound of moans coming from the living room fills me with dread, making my skin prickle. I can't believe this.

Jaxon is reclining on the couch, his eyes shut as a naked woman straddles him. His hands tightly grip her waist as her head tilts back, and she murmurs something softly to him. They're so lost in each other, they don't seem to realize I'm standing right in front of them.

I don't know why, but I glance at the clock near the entrance. One in the afternoon. The sun is high in the sky, blazingly hot and shining its bright light. People are all hustling around, probably working or getting stuff done. Me, for instance, I just got out of a tedious and long work meeting. My desk is filled with projects that I need to finish. But look at these two, in the middle of the day, lazily fucking each other.

On my couch.

In my house.

Hell no.

"Get the fuck out of my house," I shout, my body shaking as they startle.

"Jo," Jaxon's widened eyes meet mine as he pulls the girl off his lap, rushing to grab his clothes off the floor.

"I don't wanna hear it," I say through gritted teeth. From my peripheral vision, I see the girl rushing to get dressed, too. I don't give them the satisfaction of acknowledging her.

"I can explain," Jaxon starts, but I cut him off.

"You have two seconds to get out of my house or I'm calling the police." I grab my phone from my back pocket and press 911.

His eyes harden, and he swallows before putting on his T-shirt and ushering the girl out.

Hearing the faint lock of the door, I close my eyes. I should know better than to trust someone with my heart.

*****

Ding Dong Ding Dong.

The loud, jarring sound of the bell interrupts my moment of self-pity. I have been carefully avoiding human contact for the past few weeks. I was hoping I could keep it like that.

Ding Dong Ding Dong.

With a groan of frustration, I turn off the TV and put my carton of cookie dough ice cream away.

"Joanna! Open the freaking door! I swear to God, I'll call the police! Or better, your mom!" I hear my best friend Maria shouting after I ignored the door for a few more minutes.

Shit!

I'm really not in the mood for her pep talk right now, but the last thing I need is for my mom to join the 'It's-time-to-move-on party'.

"Good morning, sunshine." I swing the door open, holding the urge to roll my eyes when I take in the sight in front of me. She came with a suitcase, meaning she's probably staying the weekend and my plans to live on my couch will have to be put on hold.

"Ew! You stink!" She parks her suitcase near the door before opening all the windows. "When was the last time you had a shower?"

"Yesterday," I lie, walking back to the living room to see she's already getting my blanket and pillow and heading to the laundry room.

"Right!" she snorts, inspecting me.

I'm aware that I've been in the same pajamas for two days and that my curls desperately need a brush. I don't need a mirror to know I'm a mess. I just... I just can't seem to care.

I wish I had been stronger so that the pain of breaking up with Jaxon hadn't left me feeling like I'd been punched in the gut. Even though I have tried to let go, I still haven't been able to shake off the feeling of anger.

When I discovered my father's affair at eighteen, I swore to myself never to let a man manipulate me and always to put myself first. And look at what I got. Jaxon had the nerve to bring a girl to my house. My own freaking house of all places.

"Well..." I sigh, walking to the kitchen to make us some coffee. I'm sure she came here to cheer me up and kick my butt for being so out of my game lately, so I'll need all the caffeine in the world for this talk.

"All bullshit aside. How are you doing?" I feel her arms circling me from behind.

"Still pissed," I murmur, making her chuckle.

"Has he tried to contact you since last week?" She sits at the kitchen table, and I shrug as I head to the coffee machine.

"I blocked his number and threatened to call the police if he ever stepped foot here again when he left. I don't think he'll try to talk to me after the way things went down."

"Aren't you even curious to hear what he has to say?"

"What could he possibly say to justify him banging a girl on my couch?" I frown, and she shakes her head, her eyes hardening at the mental image too.

"I swear he should've paid for the new couch you got." She stands up to get us a mug, and I pour us some coffee.

"I just wish I could erase these last two years, you know? I feel like a failure. Like I've trusted him with all my heart, even after everyone warned me he was trouble." I link my arm with hers and walk us back to the couch.

She squeezes my hand as we sit down. "It's not your fault he cheated, hun."

"We've been going with the flow for the last couple of years. It's like ever since we moved in together, life was too... boring. I'm not even sure I can explain it myself."

"I'm sure it happens to most couples, but it still doesn't justify his cheating."

"Hell no, it doesn't! But in the end, I think I'm more pissed at myself. I was lucky enough with my debut novel, but then... I got stuck, you know? It's like all these big plans I had of quitting and becoming a full-time author just puffed right before my eyes while I got involved in this relationship that never really had any future."

"I'm so sorry, Jo..."

"I wanted to travel the world while writing all these amazing books, to make an actual career out of it... Now, I can't even type two words without cringing at how bad they are." I snort, making her chuckle.

"You weren't lucky. You're talented!" She bumps her shoulder to mine, making me smile.

"And you're even more biased than my mom." I take a sip of my coffee.

"What about that publisher that contacted you last month? The money they're offering you is good, right?"

"Yeah, but I'd have less than six months to get back to them with a first draft. With the hugest writer's block I've been facing, I'm not sure I'd be able to do it." I close my eyes and rest my head on the back of my new couch, wondering where all the inspiration I used to have has been.

"What if you had a change of scenery?"

"What do you mean?" I turn my face to her, and she gives me a full-blown smile.

"How about you spend some time at our family beach house? You can work from wherever you want with your job, so that wouldn't be a problem. Why not go out to get some fresh air? You know, get out of this house a bit... Maybe even write that novel?"

"Damn, that place is beautiful, and we haven't been there in ages..." I feel a spark of hope at her offer. "Would you come with me?"

"Ha! I wish! I have a case at the firm that has been kicking my butt. No way I can take some days off. But I've already talked to my parents on my way here and they're fine with you staying there for as long as you want." She squeezes my hand again, and I know I won't be able to refuse her offer. My job as a freelance editor does allow me to work from wherever I want, and as she said, I could definitely use a change of scenery right now.

"You're the bestest friend in the world, you know that, right? I think getting out of here is exactly what I need now."

"Right back at you, silly. Now, let's pack. I even brought you my enormous suitcase so you can take all your steamy books with you." She stands up, pulling me with her.

"Hey, my romance novels are all about the plot!" I laugh, making her snort. We both love some good smut and we're not embarrassed about it.

"Whatever you say to make you feel good." She smirks as if she were not into them as much as I am.

*****

Spending time at the beach is always a great way to gain a feeling of revitalization and adventure. I mean, as long as it hasn't rained all the way to your destination and your car hasn't been acting up on you the entire time.

Maria's offer was too good to be true. I should've known life would find a way to mess with my plans the moment I said yes to her without catching the weather forecast beforehand.

A wave of relief washes over me when I see the house, and I waste no time parking the car, grabbing my stuff, and hurrying to the front porch. The keys she got me are rusty and slow to work, so by the time I get inside I'm drenched and my clothes are clinging to me like a second skin.

"What the hell?" I hear someone shout and I let out a scream.

My breath catches in my throat when I see a man only wrapped in a towel heading my way. "Oh, my God!" I quickly shut the door.

"What the fuck?" He opens the door and my eyes widen.

"Gabe?!" I take another step back when I realize this is Maria's brother.

An almost naked Maria's older brother.

A guy I had a crush on throughout all my teenage years.

All wet and hard muscles wrapped in a white towel.

Holy fucking shit!

"Jo? What the hell?" His eyes widen as he stares at me.

I'm not ashamed to say it takes me more effort than it should to keep my eyes on his and not on his wet chest. A delicious wet chest, I must say.

"Uh..." I clear my throat. "I'm staying here?"

"Oh!" He raises his eyebrows, something passing behind his eyes. "Right! Is Maria coming too?" He looks past me to my car, and I swear to God I'm killing his sister the moment I see her.

"Did she know you were staying here?" I ask.

"I mentioned I was thinking about coming here to unwind, but I never said when..." He narrows his eyes, but I can see the humor in them. "Why don't you come in? You're soaked. You might end up catching a cold."

This time my poor eyes betray me and go down to his torso for a quick second before meeting his gaze again. Damn! So hot!

"Sure." I clear my throat.

"I was just getting out of the shower when I heard a noise on the front porch, then a crazy girl trying to barge in." He gives me a full-blown smile, and the sixteen-year-old in me can't help but smile back.

"Can we start over?" I shake my head, and he opens the door wide.

"There are some clean towels in the bathroom down the hall. I'll just put some clothes on so we can talk."

"Thanks." I bite my lower lip, so I don't say anything stupid like telling him I'm perfectly fine with him only wearing a towel.

Because seriously! I'm no longer that stupid teen with a crush on her best friend's older brother who only ever saw me as a little girl.

I'm way past that!

I'm absolutely over it!

_____

A/N: I'm so glad to share Jo & Gabe's story with guys! ❤️

How would you react if the guy you've had a crush on your whole life opened the door of the house you'll be spending the summer only wrapped in a towel?

XOXO

Celeste