Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Kevin doesn’t say thank you. He rushes away from us without another word.
“So…” Jeremiah wraps his arm around my shoulder. “How long are you staying here today?”
“As long as Kevin wants.”
“Sounds long enough.” He smiles. “What were you planning to do while he tried to land a boyfriend?”
“Find an ebook to read, I guess..”
“No, you’ll hang out with me,” he says, leading me to the shore, temporarily making me forget that he and I can never be together.
Before I can come to my senses, loud shrieking sounds behind us.
We stop walking and look back, spotting a group of cheerleaders racing toward the tent.
Following behind them is Tully…Then Easton.
My heart skips a beat as he steps into full view. He’s shirtless, his six-pack abs on full display with black and grey shorts.
“Easton!” Jeremiah calls out to him. “Easton, come here!”
Easton looks over at us and lifts the shades onto his head. His jaw drops when his eyes meet mine, and he looks between us.
“Hurry up, Shitface!” Jeremiah laughs.
Easton keeps his gaze locked on me as he gets closer.
“What’s up?” he says.
“I’m trying to convince my new friend here to stay the entire time, and I think a deciding factor would be you.”
“I know it would be.” He’s clenching his jaw. “What exactly can I do?”
“Help me set up the fire pit a little early and tell her I’m a good person.”
“I’ll help you with the first thing,” Easton says, looking me over. “You look fucking beautiful in that bikini, Scarlett.”
I suck in a breath at his forwardness. “Thank you, Easton.”
He eyes the shiny clasp between my breasts, and I can feel him wanting to step closer and run his fingers along the fabric.
For a moment, it feels like it’s just him, me, and the sloshing waters.
“Where the hell did you get that swimsuit?” Tully’s high-pitched voice instantly jolts me into reality. “That is fucking stunning on you.”
“Thank you, Tully.”
“You two stay here,” Jeremiah says. “Me and Easton need to handle some things.”
We nod, but the moment they walk away, Tully calls out to her cheerleader friends.
I plop down in the sand and hope to get through the rest of this day without any more awkwardness.
An hour later
Easton
You told me that you were studying with Kevin today.
That’s what he said to lure me into coming here…You didn’t mention anything about a date with my sister.
Easton
She’s not supposed to be here. It was supposed to be just me, Jeremiah, and some guys from some frats we met last year. She drove here with her friends.
How very convenient.
Easton
Don’t let him touch you again…
Jeremiah signals for me to walk over when the fire pit is ready,
“Okay,” he says, opening a box. “We’ve got beer soaked marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. You get to make a s’more for me as a thank you.”
“What an honor.”
“You’re very welcome.” He smiles and calls out for other people from the tent to join him.
I pick up one of the sticks, and as I stab a marshmallow, Easton moves next to me.
“Have I mentioned how fucking beautiful you look today?”
“Yes.” I swallow. “Thank you.”
“It’s taking a lot for me not to touch you right now,” he whispers against my skin. Then he tugs at the knot on the back of my top. “When did you buy this swimsuit?”
“It was a gift from Kevin.”
“Hmmm.” His hand travels down to my back, setting my skin on fire. “Do you think his long-term game is to ultimately pull a friends-turned-lovers thing with you?”
“I doubt it,” I say, looking off into the distance where Kevin blushes with some other guy. “You should probably take your hand off me now. People are starting to make their way over here.”
“So?”
“Easton…” I suck in a breath as he tugs at the strings on my bottom. “You can’t.”
He lets out a long sigh and steps back. He looks as if there’s something more he wants to say, but he walks away.
I finish making a s’more and look around for Jeremiah. Since he’s chatting with someone at the tent, I devour the treat and start making another one.
Looking over my shoulder, I spot Tully sitting in Easton’s lap and snapping pictures.
He’s not looking at her camera at all, though.
He’s still staring at me.
I try to read his eyes, wishing he could see the words in mine.
Stop letting her touch you…
As if he understands, he gently grabs Tully and lifts her off his lap, placing her on the ground beside him instead. She doesn’t seem the slightest bit offended; she keeps leaning close and snapping pictures.
“So, you ate one and burned one?” Jeremiah’s laughter makes me turn around. “That wasn’t our deal.”
“Sorry.” I look down at my charred stick. “I’ll make you another one.”
“No, that’s okay.” He picks up a stick. “Let me show you how this is done.
I’m not sure how long we stand there talking about nothing, how I end up sitting next to him at the fire pit, but by the time I’ve had my third beer, I know that every second is pushing Easton closer to the edge.