Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
There was a flicker of heat in his gaze. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yep,” I confirmed then leaned in and pressed a light kiss to the underside of his jaw. I let out a quiet groan. “You’re wearing that cologne again. You know I can’t resist you when you smell like Old Spice.”
Rhys chuckled low, his hand moving from my hip to the base of my spine. Every nerve ending in my body tingled. “Now, I’m going to start drowning myself in the stuff. Do you want a beer?”
I glanced over my shoulder to where a bunch of cans were sitting in a bucket of quickly melting ice. “Sure.”
He took my hand and led me over, grabbing a beer for each of us before we went to join Derek, Milly, and Nuala. Nuala was drinking a beer, and I could tell Derek was monitoring her alcohol intake because he had that serious older brother expression on his face.
I sat on the sand next to Rhys and took a sip of my own beer, leaning my weight on him and savouring the feel of his solid warmth beside me. Nuala got a little excited when she saw how close we were sitting.
“Oh! Did you two hook up? Because I’m sensing some vibes,” she blurted, and I flushed a little.
“Leave them alone, Nuala,” Derek reprimanded.
“It’s fine,” I said. “Rhys and I are spending time together. That’s all you need to know.”
“Ugh, but I want details,” she complained, and Rhys stiffened next to me.
“Don’t be such a little pervert,” I chuckled, glancing at Rhys who looked mildly embarrassed but also a bit amused. I squeezed his knee to let him know he didn’t need to feel awkward. I was proud to be his … whatever I was. June had called me his girlfriend, and I couldn’t deny I liked how it sounded. But I wasn’t his girlfriend. I couldn’t be. We’d be parting ways in a couple weeks, so it wasn’t like we could start anything. Not unless I convinced him to drop his plans and come live in America.
Butterflies claimed my stomach at the thought.
The idea held appeal, but it was a pipe dream. I knew that. Rhys was hardly going to move halfway across the world for a girl he knew for one summer.
My cousin groaned. “Sorry, I know, I’m nosy. But I can’t help it. I’m just excited for you two.”
I sent Nuala an appreciative smile, and Derek thankfully changed the subject, steering the conversation away from Rhys and me. We chatted and hung out for a while. At some point, Rhys grabbed us another beer, and I wasn’t sure how many Nuala had consumed, but she seemed buzzed.
I noticed Kiera and Danielle were sitting in a group just across from us, and they kept darting dirty looks Nuala’s way. Just as before, my protective instincts kicked in. I was about to say something, but then Nuala beat me to it.
“Do you have something to say to me, Kiera?” she asked loudly, and I knew the beer had taken hold. Nuala was officially a lightweight, and Derek sat up a little straighter, looking like he was trying to decide whether he should intervene or escort his sister home early.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kiera replied haughtily.
“Well, you just keep looking over here with a face like you sucked a lemon, so I thought maybe something was weighing on your mind.”
I grinned. A few people chuckled. Kiera dramatically rolled her eyes and glanced at her friends like Nuala was acting crazy. And sure, maybe that was what it looked like, but I knew the truth. This was months of unhappiness and frustration that had built up in my cousin, and it was finally coming out. I sat up straighter just as Derek had, prepared to jump in if needed.
“I don’t have anything to say to you, Nuala,” Kiera scoffed. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”
At this, Nuala stood, a little unsteady on her feet as she let out a loud, confrontational laugh. “I’m embarrassing myself? I think it’s more embarrassing to pressure your friend into manipulating her own brother to go out with you. It’s not my fault Tristan wouldn’t ride you into battle.”
The entire gathering gasped in shock at the first part then burst into laughter at the second. The remark might’ve gone over my head if I hadn’t spent half the summer with my cousins. I knew that “ride” meant fucking, so I assumed “wouldn’t ride you into battle” was a pretty cutting insult. Also, a hilarious turn of phrase.
Keira immediately stood, her eyes shining with fury, and I almost felt sorry for her. Then I remembered how horrible she’d been to Nuala and decided payback was a bitch. A raging bitch, in fact. She stormed off, Danielle scurrying after her.
“Is that true?” Derek asked. “Is that why she stopped hanging out with you? You wouldn’t set her up with Tristan?”