When we near the end and his house comes into view, he darts ahead.
“Hey!”
“Race you!” Devlin throws over his shoulder.
I follow, thriving on the burst of competition. I pull on my reserves to close the distance. Once I pass him, he lets out a grunt as he chases me. I look back, finding him in hot pursuit with a wicked gleam in his eye.
Our race ends with me beating him to the front step by a hair.
“Yes!” I gasp.
“You cheated,” Devlin snarks.
“You cheated! You started without saying anything. I won fair and square because I’m fast.”
An easy laugh puffs out of Devlin. “Yeah, you are.”
As we pant, I can’t hold back a wide smile while I catch my breath.
Maybe living with Devlin won’t be such a hardship.
Twenty-Five
Blair
By early afternoon, the sun is baking the world alive as Lucas pulls the Jeep into the parking lot at the beach. Party music drifts through the air, along with boisterous laughter from people already here. The sun sits high in the sky and a slight breeze makes small waves lap across the surface of the lake.
“Oh my god, I can’t wait to dive into that water,” Gemma groans, fanning herself on the bench seat beside me. “I hope it’s frigid as fuck.”
“Mood,” I agree quietly, tying my hair into a sloppy bun on top of my head to keep it off my neck. “Where is fall?”
“That pumpkin spice bitch better show up soon,” Gemma says. “I just want to wear flannel and my leather jacket.”
I smile. I really missed Gemma and her sharp humor.
Devlin and Lucas hop out of the front of Lucas’ Jeep to grab the cooler they stocked before we left.
When we arrived at Lucas’ place earlier, Gemma had blinked in surprise that Devlin showed up with me in tow, then gave me a goofy grin, hooking her arm with mine. “What the hell is going on?”
I shoved her as we got into the Jeep to ride around the lake to get to the beach. “Nothing.”
“Uh huh. Sure.” Gemma and Lucas had exchanged a look of silent communication in the mirror. They certainly have come far from when they first met and were at each other’s throats constantly. “So much changes when you leave for college, huh, babe?”
Lucas cut a sly glance at Devlin, who flipped off his cousin. Lucas chuckled. “So much.”
Devlin wouldn’t let me skip this beach party. I tried hiding in the closet, but he found me and dragged me out, hoisting me over his shoulder while I protested.
A few high-pitched squeals pierce the air, followed by splashing.
As we hover by the back of the Jeep, I twist my hands on the strap of Gemma’s beach bag. She takes one of my hands and tugs me toward the beach.
“We’re grabbing a spot!” Gemma calls over her shoulder.
“Right behind you, Gem,” Lucas says.
I never told Devlin I hadn’t packed a bathing suit, but somehow a bikini in my size was waiting for me on my door handle when I woke up this morning.
It’s fucking red.