At least I have Gemma with me for moral support. Her pretty blonde hair falls to her shoulders in french braids. She picks out a semi-shaded spot on the soft sand—totally shipped in, a high altitude lake like this should have a rocky beach—and gestures for her striped bag.
“I packed a ton of sunscreen. I’m not dealing with a sunburnt L
ucas. He got so sulky on our vacation to Jamaica over the summer. The first day, too! Pitiful beefcake.”
Gemma shakes her head, but she sports a fond smile, and her eyes are faraway. She’s in love.
I hand over the bag, losing my reason to stand around and keep my oversized t-shirt on to cover up.
“Take that off.” Gemma gestures to the shirt that hits above my knees. “I’ll do your back.”
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I cast a glance around the crowded beach. Bishop chases Bailey, Nina, and a third girl through the shallows, splashing around. Half the soccer team is here, plus most of the popular crowd that bow down at Bishop and Devlin’s shared throne.
They don’t matter. It’s fine.
Crossing my arms and grabbing the hem of the big shirt, I peel it overhead, tossing it down on the blanket Gemma spread in the sand.
“Damn, girl,” Gemma says admirably. “Will you pose on the rocks later? You know I have my camera with me. This look is killer and I need to capture it.”
“Stop, it’s not even mine.” I cover my face. I peek between my fingers. “It’s okay?”
“Dude.” Gemma gives me a once over. “You look hot.”
A relieved exhale leaves me. I peer down at the red bikini. It’s bold, something I’d never have gone for. The sun kisses my pale skin. I’ll probably have fresh freckles dotting my cheeks by sunset.
Gemma shucks off her white shorts and strips out of her Oak Ridge College tank top, revealing a military green bikini that crosses over her boobs. I feel less out of place with Gemma beside me. She’s used to the party scene, but it’s never been for me. I kind of wish Lucas brought his sweet pug dog, because he’s my best friend at these things.
“So,” Gemma drawls, squinting at me. “What’s the deal with you and Dev? Are you, like, a thing now?”
“I, uh.” There isn’t a straight answer I can offer. “It’s…complicated.”
“Hah, I know what that’s like,” Gemma says with a burst of laughter. “But seriously. Is he being chill? Do I need to kick his balls into his teeth?”
“No. He’s a smart ass dick, but I handled it.” I’m not about to have Gemma fight my battles for me.
“Good. You’d tell me if you needed help, right? Because I have your back, even if I’m not in Ridgeview.”
“Yeah.” I grant her a thankful smile.
“Cool. Now come here, pasty.”
“I’m coming for you, sweetheart!” Lucas interrupts before Gemma has the chance to apply the sunscreen.
He grabs Gemma in his big, muscular embrace. With a deep whoop, he scoops her up and runs for the lake.
“Lucas, no!” Gemma shouts, breaking off into laughter. “You freakin’ caveman!”
“Ayyy!” Bishop cheers further down the beach, following up with a coyote howl. “Get her, Saint! Watch out, a king and his queen coming through!”
Once they hit the water, she screams, wrapping her arms and legs around his waist as he free-falls backwards into the lake. The splash they make as they breach the surface is huge, spraying high. They look like the perfect couple, the handsome ex-football-star-turned-architect-student and the sassy photographer he fell hard for. No one would know their start was rocky and fraught with tension.
Bending down, I grab the abandoned tube of sunscreen. Strong arms wind around my waist, and a solid, warm bare chest plasters to my back. My heart skips a beat as Devlin’s decadent, spicy musk envelopes me.
“Fuck,” Devlin rasps in my ear, his lips pressed to my lobe. “I’ve changed my mind. No one else gets to see you like this. I have a dock. We can swim at the house. How much would it cost me to drag you home right now?”
The way he says home makes my stomach flip over.
“Too rich, even for your blood,” I sass, turning my head to view him in my periphery. “You did everything to make sure I was here, so I’m staying. Plus, Gemma wants to take photos of me later.”