of her.”
I still like the stars, even though I know the magic Mom filled my head with as a kid isn’t real.
If it was, I would’ve gotten Mom and I out of our troubles countless times over with all the wishing I wasted on stars.
“That’s it?” Devlin presses.
I shrug and it breaks the moment enveloping us in a bubble.
“Whatever. Forget it.” Devlin sighs and takes the sunscreen from me, slathering it on my back where I can’t reach.
I return the favor for him. Keeping my breathing even is a struggle as my palms glide over the muscles and sharp planes of his back. He keeps still for me, angling his head so I have a view of his chiseled jaw and a hint of his profile.
“Going to cop a feel while you’re back there?” Devlin taunts.
“No,” I mutter, pinching his side.
His deep laughter rolls over me like the blanket of the night sky, speckled in starlight. I like the sound of his laugh. Curling my fingers in hesitation for a beat, I let myself be as bold as my red bikini, soothing the spot I pinched and skating my touch up to his shoulders.
Devlin goes still, reaching back to brush his fingers against my hips.
Bishop interrupts, plopping onto Gemma’s blanket with his attention glued to his phone.
“Thought you were chasing Bailey around,” Devlin says mildly.
Bishop hitches a shoulder seconds later in a delayed reaction, humming. “Sean’s into her. I’ve got something better, anyway.”
As Bishop sprawls on his back, I catch a glimpse of his screen. My brows fly up.
“Holy shit. Is that—?”
Devlin steers us away before I finish my question. I’m pretty sure Bishop had a risqué photo of Thea Kennedy filling his screen. But that couldn’t be right, Thea isn’t the type to send a photo like that.
Especially to someone like Bishop, who is awful to her with his constant taunting.
“Pick your chin off the ground,” Devlin murmurs, arm slung over my shoulder possessively as we approach Sean and Bailey near the smoking grill.
Bailey lights up. “Dev! You have to try Sean’s kebabs, they’re, like, so awesome.”
Sean fist bumps Devlin as he flips the skewers. He winks at me, taking in my suit. “Looking good, Davis. You should hang with us more often. My parents have a boat we take out in the summer. You’re definitely invited if you wear that.”
Devlin grunts, snaking his arm tighter around me so I’m pressed against his side. I place a hand on his abdomen to keep my balance.
“Are you going to do the race with the guys?” Bailey asks Devlin.
He grants her a smile that’s totally fake, the construction a precise facet of his mask. The shift is subtle from how he was when we were by the blanket alone. It’s odd, but I can tell the difference.
“I don’t know why they bother. They all know I’ll win. I’m the fastest swimmer.”
Devlin’s muscles ripple beneath my hand as he puts on a show of flexing, falling into his usual arrogant persona. I’m tempted to pinch him again to bring back the real Devlin, the one that cooked me breakfast and accused me of cheating because I’m a faster runner.
“What about you, Blair?” Sean asks. It’s the first time someone from his crowd has ever used my name. I blink at his perfect gleaming smile. His eyes drop to my chest. “Will you join the girls in cheering us on? You’re so good at boosting the team morale.” Sean drags his teeth over his lip. “I’d so want you to get me to the finish line.”
Heavy innuendo laces his tone. Is he…flirting with me right now? What bizarre world have I woken up in where the popular guys want me around for more than someone to laugh at?
Narrowing my eyes, I smirk. “Hell no. I’d join the race and show you all up.” I bump my hip against Devlin’s. “Tell them how I beat you this morning in our race through the wooded trail.”
This bikini is like a magic charm, instilling confidence I haven’t used before. I’ve never cared to engage with these people, but something about Sean implying I’m only worth his time in a cheer uniform or a bikini lights a stubborn fire in me.