ChapterTwenty-Eight
Oliver
“What is this?” I stare out over a sea of people, all of them running, laughing, and chasing while jets of water stream in haphazard directions.
Piper is jumping on her toes, all excitement and energy. “It’s a water fight. Let’s go!”
She runs into the melee, shooting at people erratically, and I follow. I have a feeling I would follow her anywhere, into any battle. I keep my eyes on her back as she runs into the crowd.
Within seconds, we’re both soaked. Her wet clothes cling to her skin, and her hair is damp against the nape of her neck. Minutes later, we stop near the center of the massive crowd.
She faces me, tilting her head back, shutting her eyes, and spreading her arms out while water rains down on us. Rivulets flow down her face and onto her black tank top, an astute choice of color. My own white T-shirt is molded to my body, concealing nothing.
She laughs into the sky, her eyes shut. She’s stunning. Heart-stopping. Her bliss is like the most potent drug flooding my veins, filling my chest with unequivocal joy.
Without warning, she reaches for me, twists my wet shirt in her hand, and drags me against her. Then we’re kissing. Her mouth is hot, but her skin is wet and cool, the contrast an extraordinary assault on the senses.
I drop my gun and haul her closer, aligning our bodies. She melts against me, and the drizzly carnage around us disappears. All that exists is her mouth on mine, her fingers clutching me to her, and her taste—like sunshine and spring breezes.
Eons later, she pulls back. “Happy birthday,” she says against my mouth. And then she kisses me again, her lips stealing the astonished gasp from my lungs.
How did she know? Did she plan this for me? I haven’t celebrated a birthday in… I don’t even know how long it’s been.
Then she pushes me away, shoots me in the chest with an animated laugh, and runs off. I chase after her. If I wasn’t already completely gone for her, this would have shoved me over the edge.
I’ve never had so much fun in my life. But it’s not the activity—it’s her. It’s like Piper knows exactly what I need when I couldn’t have articulated it myself. She knew that I needed to play. I never would have considered involving myself in anything like this.
An hour later, we’ve abandoned the battle. I’m completely drenched from head to toe, my shoes squelching with every step. She doesn’t seem to mind the almost sheer fabric clinging to my body. Her gaze returns to my chest every few seconds as we make our way back to the car.
Brienne is parked off West Drive, waiting for us. Piper grabs the stack of towels, and I haul the cooler up onto my shoulder. Then Piper leads me over to a grassy sunlit area, where she lays out a blanket and hands me one of the towels.
I scrub it against my head, and then fall back on the blanket, closing my eyes against the midday sun. We don’t speak. We don’t have to. Words are unnecessary.
Piper lies beside me, a comforting presence. I reach for her and weave my fingers through hers. We hold hands and lie in the sunshine for so long that I doze off. Unbelievable.
I rouse when her hand extricates itself from mine, her weight shifting next to me. Rolling onto my side, I prop my head up on my elbow and blink in the vivid light. She’s pulling items out of the cooler, setting them down between us.
Two chocolate cupcakes. Plastic cups she fills with fizzing gold liquid—champagne maybe.
I pick up one of the cupcakes. “Scarlett’s?”
She sits in front of me, cross-legged, peeling the wrapper off her own little cake. “Yep. It’s the one that calls Guy a douchenugget or whatever. I can’t remember the full title.” She takes a big bite and moans. “Damn, that’s good.”
I push myself up, lean forward, and kiss her. “Tastes better this way.”
She laughs, pushing me away. “I will not feed you like a baby bird.”
I swipe some frosting with my finger. “I can think of other ways we could consume these.”
Her cheeks tint pink, her eyes going hooded. “I’ve got more. That sounds like something we could consider later tonight.”
“I can’t wait.”