“I think you both got the best genes possible.” Brooklyn eyes Miles next to me causing him to immediately draw his attention to her.
“Ryder and I are going to a bonfire later tonight on the beach. You two should stop by.” He eyes Brooklyn, and she practically melts under his gaze.
I glance over at Eve, and she quickly looks away and blushes. I stop myself from grinning like an idiot, knowing she was checking me out. From the blush on her cheeks, she liked what she saw. Joy surges through me at the thought she could possibly be feeling something.
“I think we can do that. Eve?” She looks at her friend, and I hold my breath as Eve quickly looks my way before turning back to Brooklyn.
“I guess we could do that.” She works her bottom lip between her teeth, and all I want to do is free it with mine.
“Don’t worry about your parents. You’re spending the night with me anyway. They won’t know a thing.” I frown at her worried look and immediately want to take it away.
“I don’t want you to get in trouble.” She meets my eyes again when I speak, and I can see the worry in the depths of her blues.
“No, it’s okay. I’m staying at Brooklyn’s, so it will be fine.”
“Perfect. We’ll be there at eight.” Miles gives Brooklyn the directions while I study Eve. She’s fidgeting with the book in her hand, and I can tell she’s nervous.
“Are you sure?” I ask her quietly.
She nods her head and smiles for the first time, and I feel sucker punched in the gut. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful sight.
“I’m sure. I want to go.”
“You ready, brother? Travis and Jake are waiting on us.” I glance down the beach and see them waving us over. I nod at Miles before looking at Eve one last time.
“I guess I’ll see you later then.” I smile at her before Miles throws his arm over my shoulders again and starts to drag me away.
“I’ll be there.”
I watch her until Miles starts laughing. I break my gaze and focus on my brother. “What?”
“You’re real smooth, Romeo. If you were a cartoon, you would have big heart eyes on your face. Way to play it cool.”
“I can’t help it,” I grin back at him. “Did you see how beautiful she was?” I look back again, but my view of her is blocked now by other people on the beach.
“She’s young too, so be careful. They can’t be more than sixteen.”
“That’s only one year younger than us, and you were the one who invited them.”
“I did that for your benefit. I can tell, though, that Brooklyn is way more experienced than your innocent, shy one. Just watch yourself. You don’t want to do anything you’ll regret later.”
“I’ll be careful. Do you really think she’s never been with a guy?” I’ve never hung around someone younger than me. It’s usually my age or older. I don’t look seventeen, so even some of Jake’s friends have come on to me. “I mean, surely she’s kissed a guy.”
“I don’t know, man. She seemed pretty nervous around us.”
The thought of possibly being the only one to kiss those lips has me smiling before I can stop it. Miles catches on to what I’m thinking and starts laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Jake asks as we approach them.
“Ryder here is in love with a younger woman and wants to be her first.”
“I did not say that.” I scowl at Miles, causing him to laugh harder.
“Which one is she?” Travis peers down the beach, trying to find her.
“She’s way down there. You can’t see her from here.” There’s no way I’m pointing her out so my older brothers can embarrass me. Thank God our bonfire party tonight is our age group, so I only have to deal with Miles. “Let’s get back to our game. Travis and I were kicking your asses before Miles interrupted our play.”
“Which led you to meet your dream girl, so you owe me.” Miles throws the ball in the air before catching it.
