“Being your new BFF and all.”
I bark out a laugh. “Sorry, but that spot is still reserved for Lamar.”
“Aww. So no boyfriend and no BFF? What's left then?” He wades deeper into the ocean, the waves brushing his thighs as he pushes his board.
I think for a moment. “Considering your penchant for similar sports, I'll settle for sporty friend.”
“If you wanted to play Spice Girls, you could've just said so. I'm definitely Baby Spice, though. Not Sporty Spice.”
I bite my lip, struggling not to grin. “You're not exactly the sweet type.”
He locks eyes with me over his shoulder. “On the contrary, I can beverysweet when I want to.” Another one of those damn winks follows suit. “I did offer you a pizza after all.”
“Alright, I won't turn down free pizza.”
“Hold on, what?” He turns around. “You're actually taking me up for dinner?”
“Sure. We've already had breakfast and lunch together. Might as well go all the way.”
I realize my mistake too late as his eyes begin to twinkle. I spring forward in a rush, slapping my wet hand on his mouth to halt him.
“No. Don’t say whatever stupid, cocky pun you’re thinking about.”
I feel his smile, his teeth grazing his bottom lip, as his eyes unmistakably start to fill with heat. I only now realize that we’re standing way closer than what would be considered friendly, his hands resting on my sides since he obviously used me as an anchor to not topple down because of the impact of my rush forward.
“Uhm …” I struggle to find words as I can’t seem to remove my fingers, locked at the pull of his molten gaze.
When he licks my hand he solves that problem, though. He starts to cackle as I push him away, shaking out my hand. And the weird moment with it.
“Careful now, or I might think that you’re submitting to my awesomeness.” He retrieves his board that started to float away and shoots me a playful smirk. “But I wasn't joking about the pizza. Don’t you worry, though, it’s a group affair at Yetties tonight. Ava, Missy, and Asher will be there too.”
I exhale with a mix of exasperation and agreement. “Yeah, that works. I didn't have much planned for the evening anyway.”
And isn't that just sad? A twenty-one-year-old college student without much to do on a Saturday night. With the new season starting next week, Lamar with his mom, and Kaylee engrossed in her sorority, my plan was to just game with my friends in the living room. “I might bring a couple of roommates along.”
“Awesome, I’ll give them a heads-up. I know you’re probably tired of seeing my perfect face and have shit to do, but you’re always welcome at our table. We're usually there most nights–practicing, writing new songs, performing, or just hanging out. Feel free to drop by whenever. Lamar did last week.”
“He did?” I ask in surprise.
“Yeah, he's shown up a few times this week. I think they're kinda official now?”
“Well, that escalated quickly. Good for them, though.” Lamar hasn't mentioned it to me yet. But knowing him, he probably just forgot, probably being too busy banging Missy’s brains out.
“You can bring your brother along too.” Jace smirks again.
This time I push him for real, and he goes down in the water with a satisfying splash. He gasps, splutters and laughs his ass off as he comes up for air, looking like a drowned cat.
I point a finger in his face. “Don’t go after my brother.”
“Why not?”
“It’s weird,” I say. I don’t know why, but it just is. “If you're right about him, he's not even out yet. Let him figure it out.”
“Fine. You're way better to look at anyway.”
“I sure am. And I’m quick too. So quit with the flirting and start surfing, you haven’t beaten me yet.” I quickly maneuver past him, slide on my board and begin paddling out to the open sea.
“Oh you’re on,” he responds, and I can sense him trailing behind. “But you lead, that way I can stare at your ass in that awesome suit.”
