My dad rearranges everything with other families who bring more equipment to accommodate everyone and it seems like everyone enjoying it so far.
I slowly stroll closer to Blakely and halt by the line of cooler boxes. Each filled with different juices and some with water. She is trying to open the tap to fill her red cup with an angry pout. “Stupid cooler. How do you open up for everyone else but me.” She murmurs to herself, although the commotion encasing us is loud, I’m still able to hear her tiny, seductive voice.
Her small hand is wrapped around the push pad, trying to figure out the mechanism of it before she loses her balance and flies backward straight into my arms.
Convenient.
Out of nowhere, her fist collides with my clean-shaven jaw. “Ouch! What was that for?”
“Sorry, reflex…?” she shrugs, making a small grin.
I feel like that was a pun-intended blow.
“Wilder.” I sigh silently. My hands planted on each side ofher waist to steady her. “You’re a hazard, do you know that?”
“I try hard, every day, but it seems like you’re a mosquito that wouldn’t leave me be.” Her facial expressions are endless.
“Maybe I’m a leech,” I suggest.
“Maybe,” she nods hard in confirmation. “Grinch,” her expression turns to a glower when she reads the text on my shirt. “I think it’s missing something,” she pauses, “Grinch bitch.” She nods as her words sink in, entirely amused by herself. “Sounds so much better.”
“Whatever you say, Wilder.” I try to contain my laughter as I lick my lips and bite them. I didn’t even notice that this was the shirt I picked up before I left my room.
“Are you going to have a shirt for every nickname that you’re giving me?” she taunts me, “Because I can’t wait!” that crinkled nose again.
“I’ll think about it,” I make a contemplating face.
“I need a break from you.”
She pushes against my arms to get away from my hold but instead of letting go, I inch closer to whisper in her ear. “You keep turning a few shades of pink every time I’m near you.”
I pull back to look into her doe eyes that curse me in ten different languages, and most definitely bash my head with an imaginary bat all at once.
“Get off your mighty bike.” She grits furiously, shoving my chest hard and storming away. Not far enough though. Settling beside my friends on the table, she grabs a plate I assume she made a few moments previously.
Eating her anger to pieces, the dam of tears welling in her eyes makes me feel like a complete asshole who wants to stick his head into an exhaust and fire away.
Shit.
I didn’t intend to make her cry.
I grab a plate myself and sit my ass down close to her but still far enough. I don’t want to intrude on her personal space if that’s the case.
Finally, Lenny’s lips start moving—out of everyone that sits at the table she addresses the tiny ball of emotions sitting by the corner. “Blakely, your green hair is fire! I had to say something because I can’t look away.”
Pretending to cover upmyfuckup, she grins widely. “Thank you, I needed a change.”
“I totally get it.” Lenny hands her my water cup, the least I can do. She gives me her ‘you can get another one’ look. “It’s untouched. Drink some. It’s really hot today.” She ties her pink hair into a bun atop her head.
Taking the cup, Blakely replies, “Thank you.” The small gulps help her gain her resolve back.
I’m such an idiot.
My head shoots in all directions, what could be the reason she reacted that way? When I asked her why she came here, she dodged it, explaining it was for her which I believe. But there was a guy before and maybe something he had done in the past is triggering her right now.
“If you are in Las Vegas you should drop by my Dad’s shop, he would love to see you two,” Blakely suggests. Her Dadand Dean go way back and ever since Lennon met him, they always visit us and her Dad when they come here.
“We will, I want to see the rest of the family back there so we’ll go for a week during the summer to visit them and come back here afterward.” Dean assures, “I can’t wait to see your old man. He has always been like a father to me.”
