“I need a drink.” Anson shoved his cousin once again and stalked away.
Dex smiled. “It’s fun watching him flounder. Everything’s always come a little too easy to him. But not Riley.”
“Don’t they hate each other?”
“She hates him for sure. Anson feels anything but for his chocolate goddess.”
Jack coughed. Not exactly a PC thing to say. “If she hears you call her that, she’ll kill you.”
“I used to call her that back in high school and she liked it. Remember? She made the best chocolate chip brownies ever.”
“Oh yeah.” Speaking of which, he wondered if she’d make some for him to take on a picnic with his redhead.
Riley returned with Ann, who was all smiles.
“My chocolate goddess.” Dex beamed at her.
Riley tried to be stern, but Jack saw a grin break through. “You big goofball. Aside from pissing off Maya, how are you?”
Dex swung Riley into a huge hug. “How is it you keep getting prettier? Your skin is flawless. Gorgeous. Look at the play of shadow over you. When can I shoot you?”
“Excuse me?” Ann arched a brow.
Jack slung an arm around her shoulders. “I’m assuming he means with a camera.”
“Huh? Of course.” Dex shook his head. “Academics. Am I right?”
Riley snickered. “Teachers inlurveee.”
Ann blushed.
Jack only smiled, and Riley’s eyes grew wider.
Dex glanced from him to Riley. “What?”
“Nothing. Look, I gotta go. I have to find Maya before she gets a gun and shoots you. As in, not with a camera.”
Dex sighed. “Still mad about the prom, huh? She swore she’d get even with me.”
“You know Maya. She holds a grudge.”
“Yeah, but she’s so pretty while being mad. I forgive her.”
Even Ann smiled at the charmer.
Jack didn’t like that. “Okay, we’re out of here.” He leaned down and whispered to her, “I have five more hours.”
“Geesh. Going to count down to the last second, eh?”
“You got it.”
Jack said his goodbyes before dragging Ann away with him.
“I wanted to hang with Riley.”
“Well, I want you all to myself. Unless you’d rather blow me right—”
She slapped a hand over his mouth.
