“So, what do you think?”
“Of what?”
“Of Brendan! Or the fact that Andrew is so clearly extremely jealous right now? I wish I had planned this myself because this is amazing.”
Realization washes over me. “That’s why you looked at me like that earlier?”
“He’s gorgeous, and you guys have things in common. I’d be jealous of him if I were Andrew. It was just a happy accident that this all fell together, and he seems genuinely into you. This is so great!”
I stop what I’m doing. “You think Brendan is into me? Oh, this is bad. This is weird. Becs?—"
“Calm down! All this is going to do is make Andrew realize you aren’t just going to sit around waiting for him to act on his feelings.”
My stomach churns.
The slider opens and closes behind the two boys. Brendan claps his hands together eagerly and asks, “So, should we get into our swimsuits? The water is calling to me.”
Rebecca’s words echo in my mind as his eyes flicker to me briefly before he turns to Andrew to say something. Andrew frowns and shoves Brendan’s shoulder before his gaze flits over me too.
No freaking way! WasRebecca right?
I turn to her, and it’s impossible to miss the smug look on her face. She sees it too. I try to stifle the giggle bubbling up inside me, but it slips out. She leans into me as the boys leave the kitchen to get their swimsuits. With sheer glee, she murmurs, “This is going to be so much fun.”
Excitement and hope rush through my veins as I grab my bag off the floor next to the couch and head to the bathroom to change into my suit. It’s the suit I just bought with Rebecca in town today before we got ice cream. It’s navy blue, and the bottoms have a little lettuce edge ruffle. She told me it made my butt look good, and, honestly, I feel pretty good in it.
I unlock the bathroom door and step out, wrapped in my towel. I may feel good in this, but I still have my modesty. Brendan and Andrew sit on the bar stools in just their swimsuits.Damn,they are a sight to see with their broad shoulders, taut chests, and perfectly chiseled abs. Feeling suddenly shy, I pull my towel around me even tighter. Meanwhile, Rebecca struts into the kitchen in her pale blue bikini.
“Ready?” Andrew asks.
Rebecca and I nod, and we all head out to the backyard. The juxtaposition is unreal as Andrew responsibly turns on the dock lights and carries towels for everyone while Rebecca grabs my hand and starts rushing to the dock, leaping off, leaving me with no choice but to follow.
We pop up with laughter just in time to see Brendan throw himself off the dock, curling into a cannonball. Before he surfaces, I feel a tug on my ankle, causing me to shriek. He bursts free from the water right in front of me with a huge grin, and I splash him in playful frustration. “Don’t you ever do that again! You scared the crap out of me.”
“Get a room, you two,” Rebecca teases from over my shoulder.
I look to her, trying to hide my embarrassment and findAndrew still standing on the dock, holding the towels and fuming. His eyebrows are narrowed, and his mouth is in a crooked line. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him like this before.
“Are you getting in, Andrew?”
That seems to break his train of thought, whatever it is. He throws the towels onto the dock and leaps off to my right.
Brendan continues to tread close to me, but Andrew lurks close by too. I can see his wheels turning before he finally speaks. “Hey, Brendan! Bet I can beat you to Emma’s dock!”
“No chance!” Brendan calls back before rocketing in the direction of our property.
The second they’re out of earshot, Rebecca bursts, “I’m a genius!” I can’t help the laughter that follows her words. “What are you laughing at?”
“Youarea genius, and I will give credit when credit is due, but I think you’re reading into this too much.”
“Emma! I promise you, I’m not. Andrew is so ticked that another guy is giving you attention. He just tried to use Brendan’s competitive side to get him away from you. I told you earlier I’d prove to you that the prospect of losing you would trigger something in Andrew, and it’s right here for you to see if you’d just open your eyes and stop being so humble!”
The boys hit the dock at about the same time, and I can hear them arguing over who got there first. I can’t help the smile that grows on my face.
“I don’t know, Becs. He’s only ever treated me as a friend, and I don’t see that changing.”
“That’s not true, and you know it.”
When Brendan and Andrew come back to our company, they’re both out of breath. In between pants, Andrew prods, “Em, tell this ass I beat him fair and square.”
