“He’s over there watching you pick up garbage like it’s the fucking moon landing or something. He’s been watching you the entire time. I guarantee you, if they hadn’t dropped us in zones, he’d be over here.”
I squint over at Mike, watching him through my sunglasses as he picks up something from the sand, with Aaron next to him. When he looks up at me, I wave, and he waves back. “See, it’s nothing.”
“I’m telling you, there’s something there. I noticed it while we were at the bar the other night. He got all dressed up. He did his fuckinghair, man, and Mike never does his hair. And just like now, he kept watching you.”
“You’re delusional. He’s straight. End of story. Nothing will ever come of it.”
Even if pigs could fly and unicorns existed, I’m not sure I’m ready to date, even for Mike. I don’t feel worthy of him, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to give my all to him. It’s the only thing that’s really diminished my crush on him. I still look at him and wish sometimes, but I just can’t anymore… I need to let go of the idea that Mike will ever be mine.
“Who’s straight?” Aaron asks from behind me, right on fucking cue.
I stiffen and inwardly curse myself, then I turn to face my brother. “Hey, Aaron. Snooping again, I see.”
“It’s good practice for when I become a lawyer. You’re changing the subject.”
“It’s nothing. It’s no one. When are you and Amanda finally going to tie the knot? You all have been dating forever.”
“You’re changing the subject again. You suck at that.” Aaron bumps me with his shoulder, so I bump him back. He grins, and then he shoves me with two hands, and I shove him back. When he shoves me the last time, I fall on my ass in the sand. I quickly scramble up, sand flinging everywhere, and I jump on his back. He’s a bit bigger and stronger than I am, so I have to cling to him tightly as he tries to get me off him.
I whoop and laugh, thinking I’ve finally got him, but suddenly I’m flipping in the air and I land on my back in the sand with an ‘oof.’
He straddles me and starts tickling. “Fuck! Stop, stop!Aaron… dammit!”
“Say it!” he grins down at me with straight white teeth that look even whiter against his tanned skin. “Tell me I’m the master.”
“Never!”
I bump my hips upward, and he falls forward, allowing me to roll out from under him, then I jump him again.
When I think I’ve got him pinned down, he rolls me onto my back again. “Dammit!”
“Saaaay it…”
“You can’t make me!”
He tries to tickle me again, but if I have anything, it’s strong legs, which I wrap around him and squeeze.
“Ugh…” he groans and tries to pry my legs off.
“Yousay it.”
Then suddenly, Aaron is yanked off me. “You two fighting?” Mike snaps.
Aaron brushes the sand off himself as I stand and do the same. We’re both laughing, then give each other bro hugs, and then the bird.
“Nah, we’re just messing around like old times,” I say.
“You’ve definitely gotten stronger, Den. But I would’ve won were it not for your attack dog here.”
Mike raises a brow. “Attack dog?”
“Who were you best friends with first again?”
Mike now smiles softly, knowing we weren’t really fighting after all. “I’m friends with you both.”
I shake my head like a dog and then look for my hat that fell off. “Ugh, I’m never getting all the sand out of my hair. That shit sticks to the scalp.”
Someone runs a hand through my hair, ruffling some of the sand out, and I turn to see it’s Mike of all people. He yanks his hand back and frowns. “Ah, sorry. I-I… You just had some…”
