I stifle a laugh. “Hey now—we can’t go calling other girls stupid.”
Totally unbothered. “They are.”
“How do you know who his other crushes were?”
“She spies on me!” Easton stands, grabbing his little sister. “Now you’re in for it!”
Phoebe squeals, wriggling in his arms as Easton lifts her effortlessly.
“Nooo! Easton, no!” she shouts—but her laughter betrays her. His sister is delighted, kicking her legs in protest—but it’s too late. Easton is walking toward the pool, his smile roguish.
“Admit it, you were spying, you little weasel!” he teases, holding her next to the pool.
“I wasn’t! I wasn’t!” Phoebe giggles, her voice high-pitched as she squirms in a mock attempt to escape. “Okay. I was.”
I sit up, grinning, watching the two of them through my sunglasses, tossing my empty juice box into the cooler.
“Easton, let her go.” I wink, knowing he isn’t going to put her down. He’s enjoying this way too much.
“Too late! She’s done for now!” he announces theatrically.
Then.
With one giant step toward the edge, he jumps into the pool, holding Phoebe tight as they both splash down into the water.
Easton surfaces first, slicking his hair back and grinning like a kid.
Phoebe pops up a second later, wiping water from her face and shrieking with delight.
She clings to her brother, arms around his neck.
“You’re gonna pay for that!” Phoebe declares.
The sound of their laughter echoes throughout the concrete patio area, and I laugh along with them, shaking my head.
“I am?!”
His sister nods.
Easton looks up at me from the water, his hair wet and his smile still wide. “What abouther?”
“Yeah, her, too!”
“Phoebe!” I yell. “Don’t you dare betray me, tiny Westermann!”
“You’re next!” My boyfriend points at me from the shallow end, water dripping from his body.
I raise my hands in surrender.
“Oh no. No, no, no—I’m good right here.”
My heart sinks.
I glance down at the brand-new one-piece swimsuit I ordered online; I had no intention of getting wet today, but there is no way I’m getting out of this dry.
Phoebe lets out an excited squeal, clinging to her brother’s back as they both inch closer to the tiled edge. Closer to me.
“You’re not safe there, Harper.” Easton wears a wolflike grin.
