Despite the surprise dunking, I am having the best time. There’s something about being here with Easton and Phoebe and the playful teasing that makes me so…
So…
Happy.
Is it normal to feel this way?Ugh.
I wonder if he feels it, too.
My newly proclaimed boyfriend gives me a sidelong glance. “You mad?”
I pretend to consider it for a moment, then shake my head.
“Nah. I’ll get you back, though. Just wait.”
Phoebe splashes nearby, oblivious to the moment that’s building between us. I know he’s going to kiss me, and I know that when he does, she’s going to throw a fit.
She’s circling like a “shark,” giggling and shooting us little glances every now and then, but doesn’t seem to notice how close we’ve drifted toward one another.
“You know,” Easton says softly, his voice lower now, “there’s a way I could make it up to you.”
“Oh yeah?” I whisper. “How?”
His face is inches from mine.
My heart pounds in my chest as he closes the last baby bit of distance, his lips brushing against mine in a soft, tentative kiss.
One peck is all it takes for his sister to shout, “Ew! Gross!” and begin splashing us with cold water—as if we weren’t wet enough already!
“Are you guys seriously kissing in the pool? Don’t embarrass me!” she shrieks. “That’s so gross!”
Easton grins, unfazed. “What? You’ve seen us kiss before.”
“Notin the pool! Not. In. The. Pool,” Phoebe protests, scrunching her nose. “Do it again and I’ll tell Mom.”
She is too cute.
“Sorry, Phoebs. He couldn’t help himself. I’m irresistible.”
Phoebe crosses her arms, bobbing in the water. “Well, stop it. You’re ruining the pool for me.”
Easton ruffles his sister’s wet hair.
“All right, all right. We’ll stop—just for you.”
“Good,” Phoebe says with a satisfied nod, though she’s still eyeing us suspiciously.
But before she can swim away from him, Easton flashes me a look over her head, mischief written all over his face. Without saying a word, he grabs Phoebe by the waist, lifting her slightly out of the water.
“What are you doing?” she yelps.
“Oh, just this.” I swim over and plant a loud, exaggerated kiss on her cheek. “Mwah!”
“Noooo!” she screams, half laughing, half trying to escape.“Ew!”
Easton leans in on the other side and kisses her other cheek.
“Aww, we love you, little Phoebe,” he teases.
