“Yeah, Quinn. He’s alright.” I smirk as I lean back, draping one arm across the back of her chair in a way which I hope comes off as casual. When really, I just want a way to be closer to her.
Ash catches my eye, his eyebrows pulled together contemplating me. I wave him off, trying to get him off my case.
Gigi, who I didn’t realise had left the room, comes back in with some milk for Steele who now has tears running down his blotchy red face.
Steele snatches the glass from Gigi, downing the milk in one gulp. “I-I’m fine.” He manages to grit out.
“Sure you are, buddy.” Calloway remarks, shaking his head before returning to his own food.
Finishing up the food, Scarlett stands to clear the table before I stop her. I nod towards Steele who picks up on it and stands, stacking the dishes.
“I’ll help.” Gigi offers, following Steele into the kitchen.
“How do you guys feel about taking the boat out tomorrow? I feel like we could all use a lake day.” Scar flashes them a grin, looking delighted at the prospect. I wipe my hand down my face to cover my own smile.
I look around at the boys to see them all smiling before I catch Ash’s eye only for him to wink at me – that can’t be good.
“Yeah, we should definitely take the boat out. Do you have any skis or a wakeboard? I’d pay good money to see Carter eat shit again.” I’m going to fucking kill him.
In my peripheral, I see Scarlett turn to me with a smirk on those full lips. Here we go again. “Oh, now I have to hear this.” She turns back to Ash with a beaming, hopeful smile. She looks so relaxed – so beautiful, surrounded by my friends. She’s fit right in like she has been a part of us for years, and I kind of wish she had been.
I try my luck, shaking my head subtly at Ash, willing him not to tell this god-awful story, but of course he just acted like he didn’t see it. Dick.
“I’m sure you know Carter, Cocky as shit, decided he would try and one up us all by using only one ski.” Scarlett nods along with a growing grin. “Well, he did it, he got up and had been making it look easy for about two minutes, and we were all in shock, impressed even. That is until we hit a few small waves from another passing boat. Before he even realised it, the front tip of his ski caught a wave, and Carter was flying through the air, landing face first into the water with possibly the loudest slap I’ve ever heard.” He struggles getting the next words out between his laughter. “And to top it all off, throughout the whole five seconds of the ordeal, Carter let out the loudest and most high-pitched scream known to mankind. Man, what a day that was. Carter has conveniently offered to drive the boat ever since.”
Scarlett’s giggles spill into laughter, gasping for air as everyone details the story. I don’t even care about the embarrassment anymore because it made Scarlett laugh like that, and fuck, if it isn’t the best thing I’ve ever heard.
I reach for my drink, feeling my shoulder pinch slightly, my breath hitching before I can stop it. I was hoping Scarlett wouldn’t notice, but I could never be that lucky, of course.
The boys keep talking as she shifts to face me. “You okay?” Her voice is soft as she reaches to place a hand on my knee, her touch soothing me.
“Yeah.” I cough, not wanting to get into this. “Yeah, I’m good, Quinn.”
She doesn’t look convinced but doesn’t push and thank fuck for that.
Deciding I need a bit of space, I stand making Scarlett’s hand fall from my leg. I feel her gaze following me as I leave the room.
I head into the bathroom, closing the door with a soft click as I move to the sink, gripping the edge and taking a few deep breaths. This injury is getting really tough to manage, and I don’t know what to do about it. Especially when that fucking delicious brunette in the other room is all I can think about.
I’m massaging my shoulder, trying to loosen the muscle when I hear a soft knock on the door, before it’s pushed open revealing Scarlett.
She closes the door behind her and leans her ass back against it, crossing her arms over her chest which pushes her breasts up. God, she looks so good. I feel the blood starting to rush south and I grit my teeth trying to will it away. Of course those guys had to show up right when we were heading the direction I wanted.
I shake off those thoughts as I splash my face with some water before I turn, resting back against the counter.
“When are you going to stop pretending, Carter?”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Pretending what, Quinn?” I shake my head at her.
She tilts her head as she looks at me, the intensity in her gaze unmistakable.
“I still can’t seem to figure you out, Levi.” She murmurs, her gaze softening as she takes me in. It makes me feel as though she really sees me.
I close the distance between us, backing her against the door. My hands find her hips using her proximity to ground me.
She pulls her pillowy bottom lip between her teeth and peers up at me through those dark lashes. I’m so fucked.
I place my forehead against hers, closing my eyes as I breathe her in - the jasmine scent soothing me.
