“No, notoff the cliff. Ofher,” Noah tilts his head to the water. I look down to see Dakota swim over to her friends who are splashing and joking around in the water. Her long black hair behind her makes her look like a damn mermaid.
I narrow my eyes and clench my jaw. “Nah, not in the slightest.”
Noah’s smug smile still is plastered on his face as he continues to test me. “So, you wouldn’t mind if I hooked up with her? I think she wants to.”
My stomach twists into knots. He says it casually, but I can see it in his eyes—he wants a reaction. He wants to know if I’d care. And the worst part is…Ido.I care too fucking much.
Honestly, I’d rather eat tree bark for all three meals than watch that happen, but I can’t say that. So, instead, I say, “No, not in the slightest. You’re single. You can do what you want.”
Noah, rolls his eyes and steps back from the cliff. “You’re deranged.”
“What?” I ask. “You want me to say you can’t? I’m withyour mom,Noah. What about that don’t you understand—”
Before I finish my idiotic, clearly defensive sentence, Noah runs and jumps straight off the cliff.
My heart lunges into my throat as I watch him straight leg into the water, disappearing under the surface.
“Noah!” I yell out, lungs tight. My heart claws its way into my throat. I can’t breathe. I can’t wait.
One second I’m on the cliff, the next second, cold water hits me. I’m up, breaking the surface before I know it. The one and only thing on my mind is Noah.
“Noah!” I call out, looking from left to right. My heart is pounding so fast. I can’t think. His hazel eyes. His charming smile. His playful mouth. Where is he?WHERE IS HE!?“NOAH!”
I’m right about to dive back under the water before I hear some laughter coming from my right.
Swimming over to the group gathered a little ways over, I see Noah laughing and splashing with the rest of them.
My heart immediately calms down.
“Noah,” I say softer this time, swimming closer. “Didn’t you hear me calling for you?”
Noah turns to me, but I can see a sense of disdain from him now.Here we go again.Back to him pushing me away after something stupid I’ve said.
“Nah, I didn’t,” he answers.
“Well, I did. Now, come on. Let’s go,” I say, reaching out for his arm.
“What? No! You guys can’t leave already. We’re going to do it again,” Dakota pouts, swimming over and draping her arm over Noah’s shoulders to stay afloat. The way she wraps herself around him makes my stomach feel uneasy.
“We’re good. Come on, Noah. That’s enough for today—” I pull. I feel childish, like we’re playing tug of war or something.
“You know what? I think I’m gonna stay.” Noah's eyes squint at me.
My stomach drops.
“You want to stay?” I release my hold on his arm.
“I want to stay,” he repeats.
I clench my jaw.
“We’ll get him back to your campsite okay, I promise.” Dakota smiles.
Noah quirks his eyebrow at me which makes me even more angry. An angry stir turns in my gut as I watch Dakota prop her chin on her hand that’s resting on Noah’s shoulder.
My gaze flicks between them. Do they want to be alone so they can fuck?
Images of the two of them flash in my brain like a horror movie.
