Shape-wise, I’m the complete opposite. I’ve got boobs, hips, and junk in the trunk. I’ve made my peace with the ever-present possibility that my breasts could make an unannounced appearance at any point when I wear a bathing suit.
So, I’ll roll the dice and take my chances.
It would be easy enough to get over my body envy and make nice with Ashley if she wasn’t such a bitch. She’s one of those girls who likes to dole out backhanded compliments. For some reason, I’m always on the receiving end of them.
Most of the time, I tune her out while praying that Noah will come to his senses and dump her skinny ass. But that has yet to happen.
I guess what they say about love being blind is true.
Although no one ever mentioned that it was deaf and stupid as well.
An hour later, Olivia and I are stretched out on our loungers sipping homemade iced lemonade, compliments of Aunt Marnie. The sun shines brightly with hardly any clouds in the sky, and we’ve shed our shorts and shirts to catch a few rays. We’re slathered to the hilt with SPF 100 sunscreen.
It’s turned out to be a perfect day.
Let me rephrase that. It would be a perfectly glorious day if a certain someone wasn’t here, constantly snagging my attention when I least expect it. I can’t glance anywhere without Carter being in my line of sight.
As painful as it is to admit, his muscular arms and wide chest are distracting.
“Is it my imagination,” Olivia says, interrupting my thoughts, “or did Carter manage to get even hotter while I was away?”
Feeling like I’ve been caught ogling, I jerk my gaze from him and shoot Olivia a sour look. “It’s definitely your imagination.”
She’s right. Carter is hotter than ever, as evidenced by all the female attention he’s garnering this afternoon. His body is even more finely chiseled than it was before. It looks like he spent the entire summer pumping iron.
Olivia’s eyes are still focused on him. “I know you two rub each other the wrong way?—”
“That’s an understatement of epic proportions,” I mutter crossly. My anger is directed more at myself than him. It pisses me off to feel anything for this guy when he’s such a cocky tool.
I must be a glutton for punishment. Maybe my parents’ divorce was more psychologically scarring than I want to admit. Otherwise, why would I put myself through so much self-torture by secretly admiring him?
Her voice drops to a loud whisper. “There’s an awful lot of sexual tension between you two.” She slides her sunglasses down her nose and peers at me over the rims. “Are yousurethere’s nothing going on now that you’re living together?”
I puff out my cheeks and press my fingers to my lips, making a few vomiting noises. “Ewww. I just threw up in my mouth.” I scowl. “How can you even say that to me?”
“Methinks the lady doth protest too much.” Humor simmers in her voice.
I make apfftnoise and roll my eyes even though she can’t see me do it behind my tinted lenses.
“Hello, ladies.” A deep male voice interrupts.
Both of our heads swivel. I shade my eyes to see who has dared to break away from the pack. Everyone on the BU football team knows that I’m Noah’s cousin and therefore off-limits. Most of the guys treat me like a little sister. Which is fine by me. The last thing I want to do is cause problems between Noah and his friends.
I rack my brain but don’t recognize this guy, which means he’s probably a freshman or transfer student. Behind my glasses, my eyes are free to wander over his body. And he certainly has a nice one.
He thrusts out his hand toward me. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced yet. I’m Tanner.”
I smile and do the same. His fingers close around mine and squeeze. The handshake is firm but not bone crushing. It’s the perfect amount of pressure. That makes me wonder what else he can do with his hands.
“I’m Daisy.” I nod toward my trusty sidekick. “And this is Olivia.”
I press my lips together to mask my amusement when Olivia perks up and thrusts out her chest. Since it’s fairly non-existent, it doesn’t make much of a difference, but she gets points for trying.
“It’s nice to meet both of you.” Tanner smiles, revealing gorgeous white teeth. He’s handsome in a surfer-boy way.
“Same here,” Olivia says, beating me to the punch.
I extract my hand from Tanner’s grasp. His eyes are covered by a pair of aviators much like Olivia’s, but I can tell that he’s checking her out.
