I can’t help it. My eyes find Mason, but I quickly avert.
You’re projecting.
Shoving away the horrifying thought, I try to relax as much as possible. At this point, I’m counting down the hours until it’s time to leave—less than six now—and hoping I won’t be so on edge once we do.
“Youfucker!” yells Mason, snapping my attention back to the game. He starts screaming at Ben through the net about some kind of shady play, and my hair stands on end.
Ben raises his hands in the air in an apology, looking shocked at Mason’s outburst. “Woah. Hey, man. Calm down.”
“Calm down?” Mason spits. “You calm the fuck down. Don’t tell me to calm down.”
Kaden frowns, stepping up and hesitantly touching Mason’s shoulder. “Ace. It’s just a game, man. He didn’t mean anything by it.”
Everything tightens inside me as Mason shoves off Kaden’s hand. He spikes the volleyball into the ground in a fit of anger before stalking off down the beach.
“What the fuck is his problem?” Paul asks Ben, who shrugs in awhat did I do?sort of way.
“He gets like that sometimes,” says Cory, rolling his eyes. “He just needs to cool off.”
Wes frowns at his friends before glancing down the beach at Mason’s retreating form. A part of me hopes he’ll let Mason storm off and continue the game without him, but that’s not the kind of person Wes is. “I’ll talk to him,” he says. “Give me a sec.”
My heart sinks as he hurries after Mason, catching up quickly and speaking in calming tones. Mason looks pissed as he argues back, his eyes flashing toward Ben, his body taut and on-edge. Wes shakes his head, lowering his voice, and finally, Mason nods. Wes pats him on the shoulder.
“Let’s take a quick break!” Wes calls to the rest of the guys, who shrug and head for the beers in the cooler. Not Mason, though. He stalks by the guys and heads for the house, still looking weirdly pissed off.
Wes drops down beside me with a tired smile. “Hey, you.”
“What was that about?” I ask, still staring after Mason.
Wes rolls his eyes. “Dumb shit. He gets competitive, but it’ll pass.”
I nod, unconvinced, but do my best to focus on him. “You looked good out there.”
His eyes twinkle, and he nudges my shoulder playfully. “Oh yeah?”
“Oh yeah. I think the other girls were hoping you’d get warm enough to take your shirt off.”
He smirks. “You’re the only one who gets a free show. If you want it.”
My face warms, and I bite back a smile. “How generous of you.”
“Haven’t you heard, Ives?” Wes winks at me. “I’m averygenerous guy.”
My blush deepens at the suggestive note in his tone, but any normality I feel bantering with Wes dissipates the second the back door swings open.Heemerges back onto the beach, and my smile falters. My body goes rigid as my muscles tense, and I can’t help the sudden frown tugging at my lips. Noticing the drastic shift in my mood, Wes ducks his head closer, eyes searching mine. “Everything okay?”
I tear my eyes away from his friend and force a smile I don’t mean. “Yeah. Why?”
He studies my face for a moment before shrugging a shoulder. “I know this week has been a lot of socializing for you. I really appreciate you being here, Ivy.”
I swallow against the guilt clawing up my throat. How Wes still manages to be so kind and so grateful after I’ve been nothing but avoidant, anxious, and on edge the entire trip, I have no idea. I should tell him to save his gratitude for someone who’s deserving of it, but instead I say, “You’re welcome.”
He smiles at me, oblivious to my dark inner thoughts, and nods at the paperback in my lap. “Watcha reading?”
“A book,” I tell him, trying to hide the cover, though it’s not like he can tell what the story’s about from the image alone. There’s no half-naked man, thank god.
He smirks, a knowing glint in his eye. “Are you reading porn with all these people around?”
“No,” I say, cradling the paperback to my chest. “I mean, I haven’t gotten to that part yet.”
