“Hey, sweetie,” Mom says behind me.
“Yeah, Mom?” I scribble my name, glancing up.
She rests her hand over mine, her thumb stroking back and forth in that comforting way. “Talk to Hunter today. Remind him you won’t come second. That you’re not waiting like before. I love that boy, but you are my priority, and you deserve the whole world. It’s time he shows you that.”
My chest tightens, heart thudding against my ribs.
“And if he doesn’t listen, then you’ll meddle?” I smirk at her, teasing.
She chuckles, nudging me lightly in the shoulder. “Tell Charlie I’ll be in to see her soon.”
I shake my head, grinning at her as she walks off. “Come on, you love it.”
“Girls! Remi!” Connor’s voice booms from the lookout above the water.
Remi’s eyes shoot up. “Momma, wot Con doing? Con so high!” His little hands fly into the air in pure excitement.
“Watch this!” he shouts, stepping to the edge of the rocky ledge, toes curling as he looks down.
Sarah stops dead, her fingers clamping around my arm, gasping. We both watch as Connor leaps with a loud whoop that echoes off the rocks as he free-falls toward the water.
My heart drops straight into my feet, the same way it does every time the boys hurl themselves off that lookout over the small waterfall. Adrenaline spikes through my veins, buzzing under my skin. The sun filters through the trees above us, hot and heavy. The air tastes like summer—fresh water and the earthy tang of wet stone.
“Holy shit, is he okay?” she blurts, taking a step forward.
Tessa coughs out a laugh, and Halle smiles at Sarah before scooping Remi onto her hip and jogging off toward the park benches where Hunter has everything set up. Her eyes are squeezed shut, her whole body locked tight. I giggle, bumping her shoulder with mine and point just as Connor breaks through the surface, shaking his long hair back with a triumphant smile. The locals still at the top of the lookout lean over, cheering and hollering down at him. Her shoulders relax as she lets go of the breath she was holding.
“They do this all the time,” I reassure her. “The water out there under the falls is crazy deep, perfect to jump and swim into.” I gesture toward the shallow water in front of us, where the sunlight turns the creek crystal clear as it runs over the pebbles and smooth stones. “Here’s better for Remi to splash around. I wouldn’t take him out that way until he’s older. Plus, the locals will be climbing up and down all day to jump.”
I loop my arm through hers and drag her away.
“Do you ever jump?” she asks, glancing back to the waterfall.
“Sometimes. I’m not racing up there like these buffoons, but if I’m feeling spontaneous, I’ll go.”
“Ladies,” Hunter calls as we approach the table.
My eyes meet his, and the air slips right out of my lungs.Do not drool, Madison. Do. Not. Drool. There are people around.
Hunter stands behind the cooler, shirtless. Droplets slide down his bare chest, racing over the hard lines of his abs before disappearing into the waistband of his board shorts that hang low on his hips. His damp hair is sticking up in every direction, and in the deep V of his hip is the small purple bruise I put there. My stomach flutters; he’s wildly attractive, and that’s so unfair.
When my eyes find their way back to his, a small smirk plays at the corner of his mouth.Ugh, he knows exactly what he does to me.
Before my brain can form a single coherent word, wet arms wrap around my chest and lift me off the ground. I squeal as I’m spun in a dizzying circle, then plonked back down on shaky feet.
“You got a little drool there, Queen,” Connor murmurs into my ear, tapping at the corner of my mouth.
I smack his hand away, laughing. “You got me all wet,” I groan, looking down at my now see-through white tee, proudly showing my blue bikini top.
Connor grins wickedly. “Aw, I don’t think I’m the one making you all wet.” His brows bounce, smug as hell.
“Connor!!” I shriek, heat crawling all over my skin.
Hunter rolls his eyes and shoves him playfully as he steps closer to me. His shoulder brushes mine, and my heartquickens as he hands me a drink. “Ignore him. He’s being childish.”
“Oh, relax, Dad,” Connor sing-songs.
Asher walks over at that exact moment, dropping a case of water onto the table with a thud and peeling off his shirt. I catch Halle’s stare—burning, unblinking—and snort.
