She looks stunning. And way too fuckable. Internally groaning, I track my gaze down her slender neck, curvy figure, and legs that run a kilometre long. She’s dressed in a high-neck, figure-hugging white dress that leaves little to the imagination. She has always been pretty. And off-limits. But we’re older now and it feels ... different.
‘You scrub up alright,’ Zayden says casually over his shoulder. ‘Let’s do shots!’
She smiles warmly at her brother in that easy, affectionate way siblings who are on good terms share. When those doe eyes turn to meet mine, I realise every thought in my head is splattered across my face like a canvas. A smile tugs at her lips when she realises the effect she has on me. There is no point in denying it, the chemistry we have is off the charts. It always has been. Everything inside me tightens and I reluctantly drag my eyes from her.
Zayden shoves the shot into my hand and the other into his sister’s.
‘Cheers!’ he shouts, and I throw it back. It burns every inch of my throat. Anya grimaces, and Zayden laughs at her expression, handing her another one.
Warmth spreads through my body and I feel my muscles start to relax. Me, drunk, and in close quarters with Anya, is a recipe for disaster. Flashbacks of her eighteenth slam into my mind and I feel dizzy for a moment, but I shove down all thoughts of that night and snap back to reality when Zayden launches a paper coaster at my head. I scowl, shoving the drink beside me onto it. I’m the one who is always on his case about using them, but I was so distracted, I had forgotten.
‘Another?’ Zayden grins.
Bad idea.
In fact, it’s a terrible idea.
‘Pour it.’
After bar hopping for two hours, we end up at The Beach Club – by far the most popular club in the area. We used to drive an hour from our hometown just to come to this place. We would make a weekend of it: stay in a fancy hotel, spend the day surfing and drink way into the night.
The last few years have been a complete blur. A nostalgic feeling settles in my chest as I wade through the sweaty bodies. The music thumps so vigorously I can feel it under my skin. I did so much of this over the years, trying to rid her from my system. It worked, for a little while, but the booze and the blackout nights got old quickly.
Zayden yells something incoherent over his shoulder and dives towards a now-empty booth at the back of the club. I look behind me to see a tall man step in front of Anya, a leering smile etched onto his face.
Gritting my molars, I weave around him and slide my fingers through hers, pulling her after me. She lets out a squeak as I pull harder than I meant to, making her launch into me. The heat from her body seeps into mine and I rest my hands on her hips to steady her.
‘You good, Blush?’ I ask her. She feels small and fragile in my arms.
Looking up through long lashes, she steadily meets my gaze. ‘Yes. Thank you.’
This is the moment where I’m supposed to step away. Her eyes drift down to my lips, and mine immediately move to hers. My thumb strokes her side, as if it has a mind of its own. She draws her bottom lip between her teeth, and I groan.
‘You look beautiful tonight,’ I murmur.
Even in the dimly lit room, I see her cheeks darken. ‘There you go, being nice again.’
‘Don’t get used to it,’ I tease, involuntarily tightening my grip on her.
‘I won’t. You generally don’t stick around long enough to follow through.’
I step back as if she physically slapped me. She pushes my hands off her hips and continues trailing through the crowd. I stare after her for a few moments, shocked at her words, even though I shouldn’t be.
Sighing, I follow her. She’s seated beside Zayden at a small table littered with empty glasses.
‘I’ll get us a round of drinks,’ I say, mainly to avoid sitting down beside her right after that awkward moment we just shared.
I wait in line for ten minutes before I get served. Placing the tray down back at the table, I hand the drinks to Zayden and Anya. I sit down beside her. Her bare thigh brushes my leg, and she angles her body to lean away from me. A muscle in my cheek jumps. I don’t know why her attitude is bothering me so much.
Because she has always chased you, and now she isn’t. And you don’t like it.
Ignoring the annoying voice in my head, I throw my drink back. I’m starting to feel the effects of the alcohol taking place now and I welcome the warm, floaty feeling with open arms.
‘Feeling any better?’ Zayden asks, turning to face his sister.
They look alike. Same emerald-green eyes, with a dusting of freckles across their noses. Zayden’s hair is lighter than Anya’s, streaked blond from too many hours out in the sun. He towers above her, though.
I glance somewhere over her shoulder, finding it difficult to remain focused on her words and not get distracted by how incredible she looks. She was always pretty, but now ... she’s beautiful.Verybeautiful.
