“Everyone knows Rex. He was the football star and the tall, blond god. But really, we all wanted you, Luke. You had to know that, right? With your dark hair and your blue eyes and those muscles, and you were so quiet and demure. No one wants the big, brash, loud guy who’s fucking every woman he can get. We all want the sexy man with secrets in his eyes. At least, I know I always did.”
She leans forward and blows into my ear. “I’d love to suck that big cock of yours. Just let me know, and I’d be down.” She sucks on my earlobe and tugs gently before stepping back.
“Your girlfriend looks like she wants to kill me right now.” She runs her fingers through her short blonde bob and laughs. “But let me know, Luke. I’m yours whenever you want me.”
She steps back and disappears into the crowd, and I just stand there, chugging on my beer.
“Holy shit, what the fuck was that about?”
I look up and see Cal standing there, observing me.
“You okay?”
“I just feel like I am in the middle of something absolutely crazy,” I say as I step toward the bar and look around to make sure that no one’s listening to us. “What is with the women in Coconut Beach?”
“I think there’s something in the water,” he says, laughing. “I just don’t understand why they’ve all gone mad.”
“Oh, why? What’s going on with you?”
“It’s just Silvie. She’s gotten under my skin.”
“In a good way or in a bad way?”
“Fuck if I know.” He shakes his head and chuckles. “Hey, you want another beer?”
“Sure. You want one as well? On me.”
“Thanks, Luke. You know what? I think I will have one.” I watch as he pours IPAs into two frosted glasses and hands me one. “So, what’s really going on with you and Mia?”
“Silvie didn’t tell you?”
“Not really, I heard a little bit. You guys are pretending to be together for the wedding, right?”
“Yeah. Rex left some really rude notes on my and Mia’s wedding invite, and we decided, why let Rex think he’s better than us? So, we’re pretending we’re together.”
“You think that’s smart?” He gives me a look.
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s just say, she’s a cute girl. I know you know she’s a cute girl.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Cal?”
“You don’t think all these years of you guys coming to the bar, I haven’t noticed?” He leans toward me with a knowing look.
“Notice what?”
“You want to play dumb? I can play dumb, but I’m just saying, she’s a hot girl. She’s not just going to be single forever, you know.” He chuckles. “Playing these lovey-dovey games … well, they can lead to complications. Trust me, I’ve got my own.” He shakes his head. “These hot blondes are going to drive us crazy.” He looks to the side and then starts laughing. “Those girls are trouble, aren’t they?”
“What do you mean?” I turn my gaze from him, and I notice that Mia and Juniper are now standing on the bar top at the far end of the bar and dancing in time to the music that is playing.
“She’s crazy. She’s going to fall.” I shake my head as I watch her effortless dancing.
She looks like she’s having the time of her life in her sexy red dress, and I can’t help but think what it would be like if she were dancing on me.
“You know she likes to dance on a bar top. She does this frequently.”
“How frequently?”
