“Nothing’s colder than the Pacific.”
“I still can’t believe you lived in LA,” Audrey adds as she runs her fingers over the water, leaving ripples in their wake.
Jett wraps his arm around my shoulder, tugging me close, keeping me from fumbling over my feet in the water. He taps his canned beer against mine, his bright eyes shimmering in the sunlight as he stares down at me. “But we’re glad she’s back.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Greer says, raising her can in my direction. The others follow suit, raising their cans.
My chest heats, and I rub the spot over my heart. Happiness. That’s what this feeling is. How long has it been since I've been genuinely happy? Not having to play the part of a reality TV star faking niceties to people who never cared about me. It’s been too long since I’ve relaxed and allowed myself to be whoI am without fear of saying the wrong thing and waiting for the punishment that followed.
Hours slip by as the sun lowers closer toward the horizon, with still plenty of daylight left. I feel the buzz of alcohol thrum through my body, sending sparks across my skin. Jett watches me when I laugh at Davis missing the make-shift beer pong table by a mile. His gaze lingers like he’s memorizing something, almost afraid he’s going to wake up from a dream.
“What?” I ask, tilting my head.
“Nothing,” he says, but his hand drifts down my back until it’s cupping my ass, fingers tracing my exposed skin from my cheeky bottoms. “You look…good.”
“Good?”
He nods. “Happy. Beautiful. Like this is where you’re meant to be. There’s a spark in your eyes you didn’t have when you first came home.”
I lean into his shoulder, resting my head there. “I'm happy.”
Squealing grabs our attention as we watch Greer and Audrey hit the volleyball back and forth. Baker and Davis are complaining about a rule for their game as if we haven’t been playing drinking games for years.
“Audrey’s come a long way,” Jett tells Levi.
“Can’t believe I'm saying this, but your sister makes a good coach.”
I snort a laugh, and their attention swings my way. “Why’s that funny?”
I play it off and bark out a cough. “Sorry, just coughing. Swallowed wrong.”
Levi eyes me skeptically.Don’t worry, Levi, your secrets are safe with me.He might not have flirted back with Saylor, but I didn’t miss the way he kept his eyes on her.
Conversation flows easily as we drink and dance along to the music. Baker talks about all the gigs he has planned for the summer, and when I poke him about taking his music careermore seriously, he tells me this is exactly where he’s meant to be. He loves his job as an EMT and playing on the side.
Davis is the hardest to get a read on. I was shocked to see him waiting for us on the boat when we pulled up, but I’m glad he was able to come out for the afternoon. Growing up, he was always the more serious one of the group. A lot of it because his dad was the principal and there were always more eyes on him, but his broodiness is at a new level.
Greer, Audrey, and I sit in floats as we sip our drinks—nonalcoholic for Auds—gossiping about the town. Audrey asked why Greer and Baker weren’t dating, and I spluttered my drink at how red Greer’s face went. She acts as if they’re sibling-like, but we all know that’s bullshit. One of them needs to open their eyes before it’s too late.
Eventually, the engine roars back to life, signaling the end of our day. With everything loaded, we make our way toward Sunset Shores—a lakeside restaurant and resort. Laughter clings to us like dripping of lake water as we sing and dance the whole boat ride.
Jett drops me off at my cottage after nine. The sky melts into a colorful afterglow as twilight descends.
As I reach for the handle, Jett’s warm hand on my chilled skin holds me in place.
“I had a great time today.”
“I did too. I missed this, J.”
He leans in, kissing me sweet and slow. “I missed you.”
My cheeks heat, and it’s not from the summer air. I bite my lip as I let myself out of his truck and start up the sidewalk. Climbing the stairs, I hear footsteps behind me. Turning around, I find Jett running after me.
“Forget something?”
“Yeah,” he answers, taking the front porch steps two at a time. “This.”
Jett’s hands grip both sides of my face before he presses his lips against mine in a kiss that takes my breath away. I moan against his mouth, and before I know it, he’s pulling back.
