Page 76 of Grant’s Blaze

“It feels good to be held by you this way. I feel safe, and…” I searched for the word for a moment. “I think the word ‘cherished’ fits. Like a child, actually, but not in a creepy way.”

That made Grant chuckle. “Good. Creepy is not what I was going for.”

I laughed a little too. “You know what I mean. You do, right?” Christ, if this man didn’t get me by now, he never would. He had seen every deep, dark corner of my psyche, personality, and physical body. Grant Twombley knew me better than any man—or woman—had ever known me. The connection we shared because of that was unique, special, and so beyond words. I held him even closer while he rocked our bodies through the warm water.

“Of course I do,” Grant responded. After a few minutes—and several kisses that all but permanently curled my toes—he said, “What I don’t understand…is that.”

He turned so I could get a direct look at where Elijah lazed on a lounge chair like a damn Greek God, shirtless and golden. Hannah was beside him on her own chair, though I already wondered if the thing were actually a bed of tacks. I’d made several attempts to wave hello to her, but the woman hadn’t returned a single one. She simply sat upright, cover-up buttoned to her neck, trying to look like she was reading the dystopian sci-fi book in her hands.

“Yeah, I’m not sure what’s going on there. I thought you said he was banging some girl from some sex club you all used to frequent?” My voice was still very quiet and for my lover’s ears only.

“As recent as last week,” Grant confirmed. “Not that it meant anything or does anymore. That other girl’s just a shag. I mean, I saw the way he was looking at this one at the prep kitchen the other day”—he gestured to Hannah with his chin—“but I thought he was just feeling protective of a helpless female.”

I snorted heartily at that.

Grant just scowled, but it didn’t take him long to get the bee out of his bonnet.

“I need to talk to him about what was on that video on her phone. That might explain more of this.” He did the chin thing again in the new couple’s direction. But then he looked around the whole pool area, making a whirlpool effect in the water around us as he turned. “I’m wondering if maybe Bas knows more, but I don’t even see that bastard. Where did he go? This is his shindig.”

My head spun a bit even after we stopped moving, so it took me a few seconds to catch up with a comment. “I don’t see Abbi either. Maybe they went to get the baby? Are you ready to get out? We could go sit by Banks and Hannah. She’s been too uncomfortable to even return my waves. And of course, he’s being his usual charming self and ignoring her.”

“Yeah, I’ll go with you. Let’s grab our towels, though. You need to cover your ass. That suit is ridiculous.”

I batted my best innocent eyes at him. “You don’t like it?”

“Don’t.”

“You asked for it, buddy. You were the one who said I should wear this suit.”

“Yeah, but that was before I knew the bottoms were ass floss.”

“Oh my God.” I snorted again, this time in laughter. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

He stayed practically glued to the back of me as we went up the ladder and over to our beach bags. After I pulled my dress over my suit, we carried two chairs closer to the new odd couple.

Grant kicked Elijah’s leg. “Hey, man. Mind if we join you guys?”

Setting my chair on the far side of Hannah, I said much quieter, “Hey. Hi. How’s it going?”

I didn’t miss the way she shifted her eyes back and forth to Elijah a few times to see if he was paying attention to our conversation before answering.

“Okay,” she finally said. The normally upbeat, spunky, spirited friend of mine was completely gone, and in her place was a nervous and, I thought, sad young woman. But why sad? How did that even make sense?

“Hey, I was going to see if I could find a restroom in this palace.” This time, I uttered it loud enough for the guys to hear. “Will you come with me?” I asked her.

“I can show you where it is.” Elijah was on his feet in a matter of seconds, crowding between Hannah and me. “Do you need to use the restroom?” he asked her directly and followed the question with a one-word command. “Come.”

“Come?” I repeated.

“Rio,” Grant called to me, but I was too occupied at the moment to answer. I was locked in a stare-down with his buddy, Mr. Asshat Banks.

“Come?” I said again, my voice gaining gusto.

The sun was completely blocked out when Grant stepped in front of me.

I looked up, fucking furious enough to spit nails.

“I’ll walk up to the house with you, Blaze. I know where the restrooms are.”