Page 65 of Slow Burn

SOPHIE, ANNA, AND Georgia were gathered around the firepit, sitting close together so they could talk with no one overhearing them. It was well after nine at night, but the party was still in full force.

“How come you didn’t tell me Nash’s plus-one was another firefighter?” Sophie asked as she readjusted her top.

Anna fanned herself. “A hot firefighter.”

Sophie giggled. “It’s like Malibu Ken went to the academy.”

“A surfer who fights fire.” Anna was all smiles. “Sign me up.”

“Why does my brother have so many good-looking friends?” Georgia wondered aloud, while she spied on Elijah talking to Arlo and Roman. “They have to be drinking from the fire hose or something.”

Sophie relaxed in the lawn chair. “Hate to break it to you, but Nash is drinking from the same hose as the rest of them.”

“Wait a minute.” Georgia grinned. “Did you just admit my brother is hot?”

Her friend blushed, while she and Anna laughed hysterically. All of their noise brought the attention of Elijah and Nash, who joined them.

“What’s so funny?” Nash asked, throwing another log onto the fire. “Sophie’s dating history?”

Sophie turned her head right to left, giving both of her friends a stern look. “What we talk about by the firepit stays at the firepit.”

“Wow.” Nash slouched into the chair next to Sophie. “Tell me you were talking about us without telling us you were talking about us.”

Elijah sat in the grass next to Georgia. While the rest of the group chattered, he murmured, “You going to tell me what you ladies were talking about?”

She whispered, “As you know, I am an excellent secret keeper. I’ll never break girl code and tell you what we were laughing about.”

“I think I can get it out of you,” he responded.

Ignoring everyone else in their circle, she leaned closer to him. “You’re boycotting the only way I might consider telling you.”

“Have I told you how you’re a walking temptation?”

“Must not be that tempting.”

He bit his lower lip. “You have no idea.”

“Doctor!” Arlo screamed out from the other side of the yard. “I need a beer pong partner. You in?”

“As long as you’re drinking for me.” Georgia stood and noticed that Elijah's playful temperament had disappeared.

Arlo raised the bottle he was holding. “Sure, now get your ass over here and be ready to shit talk Roman and Benny.”

At the beer pong table, which was really a picnic table turned into the game, she stood next to Arlo. “Just so you know, I’m horrible at this game.”

“Good thing I know what I’m doing.” He winked.

After she missed three shots, she was sure Arlo regretted his choice of asking her to play, but that guy was nothing but jokes and smiles. On her next shot, by the miracle of beer pong gods, it went in.

“Holy crap!” Georgia cheered, jumping into Arlo’s arms. “I actually got one in.”

He spun her around before her feet hit the ground again. “There are so many jokes I can say, but I don’t want Nash or Elijah to taser me.”

The one-cup victory did not help them win the game, and she was grateful she didn’t have to play again. But she did have a question for Arlo.

Georgia tapped her hip against his. “Why would either of them taser you?”

Like always, he chuckled. “When he gets here, you can ask him.”