Page 23

Something twinges through my stomach, something unnamed that I don’t really understand. I chuckle and respond, “of course. I brought plenty of towels.”

It doesn’t take long before I’m pulling my vehicle into a parking space near the beach. We all get out and go to the trunk, grabbing our bags. I also have a lawn chair because there’s no way I’m lying in the sand. I’m getting too old for shenanigans like that.

The three of us make our way up a hill that divides the beach from the parking lot. Once we crest, we finally see the beach. Stretching left and right of us is white, sandy beach. The water laps at the shore, the water so clear you can see the bottom.

“Oh wow,” Nix breathes out, his eyes wide. “This place is beautiful.”

A hand touches my arm on my left. I look over at Kassian. “Thank you for bringing us here, Dean.”

I give him a small smile. “It’s my pleasure.”

We walk down the path onto the beach, finding the perfect spot to set up our area. I open up an umbrella, sticking it in the sand. Then I open up my lawn chair, getting it settled.

“Come on,” Nix is saying, tugging on Kassian’s arm. “Let’s go get into our swim trunks.”

“What’s your rush? We just got here!”

“Wanna get in the water!”

“Let me put my shit down.”

“Come on, come on!”

I smile as I watch the two of them interact. After Kassian sets out his towel and pulls his swim trunks out of his bag, the two of them are running over to the changing area. They shove and tug at each other the entire way over, their giggles drifting towards me even from a distance.

My heart tugs inside of me. Before they get back, I set up our area properly, setting everyone’s bags on a towel so they don’t get full of sand. Digging through my own bag, I set the book I plan on reading on my seat and then pull out the sunscreen I brought.

“You have to join me in the water,” I hear Nix say with a whine.

“I don’t know,” Kassian says back, “I don’t want my hair getting all gross from the water.”

“Then just come walk in the water with me a little bit. You don’t even have to get your trunks wet.”

I hear Kassian sigh and smile to myself. It’s hard to say no when Nix sounds so excited. I’ve only known them a small amount of time but even I have a hard time saying no to him sometimes.

Turning around, I freeze when my eyes find them. My stomach feels funny as I take them in.

Nix, for the first time since meeting him, isn’t wearing a hat on his head. His hair is thick and dark, cut short. He’s got an open flannel on, his chest bare otherwise. The fact that he’s not completely shirtless is somehow even more tantalizing than if he was. There are lines under his nipples, scars from his top surgery. His stomach is toned and strong, the faint indents of a six pack visible. He’s wearing bright purple board shorts.

Kassian still has his hair up on the top of his head but a few strands have fallen loose, framing his face in such a delicate way. He’s wearing a sheer black robe that’s completely see-through. His swim trunks are tight and short, much shorter than Nix’s. His skin is pale and smooth. My hand clenches at my side when I’m suddenly struck with the urge to touch him. I want to run my hand up his leg, to feel if his skin is as smooth as it looks.

My mouth is completely dry and my stomach swims with something I don’t really understand. What the fuck is going on? Why do I feel so lightheaded all of a sudden?

The two of them toss their clothes into their bags, completely unaware of whatever the hell is going on inside my head. This warmth in the pit of my stomach is unlike anything I’ve felt before.

“Do you want to walk with us, Dean?”

“Sorry, what?”

Kassian looks up at me, his brows wrinkled in confusion. “Are you okay? Your face is really red.”

“I’m fine,” I say, my voice cracking. I clear my throat, trying again. “Totally fine.”

“Okay,” Nix says slowly, looking unconvinced. “Do you want to join us in the water? I want to swim but Kassian said he’ll just walk in the water with me. You could stand with him if you wanted!”

“Umm, right. Sure. But first you have to put on sunscreen.”

Kassian holds out a hand for the bottle. I pass it over. His fingers touch my hand and sparks crawl up my skin. I drop the bottle and turn around, pretending to be busy with something in my bag.