Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Declan said, “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“You sounded supportive two seconds ago,” I countered.
“Yeah, well, I was worried at first, but now I’m not because I think you actually have a little crush on someone for the first time in your life. I’m here to tell you, even when it feels like torture, it’s not. So I am supportive. Just shocked.”
The hairs on my arms stood on end. “I don’t like him. You sound like Parker now. Is this what happens when people fall in love?”
“Maybe you’ll be able to answer that question next.”
“Bite your tongue.” I grabbed Declan, wrestling him toward the pool. I meant to push him in, but the crafty little fucker grabbed me, and the two of us fell in together, fully clothed.
“I did it!” Declan cheered.
“I’ll have my revenge,” I replied, making my way to the stairs to get out. Before I could, arms wrapped around my shoulders, and legs entangled themselves around my waist.
“Now that you’re here, I’m not letting you escape,” Kai said.
“I have to cook.”
“I can finish up,” Elliott said.
“There’s not one person here I trust with my grill.”
“I’m Cuban. I understand seasonings,” Elliott teased, making me laugh.
Still, I patted Kai’s thigh. “Let go. I’m gonna finish what I was doing.”
I was surprised when he did it easily, but as I climbed out of the water, he said, “I’m determined to make you start having fun. I hope you know when I want something, I don’t give up until I make it happen.”
Yeah, there wasn’t a part of me that didn’t believe him.
“Wait…are you saying we’re not fun?” Corbin asked. “I make Marcus have a good time quite often.”
“Maybe you can give me pointers,” Kai told him.
“You two aren’t allowed to hang out,” I joked, tugging off my shirt and laying it over the back of a chair to dry. Luckily, I was wearing shorts, so those weren’t as bad as if I’d been wearing jeans.
“I got your back,” Corbin told him.
Great. There was no doubt in my mind I was now fucked.
They continued to enjoy themselves while Elliott helped me cook. They got out when it was time to eat, the seven of us sitting around the table outside. It was loud the way it always was when my friends were here, but Kai made the tempo even more upbeat. The guy felt like he had endless energy, which again, was something else people fed off around him.
“Okay, someone tell me stories about Marcus. I need more dirt,” Kai said when we finished eating but were still sitting together.
“Time for everyone to leave,” I told them. When no one moved, I added, “I’m not playin’.”
“I love Beach Bums stories,” Sebastian said. He was probably one of the most earnest people I’d ever met, and while in many ways he felt like the complete opposite of Declan, they worked together.
“I have one,” Elliott said, making me frown. “This one time, he wanted to kick my ass because he thought I was going to break Parker’s heart.”
“In my defense, it was Corbin who said he’d hire a hitman.”
“How is that a defense?” Elliott countered. He turned to Corb. “I thought we were cool.”
“We are. Now. We had to make sure you were worthy of our boy. You are.”
Parker said, “Actually, it was Marcus who defended us the most then. He told me to trust myself and gave me a wake-up call in a way only Marcus can—with brutal honesty.”
I pointed to him and Elliott. “Looks like it worked out. You’re welcome. Now, let’s tell Corbin stories. There are more to choose from, and they’re more ridiculous than the rest of ours.” I was at the head of the table, with Corbin on one side and Kai on the other.
Corb playfully kicked my shin. “Ignore him.”
They, in fact, ignored my ass, telling Kai about dumb shit we’d done as kids or things that made Kai say aww. The funny, quirky stories were mixed in with ones about me being the voice of reason in the group, which were my favorite. I couldn’t pretend it wasn’t interesting to see myself through their eyes, though. It always made me feel different, better.
When Parker talked about how I’d taken him to his high school prom, complete with dinner and flowers as if it were a real date, Kai said, “I rest my case on why I call him a teddy bear.”
I rolled my eyes, but my chest was tight. Everyone talking about me was making me uncomfortable. “Well, that’s about enough of that shit.” I pushed to my feet and grabbed my plate.
There was more laughter, but everyone followed me, cleaning up the mess and bringing the dishes inside.
“We’ll help you get everything cleaned up before we head out,” Parker said.
“I got it. You guys can go. After I finish in the kitchen, I’ve got to update some listings. My work phone has been going off all day.”