“Let’s go,” Noah says, already jogging backward toward the shoreline and Mel pops up immediately. “I’m in.”
Maddy just hugs her arms tighter. “You guys go. I’ll stay here.”
“You sure?” I ask before I even register it.
She looks surprised I even spoke, but then nods. “Yeah. I’ll hold the snacks.”
Liam tosses her a bag of chips. “Guard these with your life.”
A second later, Noah claps his hands and we all start moving at once—Kiara grabbing Mel’s hand, Liam already halfway jogging, Noah shoving me forward.
“Come on!”
I laugh and go with them, pulling my hoodie off as we run. The water hits hard when we jump in—shouts, splashing, Kiara screaming, Noah immediately dunking Liam under. It’s loud and messy.
But I still look back at her. She’s sitting alone on the log, shoulders slightly hunched, her face turned toward the fire. And then I see movement at the edge of the beach. There is a tall figure walking straight toward her with cocky posture.
My stomach drops before my brain even catches up. He reaches her and drops down beside her. She turns and her whole body goes still. Even from here. Even through the dark, the noise, the water between us—I know exactly who it is.
Oh,fuckno.
44
MADDY
Don't let yourself feel anything
Jacob.
He drops down beside me without asking. Way too close. The warmth from the fire disappears like someone flipped a switch.
“Well,” he says, voice low and slick. “Didn’t take long for things to fall apart, huh?”
I keep my eyes on the fire, breathing slow, even though every muscle in my body is locked.
“So what was the deal?” he goes on casually, tilting his head. “You and him, was it real? Or were you just trying to piss me off?”
I don’t answer. I can’t. My throat feels glued shut.
He lets out a quiet chuckle. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”
I try to shift away, but his hand lands on my leg, and everything inside me goes still. His fingers press into my skin, and not in a good way.
“Don’t,” I say, my voice low but firm as I finally turn to meet his gaze. “Just leave me alone, Jacob.”
He shifts closer anyway, his side pressing against mine. “Relax, Maddy. We’re just talking.”
I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. Instead, I try to pull my knee back—but his grip tightens, his hand digging harder into my thigh. A sharp breath leaves me.
He leans in, his face too close now, the ends of his blonde hair brushing against my neck.
“Deep down,” he murmurs, “you know it’s me you want.”
The air feels heavy, like it’s been sucked out of the space around us. He moves even closer, his cologne overwhelming, making it feel like I can’t breathe—
“Get the fuck away from her.”
Ryan.
