Lola records the video while Jude snaps high-res images, and Itry to look as cute as Ican while still trying to actually win.
Lola’s bestie, Nina, locks her fingers through mine as we try to wrestle the other into the water below. She gets distracted, though, looking from me to Jett and back like she’s just had some sort of life-altering epiphany.
“Holy shit, Maddy!”
At first, Ithink she’s alarmed that I’m going to knock her unconscious or something until Irealize what the look is. Reverence and admiration and shock, like she’d never put two and two together. Never imagined the two of us as a pair, how we’d look, or the way we’d make an unstoppable powerhouse couple that makes everyone want to stop, stare, and press record.
Well fuck,neither had I. Until Ilook down and only now notice that my thinly covered vag is plastered against the back of Jett’s head and howwarmthat point of contact is.Jesus Christ, what is this?!
Then Inoticed how firmly Jett is gripping my thighs, and it feels so good that Iworry he’ll feel the back of his head getting wetter than it already is.
What is wrong with me? I’m not getting wet for Jett! Ican’t be! Idon’t feel this way for him; he’s just a family friend … right?
I’m afraid Ialready know the answer.
Not anymore.
“Do it, Baby!” he shouts and gives my thighs a sharp squeeze. Ijust about pass out until Inotice how many people are shoutingMaddyandBaby,and Ican’t let them down, not to mention this’ll be on all my socials for months.
“Sorry, Nina!” Iholler before shoving her into the pool with all the strength Iearned learning how to sword fight in the North. Everyone cheers.
Jett ducks under the surface so Ican hop off his shoulders and swim back to the pool’s edge. He follows me, but Idon’t expect to feel his hand on the small of my back or see Gage’s eyes trained on me like I’m the most tantalizing meal and he’s a starved man. Gage helps me out of the pool with a fluffy blacktowel in hand.
My nervous system fires on all cylinders, alerting me that Jett’s hand has lost contact with my back. As if that’s some sort of stage four emergency.
What the fuck?Istart to spin out, my breathing losing rhythm as Gage leads me to the deck chair next to his, sitting as he hands me my margarita. I’m about to start hyperventilating when the sun hits his eyes, and they light up a beautiful, golden amber.
“That was awesome, Maddy.” He smiles wickedly, chocolate curls falling over his forehead, and oh, there are dimples. And perfect teeth. Perfect abs. Perfecteverything.So why am Iscanning the yard to see where Jett landed?
In the arms of Dad, of course. They whisper to each other about things only rockstars can understand. Imean, Ihope so … hopefully they’re not talking about me.Why would they be? But then Jett turns, finding me with those blazing eyes, and Ihave to knock back my margarita just to cool down.
I’m supposed to be focusing on this gorgeous guy in front of me, but all Ican think about is how I’d give anything to know what Jett’s thinking. If he can feel this bizarrepullbetween us that decided to materializetodayof all days.
“That suit looks amazing on you. What do ya think, is red my color?” Gage laughs, and Inotice he has trunks on designed by Mum, too, crimson with sparkling white vampire teeth all over them. They look incredible against his tanned skin, and if Jett hadn’t decided to put me under some sort ofspell,I’d be ready to rip the shorts right off of Gage this instant.
“They’re perfect, you’re perfect. What’s it like being that perfect?”
He grins. “I don’t know, you tell me.”
Mum’s personal chef, Tasha, comes out to announce that lunch is served, and everyone filters into the house.
“Go ahead, go eat,” Iurge Gage, “I’m just a little nauseous from all that in the pool. Motion sickness, maybe? Just need a quick rest. I’ll be in in a few.”
“You want me to bring you something?”
I don’t feel like explaining that Dad won’t let anyone eat out here after an incident he had with ‘meat bees’ last summer. Iput my hand on my stomach. “Not quite ready for that. Ithink Ijust need to lie for a bit longer. Thanks, Gage.”
He nods and follows everyone into the house.
Everyone except Jett, who pretends to follow Dad in and closes the door behind him instead, strutting over to me like he’s Mick Jagger’s grandson.
Chapter 10
Maddy
I pat the chair next to me as if Jett is known to sit still for any length of time. He perches on it instead, firing me with that steely gaze. Ifeel myself turning red, and notjustbecause I’m a pale Brit with a goth family under the bright LA summer sun.
“Look at the effect we have on people, Baby.”
