“I finally got released from the asylum,” chimes a raspy female voice.I turn to spot Lola marching over with a guy I saw working at the bar earlier.His arms are thicker than my thighs, and I couldn’t confirm he has a neck if it weren’t for the douchey puka shell necklace choking it.My gaze slips to the two matchsticks poking out of his cargo shorts.Looks like he missed leg day at the gym.
Lola turns to face Chloe and Willow, and the meathead slaps her ass.She spins to scowl at him, and he just holds up his drink.“Bottoms up!”He grins when she turns back around, then glances at me.
“Oh, hey.Saw you inside,” he grunts, lifting his chin.“David.”
I throw back a sip of beer.I should give him my name, but I already hate this guy, so I don’t.“Nice necklace.”
“Thanks.You here with Chloe?”He says to me.“She’s pretty hot.Makes a mean cup of coffee.Sweeter than my Lola, too, but what can I say?Lola’s mouth wasn’t made for talking, if you catch my drift.”
I catch his drift, and it makes me despise him even more.“Do you always talk about women like that?”I clip.
He blinks at me.
Jackass.
I step back over to Chloe.The blush that hits her cheeks when our eyes lock sends a twisting heat down my spine.
“You good?”she asks.
The truth is, I’m ready to cut and run now that it’s no longer just us.But her smile keeps my feet planted.“Yeah.You want a drink or anything?”When she gave me one earlier, she took none for herself.
She shakes her head.“I have a date with Theodore tomorrow, so I shouldn’t overdo it.”
A sharpness invades my rib cage.“A date with who?”
“My new surfboard.Theodore.”
The relief in my chest throws me off balance as Chloe blinks up at me.“Want to come?”she asks.
“On your date?That wouldn’t be very nice of me, would it?”
“But you’re not generally nice, so that checks out.”
My brows come together.“I’m nice.”
“No, you’re just the right amount of naughty.”
I make a rough swallow.She has no idea…
Willow glides between us, saving me from saying something I can’t take back.“I’m going to head out before Sebastian starts to worry,” she says.“It was lovely to meet you, Ethan.”
“You too,” I hear myself say.
After Willow heads off, Lola lifts her arm to David’s stumpy nose.“Can you smell it?”
He sniffs her arm.“Mmm, lust and sin.Sure can.”
She jerks her arm back.“Peach, you dickhead.From that daiquiri that out-of-towner spilled on me tonight.I fucking hate peaches.”She tears off her black sweater that only covers one shoulder.“I’m going to rinse off.You coming?”
David frowns.“I don’t have a bathing suit.”
“So?”She slips off one shoe, then the other.
“Sooo,” he draws out.“You know what I’ve told you about swimming at night.”
“It’s a full moon; it’s practically daylight.I’m only going in the shallows.”
“Lola, Lola, Lola… you obviously don’t get it,” he says, emphasizing with both hands.“I’ll explain it all to you later.Just put your shoes back on.Come on.”He scoops them up and holds them out to her like she’s five years old and he’s her daddy.
