Page 34 of Out of Place

“Come on. You’ve got to have the full Thundersville summer experience,” I tell her.

She groans but takes a few steps until we’re standing at the edge of the dock.

“On the count of three, we jump.” I count down, and we jump hand in hand into the water.

When we surface, she latches on to me. Maybe this was a good idea after all.

“See, not too bad, right?” I ask, wrapping her legs around me. There’s no way she can’t feel how hard I am, but thankfully, she doesn’t say anything.

“I’m not thinking about it.”

I laugh and swim us over to my friends. She stays wrapped around me the entire time. We all take turns jumping into the lake with the rope we put up as kids. I’m surprised it’s held up as well as it has. We’ve used this thing so many times. My mom would probably have a heart attack if she knew we were out here doing this when we were barely ten.

But we’re all alive and well, so what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.

Even Olivia takes a turn with the rope. I’m a little nervous that her bikini will fall off when she jumps. I’ve honestly never seen a bathing suit that small before. Thankfully, she makes it back to me, everything still tucked into the fabric. I don’t want any nip slips happening on my watch. I don’t care if her nipple was plastered on the cover of a magazine—something I never looked up. When I see her nipples for the first time, they’ll be on display right in front of me and for my eyes only.

Everyone starts getting out when the sun finally sets.

Cat pulls Olivia away to meet someone. Olivia looks at me to make sure it’s ok. Like I could tell her what she can and can’t do. I smile at her, and she walks off with Cat and Laura. Ellie stays behind.

I’ve seen her eyeing me all night, but she’s kept her distance. Now that Olivia isn’t glued to my side, she makes a beeline for me. She stands next to me and keeps her eyes on Olivia, who is shaking hands with someone.

“You like her, huh?” Ellie asks quietly.

I sigh, hating that it’s come to this between us. When we broke up the last time, we both agreed that we weren’t right for each other. Over the years, I’ve encouraged her to date other people, but she’s never been with anyone seriously. It’s always felt like she was waiting for me. No matter what I say to her, she doesn’t get it. But maybe seeing me with someone else will help her move on.

“Yeah, El. I do,” I tell her.

“She doesn’t seem like your type.” She doesn’t sound mad, just curious.

I shrug. “Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to her. She’s not like anyone I’ve ever met.”

“She’s. . . a lot.”

I chuckle. That’s an understatement, but I wouldn’t want Olivia any other way than how she is. “I can handle it.”

Ellie nods and purses her lips. She looks like she might cry but holds it back. “I’m happy for you, Lan. I am. She really does seem nice. I keep trying to figure out why Cam doesn’t like her, but I still don’t get it.”

“Yeah, well, Cam just doesn’t like change. He’ll get used to her.” I have to hope my best friend will get over whatever issues he has with her because I want Olivia around.

“Is she staying here permanently?” Of course, Ellie would be the one to bring up the thing that’s been festering in the back of my mind. Olivia hasn’t told me the circumstances around why she’s here. The only thing I have to go on is the gossip the girls gave me.

“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly.

“She doesn’t seem like the type of girl to be okay living in a small town.” I know she’s not saying this to hurt me. She’s just stating a fact. A fact I’ve been thinking about for weeks, but I’m trying my best to live in the moment. If I only have Olivia for a little while, then I’m going to enjoy it while I can.

“Yeah. She’s way too much for Thundersville.” Olivia looks at me over her shoulder with a smile that makes me weak in the knees. “Excuse me, El.”

I walk over to Olivia and slide my arm around her waist. “You ready to get out of here, sweetheart?”

She nods, so I lead us back to my truck. I help her in and start the drive back to Underwood Farms.

“Did you have a good time?” I ask.

“Yeah. I did.” Her window is down, and her hand hangs out, moving with the warm air. She didn’t bother with her coverup after we got out of the lake, so she’s practically naked in my truck. It’s distracting, to say the least.

“Not like your New York parties, huh?”