Page 14 of Tequila Lime and Sunshine

“Let’s take a picture,” Hawke announces, pulling out his phone and putting it on selfie mode. I lean into him and rest my hand on his shoulder. I’m not sure what made me touch him, but he doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, he smiles a little bigger.

Carly and Holden come up behind us to get in the frame. Hawke counts down from three before he snaps the picture, locking this moment in time.

CHAPTER 8

Hawke

Snorkeling with Summer was the most fun I’ve had in a while, and I didn’t want the day to end. But unfortunately, it did. After snorkeling, Summer disappeared to our room to work while I hung out with my parents. By the time I got back to the room after dinner, she was already asleep.

I checked her stories before I went to bed and was surprised that she posted the video of me driving the boat. I knew she’d been taking it, but I didn’t think the camera was on me as much as it was. She doesn’t typically post other people on her social media profiles, so I feel special that I received the privilege.

Summer and I walk down to the breakfast buffet together the next morning. It’s quickly becoming our routine, and I love it. We don’t talk a lot in the mornings, but it’s nice just being in each other’s presence. I’m sure she’d disagree since she scoffs whenever I bring a plate of sugar-coated pastries to the table.

“I’m going to go to the beach after breakfast. Wanna come?” I ask as I pop another piece of mango in my mouth.

“Yeah, maybe in a bit. I’ll have to go get my suit on. Can I meet you down there?”

I nod. “Sure.” I put my swim shorts on before coming down because I figured we’d spend most of our day at the pool or the beach. What else would we do in paradise?

We finish up without being interrupted by Holden and Carly. I love my brother, but I can’t help but notice how his eyes always seem to find Summer. And Summer is always tenser when he’s around. I don’t want that version of her while we’re here.

We go our separate ways as I head to the beach, and she goes to our room. As soon as she’s gone, I miss her. Which is fucking stupid, but something about being around her so much lately has me feeling like she’s a part of me now. It’s funny. I went years without seeing her. But she was always in the back of my mind, and I checked her social media so I didn’t miss her as much. Now that I’m around her again, all my old feelings have come flooding back. It’s overwhelming.

I don’t want to be away from her, even if it’s for a few minutes to get changed. But I can’t act like a complete psychopath. Her feelings for me are non-existent, so there’s no point in me making a fool out of myself.

I jump right into the waves. My eyes keep wandering back to the sand, checking to see if Summer has come down yet, but she’s nowhere to be found. After a while, I get out and lay on my towel to dry off. I tell myself if she’s not down by the time I’m dry, I’ll go find her.

The sun dries me quickly, so I grab my things and head to our hotel room. Surely she’s there. She wouldn’t just leave me hanging, would she? Maybe she got sucked into some work or something. That girl is always working. I get it, though. It’s her passion, so why wouldn’t she want to be doing it all the time?

I step off the elevator and walk toward our room.

One look at our door stops me in my tracks. My heart rate speeds up.

There’s a silky pink scrunchy around our door knob.

She’s got to be kidding with this, right? Has she really enacted rule number three? Is she in there with another man?

The rage inside me builds to an unbelievable level. I’ve always been pretty level-headed and can handle my emotions fairly well. But right now, all bets are off. When did she even have time to meet someone? I’ve been with her every day.

I slam my key card into the reader, preparing for what I’m about to see. I push the door open and look at the beds. Empty.

“Hawke! What the hell are you doing?” Summer screeches. My eyes follow the sound, and I see Summer surrounded by bubbles in the giant bathtub by the balcony. She’s got her hair up in a bun, and her crystal blue eyes are wide as she stares at me. Her hands cover her tits, and a sweet blush creeps up her chest to her cheeks. Relief washes over me when I realize she’s definitely here alone.

“I had a scrunchie on the door!”

“Oh,” I say stupidly. I figure it’s best to lie in this situation instead of making myself seem like a jealous asshole. It’s better to be an oblivious asshole, right? “I didn’t see it. I was worried something had happened to you when you didn’t come to the beach.”

“No,” she says with a huff. “I just decided I wanted to soak in this tub instead and figured I should do it when I knew you were out. I was going to text you, but you left your phone on your bed.”

“Right. I did do that.” I knew I was headed to the beach and didn’t want to get it all sandy. I stand there staring at her like an idiot. “Why are you taking a bath in the morning? You’re just going to get dirty at the beach.”

“Hawke, is this really the conversation we need to have right now? I’m naked in the tub, and you’re staring at me like a deer in headlights. Can we save the chat about my life choices for another time?”

“Yeah. Yep. Good idea. I’ll just. . .” I point to the door. “I’ll just go.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

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