Page 104 of Saints & Sailors

Dreux sat watching me, his forehead creased and his brows pinched together. He opened his mouth, but an all too familiar Maroon 5 song came on.

“Perfect timing.” Dreux reached down and turned up the volume. “Just what you need to hear.”

He didn’t just start driving when the light turned green; he started belting out the lyrics to the song. For a while I could only stare. And then I was laughing and pulling my phone out to film.

“Oh my God, don’t be cringe,” I pleaded, even though I really loved every second of his terrible singing.

Dreux scrunched up his face and snorted. “It’s my birthday, I’m allowed to be cringe.”

He sang every line and I was half tempted to join in just as we made it to the parking lot to the Pier. From the outside, it was a wooded area with nothing but trees ahead. The parking lot was empty, letting me know we’d have the place to ourselves.

Dreux paused the playlist and shut off the Bronco. As we got out of the car, an opening to a trail was directly in front of where Dreux parked. A sign in the yard read Lake Nicholas with an arrow pointing north.

“We call it ‘the Pier’ because of the pier,” Dreux explained as he took my beach bag and carried it.

“So creative,” I joked.

Together we went into the woods and followed the trail until it opened up to the grounds for the lake. It was truly a sight to see. The blue sky above and the greens of the surrounding trees blended into the water, making the idea of taking a swim refreshing. Nothing but trees bordered the lake, as though the place was a well-kept secret. The water expanded out before us, large and swaying with the soft breeze, and it was beautiful. I’d never been to the beach, but something about this felt better.

As I stood taking in the scene, I reveled in the fact that we were alone.

“We can get changed over here,” Dreux instructed as he tilted his head over to the side. I followed his direction and discovered there was a modern cabana installed near the lake. Wooden with two separate entrances, giving men and women their own space to change.

Dreux handed me my bag and I went over to the door on the left. The room was just big enough to accommodate two people. Along a wall were hooks for towels, as well as a bench with a wicker basket beneath for storage. There were pool noodles someone had left behind propped against the wall behind me. I doubted we’d need those.

I slipped out of my clothes, neatly folding and storing them in my bag before grabbing my towel. Scott didn’t own any beach towels, so I’d taken the thickest one I could find.

Thankfully, there was a mirror installed in the last wall. I studied my body from every angle, hoping I looked okay. The bikini was definitely tiny. Really, I felt giddy and ridiculous, questioning the hold Dreux had over me.

With a couple of deep breaths, I stepped outside and almost at once met up with Dreux as he was standing and waiting for me.

I froze and stared.

Shit.

I knew we were going swimming, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the sight of him shirtless. Well-conditioned arms, perfect pecs, and flawless abs—I’d never cared for muscles, but I couldn’t stop myself from admiring Dreux’s. Now that he was topless, I noticed his trunks were mid-thigh, showing off his toned legs. That, and they hung dangerously low.

Do. Not. Drool.

Dreux came closer, stopping in front of me, his eyes drifting down as he tilted his head.

“You got some serious ink.” Dreux reached out and touched the tattoo staining my skin on my left side. A shiver coasted down my back at the feel of his thumb rubbing circles over my compass. He was looking down at the piece and examining it casually, unaware of my total undoing. He’d touched me before, but something about his hand on the bare skin of my body made me fight not to squirm.

I was into him. Really into him.

I forced interest at the lake. “You are just muscular for no reason,” I complained.

Dreux looked down and observed himself and tossed me a smirk. “You like it?”

I scoffed and started for the pier. “No!”

Dreux was suddenly in my ear. “What did I tell you about blushing for me?”

I was such a goner.

We didn’t get in right away. Instead, we sat at the edge of the pier, dangling our feet in the water as we bathed in the sun. Dark gray clouds were nearby in the east, and I wondered how long we had until the weather turned. Either way, it was peaceful.

“You nervous about tonight?” I chanced asking about his dinner with his parents.