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Lydia came out of the bedroom, pulling on a cropped denim jacket and flicking her long blonde hair over the collar.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m just going to have a quick chat with Griff before we go,” Jackson told her. “Won’t take long.”
Lydia bit down a smile and walked over to him. “Okay,” she nodded, looking almost excited.
“Let’s go to the deck,” Griff said, inclining his head at the kitchen door. He walked outside and Jackson followed. When he glanced over his shoulder, Lydia was still grinning. Damn if he didn’t want to kiss that smile off her face.
“Are you staying?” Jackson asked as she leaned on the door frame.
Lydia tipped her head to the side. “I figure you’re gonna be talking about me, and I want to hear what you say. And if you start fighting, I need to video it for my Instagram.”
Jackson laughed. “I live to give you social media content.”
Pursing her lips together, she blew him a kiss. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
He shook his head. Damn, she made him smile like nobody else could.
Griff was sitting on a wicker chair, his arms still folded across his chest as he stared out at the ocean. Even though the chair was substantial, he still looked too big for it, his denim clad legs stretching out from the seat.
Jackson walked over to his friend and took the seat next to him. “You been out on the boat today?”
“Nah.” Griff shook his head. “No bookings today so we did some maintenance. Got to surf this morning.”
“The waves looked good.”
“It was fine.” Griff turned to look at him, a neutral expression on his face. “You and Lydia, huh?”
So they were getting straight to that. Maybe he should be thankful. He didn’t want to waste the evening on small talk when he could be driving into the mountains with her. “We’re just going out,” Jackson told him. “Nothing to worry about.”
“She’s practically my sister. Of course I’m worried about her. Remember how Lucas was when Breck started dating Caitie?”
Yeah, Jackson remembered. It led to a black eye for Breck on Christmas Day, courtesy of Lucas’s right fist. “That all ended up fine in the end,” he pointed out.
Griff huffed. “Because they made a commitment and live together. I’m guessing that’s not what’s happening between you and Lydia.”
Jackson caught his eye. “How long have we been friends?”
“You know how long.” Griff grunted. “Since Kindergarten.”
“And I’d never do anything to jeopardize that. You’ve been with me through thick and thin, man. We’ve been there for each other. I’m not going to do anything stupid.”
Griff looked away, his knuckles bleached as he grasped his beer bottle tightly. “I don’t like it.”
“You don’t have to. You just have to let it go. Lydia and I are adults. We know what we’re doing.”
“She’s too young for you.”
“I’m twenty-seven,” Lydia called out from the kitchen door. “There’s only six years difference.”
“She’s also a big pain in the ass.” Griff shook his head at her then turned back to Jackson. “Are you sure you know what you’re letting yourself in for?”
Lydia walked out of the kitchen, and over to where Griff and Jackson were sitting. She leaned down to give Griff a hug. “I love you to death, Griff, but you’re acting like an idiot. Now we’re leaving to have a good time, and maybe I’ll even drive his car. That’s it. He won’t make me cry, or knock me up, or give me a STD, will you, Jackson?”
She caught his eye, and he could see it there. The attraction that pulsed back and forth between them.
“I wasn’t planning on it,” he said, managing to keep his face straight.
