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She holds onto her floppy sun hat and bats him away. “Henry, put me down. People will talk.”
He grins and sets her on her feet, spinning her around to face him. “Let them.” He grabs her face and kisses her. And that’s my cue. I turn and walk down to an open space on the dock and lay my towel out. I take off my tank and shorts and apply more sunscreen, because if I don’t reapply every ten minutes, I’ll turn into a lobster. I try to burn the image of my parents canoodling out of my mind. But a small, tiny part of me can’t help but grin.
“I hope I’m still hot when I’m in my fifties,” Garrett says with a sigh as he lays his towel next to mine.
I laugh and shake my head at him but look over my shoulder as someone approaches.
“Hi, Liv,” Charlie says. His head covers the sun, so he stands in silhouette as I gaze up at him. All I can see are Texas flag swim shorts straining over muscular thighs and the torso of a Greek god.
“Can I interest you in a Jell-O shot?” he asks. My pulse quickens as our eyes meet. I try to ignore it.
He holds out the tray to me, and I take a red one. I bend the plastic cup so the Jell-O plops in my mouth. I swallow it and hand him the empty cup. Our fingers brush as he takes it, and goosebumps form up my arm. He glances at my arm and smirks.
“Love your bikini,” he says.
I point to his board shorts. “We match.”
He flashes his dimples and I suck in a breath. “We’re getting good at that. Another?” he asks, holding out the blue Jell-O this time and takes one with me.
Garrett comes over and they do the bro clap thing. Charlie hands him a shot and they take one together.
“I’ve got to make my rounds, but I’ll catch you guys later,” he says and waves to me as he continues down the dock.
My eyes follow him as he leaves, and Garrett settles and grabs my sunscreen. I get his back for him, and he settles on his stomach, his chin resting on his folded hands.
“Charlie keeps looking over at you,” Garrett says. He hasn’t moved so he must use his Spidey sense or something.
“It’s a free country,” I say. The sun is almost too warm. Another half hour and I’ll have to jump in the lake before I melt.
“I can’t help but notice his resemblance to a certain billionaire…”
I peer at him with one eye, then sigh. He’s right. It’s the blue eyes and the brown hair. After Luke, I doubt I’ll be attracted to anything else.
“It doesn’t matter.”
He remains quiet and I try to relax. A shadow falls over me and I find Dad and Barbara. He nudges her arm, and she adjusts her sunglasses. “Um, Liv, I was wondering if you wanted to grab a hot dog before the line gets long?”
My dad waits for my answer with silent urging in his gaze, and I hold back my sigh. “Um, yea. Sure.”
Dad grins and holds his hand out for me. I take it and he helps me up. “Garrett and I will wait for you here. Bring me back two?” he says to Barbara.
She laughs. “Of course.”
I fall into step next to her, glancing at Garrett, who makes room for my dad. Garrett watches me, but I can’t read his expression under his ball cap and sunglasses.
We walk in silence the entire way. The line is already long, despite our efforts, so we wait. “I wanted to thank you for being more friendly towards me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m grateful. And it means a lot to us.”
“He seems happy.”
She smiles. “We’ve hired someone to help me divorce Dennis.”
“That’s great.”
Awkward silence lasts for a few beats. “Your dad was telling me about your friend, Dylan. He seems pretty impressive.”
“He’s the one who saved my life last year.”
She nods. “So, you two are close?”
