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CHAPTERSIX
Gavin
Her breasts pressing against me warms my back. Her strong legs squeeze my thighs at every bump in the road. I may have taken the roughest trail to the waterfall for a reason, but I’ll never admit it. Just having her here with me feels like the dark cloud I’ve been walking around with since Grandad died has evaporated, leaving nothing but her sunshine.
Up ahead by the airstrip, a large puddle sits, daring me. Looking down at our clothes, I confirm both our jeans are already splattered with mud from the ride, so I take a chance and hit the gas.
“Hold on!”
All four wheels spraying water up all around us and raining down. Her scream is part excited, part terrified, and all I can do is laugh as we splash through the muddy water. I turn and plow through it again and again. Each time she laughs and hugs my thighs with hers, which I am acutely aware of. It’s been years since I’ve laughed this much, and honestly, even then, it was probably at something she wrote me in a letter. The last thing I want to do is lose the one person who brings me any happiness. I can’t mess up our friendship. I might want her more than anything, but all we can be is friends.
When the puddle is mostly bare, thanks to my tracks, I slowly drive back home. My grandfather’s two-story cabin sits in pristine condition with all the modern bells and whistles. Around back, I park the beast and kill the engine. We’re still out of breath from the adrenaline, but we can’t help but laugh.
“That was the most fun I’ve ever had.”
“Whatever, liar. You can’t tell me Starlight Bay doesn’t have mudding.”
“What-ing?”
“Seriously? There are people in a small town somewhere that don’t know the joy of killing time on back roads splashing through muddy water and rippin’ up earth?”
“Um, yes. Starlight Bay is a beach town. We do boat block parties and bonfires.”
“Ok, I can do a bonfire. Might have to run down into town for smores. Anything you need?”
That was casual, right? Nothing in my words screams, ‘please never leave,’ right?
“Yeah, there are a few things I’d like to grab, my car being one of them.”
I nod and head to the side of the house to park.
“You have an outdoor shower!”
Joey’s off my four-wheeler and walking towards the greenhouse where there is indeed a shower.
“Sure do. Didn’t realize that would impress you, or this would have saved me hours.”
Lie. I’d never under any circumstances want to be anywhere than with her. If she’s an option, she’s always my first choice.
“Dibs!” she says and runs off. To my shock, she reaches down and pulls her t-shirt off. Her back is to me, but I watch with rapt attention. The black sports bra is next, and then her belt. Just as she’s wiggling her hips, she moves behind the wall. One of three that gives just a little privacy. I growl my frustration into my fist, questioning our lifelong friendship. A friend would not strip in front of the other…
Or am I so far in the friend zone she doesn’t care if I see her naked or not?
“Towels are hangin’ on the rack on the far wall,” I shout over my shoulder, stomping to the back door, irrationally mad. At who is anyone’s guess? My dick more than likely. If he wasn’t interested, my life would be a million times easier right now. Being her friend wouldn’t be physically painful, for fuck’s sake.
Cleaning up quickly, I calm myself down and throw on dark jeans and a button-up. Not sure why I choose it over my regular t-shirt, I just do. Got nothing to do with going into town with her at my side. We’re just friends. Doesn’t matter what folk's opinions will be.
Coming down the stairs, my eyes dart to the window, and at just the right angle, Joey Bennett stands before me, butt naked. Streams of water from the copper faucet flow down her tan body like a small river. She’s humming a song I don’t recognize, but it’s enough to shake me out of my frozen stupor.
After scolding myself for being a pervert, I continue to think about her body. My mind relentlessly stuck on the image. She doesn’t have tan lines. Did that mean she sunbathes naked? Fuck, the thought of what her front might look like has me growling when she finally walks into the cabin in only a small white towel.
“Best shower ever.”
“Glad you like it.” I sure as hell did. “Feel free to make it your own if you want.”
“Thanks. Does this mean you’ll let me stay?”
Was she serious? My mind is foggy from her being so close and wearing so little.
