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“Oh…no…I don’t…we don’t even get along,” I finally said.
“Riiiight,” Sawyer chimed in from the pool where he hung onto the edge with his arms crossed on the brick patio.
“He’s got a girlfriend, you know?” Saint added.
“Saint,” Sawyer warned. “Kiki’s not his girlfriend.” He looked to me. “She wants to be, but he’s made it clear that it’s never happening.”
I didn’t say anything because I saw how successful he’d been at making it clear to her in the pool house that it wasn’t happening.
“He needs someone like you, Grace,” Sawyer said.
“Any guy would be lucky to have her,” Laney added.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. But I’m not running for election here. And, my love life’s not up for discussion.”
“So, you admit you love my brother?” Saint said, a coolness to his tone.
My eyes widened. “What? No. I didn’t say that.”
“But you think he’s hot,” Sawyer added.
“What? No. I didn’t say that either.”
“Whatdidyou say?” Seren asked from behind me.
I froze as all of them burst out laughing except Saint who clearly just liked pushing buttons.
“You’re all jerks. You know that, right?” I said, pegging each of them with my eyes.
“Sounds like I missed a good conversation,” Seren said as he slowly walked over, stopping in front of me. He was shirtless like he’d been before, and I found it difficult not to relive what his chest felt like pressed to mine the night before.
He glanced at my phone on the chair beside me before meeting my gaze. I wondered what he’d do with all the prying eyes on us. Because theywereon us. I didn’t have to wait long. Seren leaned down and scooped me up in his arms. I yelped as he moved toward the pool. I held on to him for dear life. “Seren, don’t!” I begged just as he jumped into the pool. I held my breath as we plunged underwater. The chill of the water bit away at my skin through my now drenched clothes. Then, Seren released me. We both resurfaced at the same time and everyone was laughing. I glanced over at Seren who waded water a few feet from me with a devilish smirk. “I hate you too,” I assured him.
He laughed, and I knew I couldn’t stay angry at him. He’d shown his playful side in front of other people. That was a huge step for him.
“Not nice, Seren,” Sawyer called over.
Seren flipped him off.
“How’s the water, Grace?” Laney asked
“Free-eee-zing,” I said through chattering teeth as I moved to the side of the pool and climbed out while Seren stayed in. I grabbed a towel from the patio compartment and quickly wrapped it around my shivering body. I sat back down on my chair with my body shaking like crazy. It might’ve been warm out, but the water temperature was frigid.
“You girls staying the night?” Sawyer asked Laney and Holly.
“No. We have to get going soon. Laney has to work tonight and it’s an hour drive back,” Holly said.
Sadness welled in my chest. For a few hours, everything had felt normal. But the idea of them leaving made me feel an emptiness I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to fill.
“What the hell is this?”
We all turned to find Kiki standing at the edge of the patio eyeing us with daggers.
Her eyes cut to Seren’s. “Did my invitation get lost somewhere?”
Holly and Laney glanced to me, their eyes relaying that they knew she must be the non-girlfriend Saint mentioned.
“Nope,” Seren said, not bothering to look at her.
