AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My grin grows wider as it dawns on me that Caleb is no longer my only long-distance friend. “Barney Stinson and my sudden interest in smart blond men.”
“Do tell.”
I chuckle at Garcia’s telltale expression that always elicits a confession. Her voice may be soft and inviting, but her undertone is firm and commanding.
Sipping my tea to build suspense, I recount how I met Ashton Cooper after pausing the show and queuing a playlist featuring Janis Joplin, her favorite artist. She lip syncs a couple of songs while listening to me and waits to drink her tea.
Hands behind her head, she scrutinizes me. “So, basically, your crush doesn’t look at all like Barney, doesn’t wear a suit, and is otherwise attached to a possessive man. Besides his hair color, what do they have in common?”
My heart swells when she calls him by his actual name. Ridiculous, right? It somehow makes him more real. “Ash isn’t acrush.” I shake my head for dramatic effect, then pivot in the plush armchair. “He’s an acquaintance at most.” Rehashing how I saved Ash, I can’t believe that the original photographer’s appendicitis landed me there. “I almost didn’t take the trip. Maybe it was the butterfly effect that caused him to almost drown.”
“What a light convo!” She makes a cross with her index fingers and directs it towards me. “Gloomy spirit, vacate my friend’s body ASAP!” she admonishes.
“What?” I shrug. “You of all people should know that I’m into this kind of shit: the butterfly effect, parallel universes, and the like.”
“I do, but come on! You were there and saved the guy! You should be proud.”
“Oh, I am. See? ” My fingers pull up my pale pink T-shirt. “I’ve inked my skin to mark the day.” She approves of my butterfly.How can I get this conversation back on track?“You know how easily you and I connected once I saw past what you represented in my career…”
“An older beauty with a hot brother?”
“Ha-ha! We’re seven years apart! As for Caleb, he is good-looking, but he’s also history.” Her constant joking references to Caleb’s beauty have started to grate on me. For now, I let it slide and chalk it up to the divorce and the self-doubt that accompanies it; I need to be a more attentive friend and underline that looks don’t define a person. “What I meant is that you made sure that your bosses saw my work as you did.Youopened the doors to my future.”
“Nah, you’re giving me too much credit, Nino.” She makes a big production with her hand. “Your future is in your hands. Trust me, passion and talent aren’t enough. Finding someone who matters is important.”
“You matter!” I pat her jean-clad thigh.
“Stop being a smartass! I’m trying to teach you something here.”
“Okay, Mom…”
She rolls her eyes and shifts to smack the back of my head, although her arm isn’t long enough to make contact. “Whatever… As I was saying, you built your future. I simply looked past your last name. Well, I figured that you chose fashion on purpose; it couldn’t have been further from your father’s specialty. Your pictures and awards spoke for themselves… As for our friendship, that’s the icing on the camera.” She shakes her head. “Sorry, bad joke. It was kismet!” She pauses. “Now, back to your blond surfer. I need all the details...”
I reluctantly comply, not sure of what I’m ready to reveal. Before I can stop myself, my mouth quirks up. “Maybe you’re right, and I was meant to be there to save Ash. Must have been kismet, then.” I wink at her, finish my tea in one long gulp, and fast-forward to my dinner with Ash. “Too bad I didn’t get a chance to see him before I left.”
“Why not? Your busy schedule? You’re attracted to him, aren’t you?”
With my fists on my waist, I frown and shoot her daggers, feigning outrage. “Where did that come from?”
A hearty laugh leaves her red lips, and then, she dares to smirk at me.
“Gut feeling.”
CHAPTER7
NO ONE KNOWS
Ash
His knuckles brush against mine. Desire flares. My head swivels as Silas and I walk side by side to solid ground after our July routine. Surfing has become a huge part of my life in a short amount of time. Living at my uncle’s, right by the Pacific Ocean, made it easy. Having a patient teacher like Silas made it a blast. Pretending that we wouldn’t move on as soon as summer ended made it bearable.
His breathing is labored. So is mine, and my heart beats faster.I didn’t imagine it, did I?I’ve been yearning forhistouch since I laid eyes on Tom’s friend. It isn’t the first time Silas’s hands have made contact, but previously, they were correcting my position on the surfboard or helping me mimic his skillful moves.
This morning, his intent is of another nature. I felt the difference. But why is Silas acting like nothing’s changed? With my surfboard tucked under my left arm, my grip hardens and I dwell on the fact that he might be straight. After all, I overheard him brag to my cousin about how much pussy he scored this summer. Suddenly feeling brave, I move my free hand closer to his to relive the scene. This time, Silas stuns me by wrapping one of his long fingers around mine.
From that moment on, my soul belonged to him. What does a seventeen-year-old with boiling hormones understand about feelings, loss, and desire? The one question that keeps running through my lustful mind is whether the size of his hands or his frame correlated with the size of his dick.Have I found my match?This guy has the ability to turn me into a puddle of goo and forget my supposed wits. When his dark brown eyes shoot me a sideways glance, they’re so hooded with blatant lust and unspoken promises that I almost cream my wetsuit.
How could I have known that what he whispered next would be indicative of our future? “Shhh…”
