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Chapter 16
Present Day
Mack
“How much longer on those burgers?” Addison asks, setting the potato salad on the picnic table. “I’m starving.”
“Huh?” I glance in her direction before my brain finally catches up to what she said. “Shit,” I curse, flipping the burgers over on the grill. Luckily they aren’t completely burnt, but I grab the serving plate and start removing them before I get distracted again. “Ready now,” I say, handing the plate to her.
“You good?” she asks with her eyebrows raised as she follows my line of sight down to the beach.
I force myself to look back at her. “Yeah, what?”
She looks back down to the beach again where Thea and Amanda are drying off after coming in from the water. I try not to look, but there my eyes go again. How can they not? Not when she’s standing there, water dripping from every curve of her body in that tiny red bikini. It’s like she’s trying to torture me wearing that when she’s inviting another man over.Fuck!
Speak of the devil, that stupid fucking doctor man comes waltzing around the house to the back where were all at. I’m half tempted to tell him to leave. This is my house. I can dictate whocan be here. God, I’m such a loser. This isn’t even my house, it’s my parents’.
Addy pats my shoulder. “Good luck,” she says with a smirk before she brings the burgers over to Declan.
John waves at everyone saying hello. He hasn’t met Declan or Addy yet, so he comes up to me first. “Good to see you again. Thanks for having me.”
I nod, forcing myself to give a half smile. “Of course. Sorry you can’t stay the night. We have an extra empty room if you change your mind,” I say, emphasizing that there’s no way in hell I’m letting him stay in a room with Thea.
“I appreciate it,” he says, chuckling awkwardly. “Unfortunately, I’m stuck with a weekend shift this week.”
I reach back and scratch the back of my head. “Yet you still made time to come out and see Thea today.”
I know I sound like a jealous prick, but I couldn’t help myself. He looks away, probably feeling uncomfortable, but after another moment, he gains his confidence back, staring me right in the eyes. “Yeah. Of course. Is that a problem?”
I’ve taken things too far. Thea’s going to kill me if she finds out, so I try to ease back a little. “Yeah, of course,” I say, trying to sound not so serious. “I’m protective of her is all. When guys come on too strong in the beginning, it isn’t always with the best intentions, you know?”
“Of course. I understand completely,” he says even though I know he probably thinks I’m the biggest dick right now. “I assure you my intentions with Thea are just to get to know each other right now. Nothing more than that. Yet.”
I try to force myself to smile, but I just can’t. Thea and Amanda are only a few feet away now, so I take my last opportunity alone with him, lowering my voice so only he can hear. “But if you hurt her, I’ll bury you.”
“John!” Thea says. “You made it!” She’s more over the top than usual because her and Amanda have been sipping cocktails down by the water. She extends her arms and he doesn’t hesitate wrapping his arms around her.
“Hey, yeah, thanks for inviting me.”
I’m about to lose my mind watching his hands touch her skin. “Thea.”
My voice is stern, so she gives me a funny look as she steps back from the hug. “Yeah?”
“Help me grab the sides from the kitchen?” I ask, softening my voice to ease some of the intensity, but I don’t wait for her to answer before pressing my hand against her back to lead her into the house with me.
The moment we’re inside, I grab one of my t-shirts off the back of the couch and yank it over her head. “What are you doing?” she tries asking even though the shirt is still covering her face.
I pull it down, popping her head through the hole. “You’ve made your impression already.”
I hate the way the grumpy look on her face combined with her hair getting all messed up from the shirt makes me smile when I’m trying to be stern. “My impression?” she asks all annoyed.
“Stop playing dumb. You know what I’m talking about,” I say, walking over to the fridge to grab the bowl of fruit.
Thea is already right behind me. “No, no I don’t think I do know.”
I roll my eyes as I set the bowl on the counter. “You don’t need to be practically naked to eat a burger, Thea. Please. Be for real.”
“Oh my God, you can’t be fucking serious,” she says, her voice monotone like she’s done with all my bullshit.
