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Ty narrowed his eyes at her. A slow, mischievous grin spread across his lips. He drew his arm back; then, as quickly as he could, he shoved a wave of water crashing toward her.
Ellie squealed as ice-cold water splashed her in the face.
“Tyson James Ranes, I am going to kick your ass!” she yelled between clenched teeth, wiping her face.
Ty gave her a sly grin and dove under the water. He popped back up a few feet away. “In order to do that, El, you’ll have to get in.”
Ellie narrowed her eyes. “I’ll get in when I’m good and ready.”
Ty threw her a doubtful look and swam toward Knox.
Ellie leaned back on the shore, raising her wet face toward the sun. Her golden-brown skin glowed in the rays. “You know, it’s nice to have another girl around for once.”
I leaned back too, drinking in the warmth of the sun. I glanced over at Ty. His hair almost covered his eyes when it was wet. “Have you and Ty…ever been together?” I raised my brows. They seemed to have such a connection.
Ellie blinked, her cheeks heating. “Definitely not.” She shook her head, her wet hair sticking to her neck. “Ty has always been nice to look at, but he’s just a…” She paused. “A really good friend.” She shifted on the dirt. “Ty’s never been the type for one woman anyways. He likes to have his choices, that’s for sure.” She rolled her eyes.
I pressed my lips together. “And what about Knox?”
Ellie’s gaze drifted to the boulder Knox had climbed back up on, water dripping from him in streams as he grinned at Ty before jumping as high as he could, flipping forward into the water.
Ellie let out a sigh. “Ty, Knox, and I have been really close friends since we were kids.” Her mouth tightened at the corners. “I never felt comfortable with other girls, and I’d known Ty from school and Knox from horseback riding lessons, and the three of us just sort of bonded.”
“You don’t like other girls?” I asked, unable to stop my curiosity. I didn’t have many friends of either sex growing up, but if I had, I’d like to think Ellie would’ve been a good friend to have.
“It’s not that I didn’t like them. I just didn’t trust them.”
I gave her a sidelong look.
She laughed and explained, “My mama put me in pageants once I was old enough to compete. They’re not all bad or anything but…the girls often didn’t like me, and I lost trust in my own gender, I guess.”
My heart constricted for her. I put a hand on her shoulder. It was hot from the sun. “I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t like you, Ellie.” And I genuinely meant it. She’d been nothing but kind to me. “And I hope you don’t mind being my friend, because that’s what I’ve come to consider you.”
She gasped as she blinked at me. And then, all of a sudden, she launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist and squeezing. I yelped and giggled as we fell back against the earth.
“Of course we are friends! And I could not be happier to welcome such a gorgeous girl into our friendship.”
It felt so good to laugh, I didn’t stop. I hugged her back, my arms aching from how tight I squeezed. “Thank you, Ellie.” When we finally broke apart, I took a breath. “So, as your designated girl friend, I have to ask about one more thing.”
She tilted her head. “And what’s that?”
I raised my brows. “The busboy. I see you guys flirting all the time.”
Ellie’s cheeks flushed, and she pulled on the end of her braided hair. “Oh, him.” Her lips curled up at the corners. “He actually asked me out.”
I clasped my hands together, eyes widening. “He did! What did you say?”
“We’re going out tomorrow night.”
I squealed and hugged her again.
“Hey!” Ty called over at us. “I thought Chickie was going to jump in. Or was that all talk?”
Ellie shot him a death glare. “We’re chatting. You know, as girls!”
Ty made a huffing sound as he looked at me expectantly.
“She doesn’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to do.”
