Chapter 15
WOW, SO THEY’RE TOFF RICH
SHARI
It's Brad's twenty-third birthday today, and we've just arrived at his beach party.
We being me and my besties. Thank fuck they're with me, because I've never felt quite as self conscious as I do right now.
There are about fifty people here, and they're all in their early twenties.
Every. Single. One. The array of flat stomachs, perky tits, and the lack of cellulite is enough to make me want to bolt.
Sure, it'll be fun to ogle the washboard abs of some of the guys here, but I'm this close to turning around right now and it's only Max's arm linked in mine that's stopping me.
“Oh god, this was a terrible idea. We should just go. He hasn't even seen us yet, so it's not like he'll notice our retreat! I'll just text him in a bit and tell him I'm...sick? Morning sickness! Yes! He'll never question that,” I blurt, panicked.
Max's grip on my arm tightens as she all but drags me forward, my flip-flops sinking into the powdery soft sand with every forced step.
“Shari, you listen to me right now. You are gorgeous! You barely look older than most of the people here.” I raise an eyebrow at that as a girl bounces past us.
Literally, her ass and boobs bounce with every step.
My body parts don't bounce, they wobble.
“Ok, maybe a bit older, but not out of place! At all! Just trust me on that.”
“Fuck me, they're young,” Jaime almost shouts as she sidles up next to me and drops her cooler at our feet.
Elle is already spreading out a huge picnic blanket that we'll unroll our towels on, because the more barriers from sand in your crotch, the better.
We also have camping chairs, a parasol and hand fans if it gets too hot, and a pharmacy's worth of sunscreen and aloe vera gel.
Because we're old and experienced and smart, damnit!
The smell of barbecued meat mixes with the briny air and I’m thankful my morning sickness stage has actually abated now I’m well into my second trimester.
“My god, just look at all those abs! Do guys today just workout nonstop? The beach bodies twenty years ago definitely didn't look like this,” Elle muses.
“Amen to that, sista.” Jaime shields her eyes from the sun and looks to the row of stunning mini beach houses behind us. “How did Brad get the use of these cabins and the private beach again?”
Distractedly, I reply as I rub more sunscreen into my shoulders, “Hmm? Oh, one of his friends' family owns the resort. Torbyn, I believe?”
“Wow, so they're toff rich. Nice of them to do that, though, especially as it's the end of peak season.”
“I know, right? But there's something to do with it being part of Torbyn's graduation present too. I think.”
“Wait, isn’t Torbyn one of Brad’s housemates? Why is he living in a shared student house if his parents have this kind of money?”
“Huh, I’ve never thought to ask. Maybe he just wanted the true uni experience when he found a good group of friends,” I shrug.
Just as I've resigned myself to staying, a blonde gym bunny in a tiny pink bikini that barely covers anything flounces over. “This is a private party, you can't be here. Didn't you see the sign?”
I'm about to respond, but she just barrels on over me, and nothing gets my back up quite like being spoken over. “Seriously, I know you're old, but put on your glasses and look around. You don't belooooong,” Almost Flasher Barbie drags out the last word.
“Oh, I'm so sorry,” I say in the sweetest tone I can muster, “I didn't realise the invite was for prejudiced bitches only! I must have missed that part. Aw shucks.” I emphasise my sarcasm with a click of my fingers and an exaggerated pout.
“You fucking bitch! Do you know who I am? Get the fuck off this beach before I—”
“Hey, you guys made it!” Hettie bumps Almost Flasher Barbie out of the way with her hip and hugs me. She takes the moment to whisper, “I’m not gonna lie, if you thought those sluts from graduation were bad, Keeley here fancies herself their leader.”
Oh yay. Lucky me.
As she pulls back, she loudly proclaims, “My brother will be so happy you came. He was worried you wouldn’t.” She looks over her shoulder, ignoring Almost Flasher Barbie as she flounces off, still threatening to get us kicked off the beach.
“Well, she’s a delight,” I quip after I introduce Hettie to the girls, shaking my head. “Why are there so many bitchy barbies in this group?”
“Don’t. Honestly, a lot of the guys think they’re amazing.
I guess if you have a penis, or something else they want, they’ll be sweet as pie.
To your face anyway.” Disgust curls Hettie’s face into a sneer, “Torbyn thinks the sun shines out of Keeley’s arse.
They grew up together, so you’d think he’s seen all her vileness for what it is.
But I reckon he’s been in love with her his whole life, and she’s done nothing but use him. ”
I look in the direction that Keeley stomped off and notice the birthday boy encircled by a large group as usual.
Ugh, why does he have to look so damn delicious?
I feel a dopey smile pasting itself across my face at the sight of Brad in his element.
On the beach, the sun glinting off his skin.
My nose twitches with the anticipation of coconut and cedarwood.
That smile cliff dives off my face when I notice Keeley trailing her hand down Brad’s arm to thread their fingers together.
He squeezes her hand and looks down at her, already beaming, and my heart goes into free fall without a parachute.
I can’t bring myself to look away, trying to brace myself for the crash landing.
But instead, Brad suddenly steps away from her, looking shocked, and peels his hand away. He turns and his eyes search the beach frantically until they land on me. Fear, happiness, worry, relief. They all flash across his face as he takes off at a sprint towards us.
He immediately grabs me and buries his face in my neck, making a wave of tingles break out over my skin. “I’m sorry, Blaze, I just assumed it was you sneaking up to hold my hand,” he murmurs against my skin.
I stroke his hair and breathe in a lungful of his scent, calming myself. The shock of seeing him with someone else, no matter how innocent, hit me so much harder than I would have expected.
“It’s ok, Bradivarius. I saw you push her away once you realised.”
His usual blinding smile seems firmly fixed to his face as he pulls back to weave his fingers through my mane, cradling my jaw in his big, warm hands. The remaining tension in my shoulders melts when our lips touch, and the world fades away for a moment.
“I’m so glad you’re finally here,” he mumbles against my mouth, the vibration tickling my sensitive skin. He places his hands on my belly and rubs gently before his eyes flicker to my friends behind me. “All of you,” he amends.
The girls sound off their happy birthdays with quick hugs and he keeps one arm around my waist the whole time.
“Happy birthday, Brad. Sorry we're a bit late, as usual. This one kept waking me up with all the karate practice last night, so I overslept again this morning, and it just put me behind on everything. Seems to be our M.O. lately.”
Somehow, Brad's face lights up even further. “A little martial arts baby, huh? We can work with that. Come, I want you to meet the rest of my friends.”
Hettie fake gags with a mumbled, “I’m out,” and sashays over to Cassie and a group of guys I haven't met yet. I wave at Cassie before being tugged in the opposite direction.
We near his group of friends standing in the shallows, watching our approach intently, and I find myself focusing on the seductive ripple of the waves as they caress the shore so I don't have to see the judgement in anyone's eyes. I can feel Keeley’s hateful glare burning through me.
“Everyone who hasn't met them yet, this is Shari and Bumpy, and her friends Elle, Max, and Jaime.”
Trey immediately steps over to me for his usual spinning bear hug. “Hey, beautiful. Where have you been hiding your delicious friends?” he asks with a positively rakish look in his green eyes.
Brad pries him off me and pulls me slightly behind him protectively. Trey winks at me with his standard shit-eating grin still firmly in place before eyeing up my friends with renewed interest.
Whilst I'm busy introducing Trey to my girls and watching them all fall under his charms, I notice a bronzed claw wrap around Brad's arm beside me. Really disliking this Keeley bitch.
“Who even is this, Brad? You’ve never mentioned a Shari before.” It’s such a bullshit, childish move because I know the Triple B’s would have mentioned me, even if Brad hadn’t.
Brad sneers at her and pulls his arm away, “Oh, get over yourself, Keeley. You know full well who Shari is. I talk about her all the time, so if you want to try playing that card, then maybe you should start listening when other people speak. Your voice isn’t more important than everyone else’s.”
“Oh, burn!” Jaime shouts, making me snort a laugh.
“I do listen! I always listen to you.” She reaches forward to touch him again, but he retreats a step, taking me with him.
Keeley’s expression flickers before she reawakens her nasty streak, “I knew you’d put a bun in an old oven, but I didn’t realise she was bus pass old,” she lashes out with a sharp smile.
“Unfuckingreal. Let’s make one thing very clear, Keeley, you’re only here because Torbyn invited you.
If this had solely been for my birthday, you wouldn’t be anywhere near Shari or me.
So back. The fuck. Up,” he seethes. “And for anyone else in any doubt, let me be clear,” he raises his voice, “Shari is not fair game – for bullying or for hitting on. She is carrying our baby and deserves your kindness and respect. Anyone who wants to ignore those rules is free to leave.”
“Phew, did Brad just get hotter?” Elle says, mock fanning her face.