Chapter Three
CHAPTER THREE
PEYTON
Being new to town sucks!
Every person who has come to the church to offer their help has made a big deal about meeting me. I’m so sick of fake smiling and trying to act like a God-loving girl like they expect because of who my mother is. I have nothing against God himself or anyone who goes to church. My dad just raised me differently is all. I was raised to believe that I should be able to choose my own path and not have it forced upon me. Mom has never done that intentionally. My parents are amazing, and Ken is a great guy. I just didn’t expect to live in this town. I visited once a few years ago after Mom and Ken got married, and that was enough for me. But now, I find myself calling this place home for the next two years until my dad is stateside again.
I growl when more paint splatters on my shorts and stomach. “This is bullshit,” I snarl.
“Cursing in the Lord's house is a no, no.” I whirl around to see a raven-haired girl with a pixie cut standing behind me, smiling. Her green eyes are filled with mischief. Her dress style is so different from everyone else in this town. Like me, she wears cargo pants and a black crop top. She moves toward me and snags one of the spare paintbrushes next to the giant Easter Bunny I am currently painting. “I’m Tess.”
“Peyton,” I say.
She rolls her eyes and smiles. “I know. You are all everyone in this two-horse town has been talking about since you arrived.”
I reel back. “Why?”
“Dude, the second you drove through town when you arrived and all the ladies got a look at how hot you are, they locked their sons indoors and made them read the bible.” My eyes jump to my hairline. “I’m not even lying. My mom made my brother pray all night for gawking at you as you drove past.” Laughter bursts out of me. I feel bad for laughing, but fuck, that is some backend bullshit right there.
“Wow, that’s just… wow,” I say through my laughter.
“I know, right? Even though she primps herself up for church every Sunday in the hopes Father Pierce will notice her new pearls.” We both break out into fits of laughter, and suddenly my day doesn’t seem so dreary. Tess tells me she is taking college classes online like me, as her mother wouldn’t let her move four hours away to the closest college. I grunt my agreement. My mom wouldn’t allow that either. She thought I would fall into the trap of frat parties and fucking anything with something that dangled between his legs —her words, not mine.
By the time we finish painting the Easter Bunny and half of the welcome sign, I’m drenched in sweat. The sun is unforgiving today. I reach up and swipe the sweat from my forehead with the back of my arm.
“Hey, Bunny.” I whirl around to see Kye leaning against the side of the church with his large arms crossed over his chest, a shit eating grin on his face. I narrow my eyes at him and he uncrosses his arms then raises them as if surrendering. “I was only checking out your ass for like two point five seconds, I swear.” Tess laughs. I shoot her a glare, which has her coughing to mask her laughter. “Sup, Tess,” Kye says.
“What’s up, Kye.”
“Nothing much. I just got off work and thought I should be a decent guy and come rescue you ladies from slave duty.” My brows draw in.
“Aren’t you supposed to be helping?” I ask.
Kye scoffs. “Ah, no. What the hell gave you that impression?”
“You said you would help with the repairs?”
“Yeah, with your house, not this,” he says, motioning toward all the plywood cutouts and paints scattered around the church’s front lawn.
“You don’t go to church, do you?” I hedge.
Tess snorts. “The closest Kye Huxley has ever been to church is sitting in the back row so he could finger my cousin Sharee.”
Kye grins and wags his brows. “Those confession room things come in handy when you need somewhere to fuck.” I balk at his crassness.
“You slept with someone in the confessional?” I squeak.
He shrugs. “And?” I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. “How about I steal you both for a couple of hours, and we head to the lake to cool off?” Before I can reject his offer, Tess tosses her brush into the bucket and grabs my hand, dragging me toward Hudson’s truck. When she pulls the door open, I yank free of her hold and turn to face Kye.
“Won’t Hudson get mad we’re taking his truck?”
Kye just laughs and nods. “Oh, for sure. Now hurry up before he catches us and ruins the fun.” Suddenly I feel giddy at the prospect of annoying my stepbrother and climb in the middle. Tess scoots in beside me just as Kye climbs behind the wheel. Before he even has a chance to start the truck, Hudson and Van appear in the church doorway, and both frown when they see Tess and I aren’t where we are supposed to be. Kye starts the truck and the both of them snap their heads toward the truck. The second their eyes land on me, they jump down the few steps and begin sprinting toward us.
“Go, go, go, go!” I yell as Kye slams the truck in reverse. Tess begins laughing, and I start to panic. Kye slams the brakes on to shift into drive, but before he can plant his foot on the gas, Van and Hudson both grip the tailgate of the truck and heft themselves into it.
“Oh well, I guess the boys are also coming swimming.” Uncontrolled laughter tears out of me. Today has been the most fun I have had in a long time. I peer through the back window to see Van and Hudson each pressed into a back corner with arms spread out on the edge of the bed of the truck, their legs kicked out in front of them. God, they are deadly to look at when they smile. “Hey, Bunny?” I look at Kye, who is grinning at me. “I think you're drooling.” Tess cracks up laughing, and I give Kye the bird, then slouch back against my seat, ignoring my new friend and her laughter.
When we arrive at the lake, I slip out of the cab and stuff my hands in my pockets, expecting Hudson to lose his shit over us stealing his truck. When he leaps out of the back and barrels toward me, I brace for him to start yelling, but instead, he slings his sweaty arm over my shoulder and leads me down toward the stunning lake.
“Wow,” I breathe out. I’ve only ever seen places like this in pictures. It’s gorgeous.
“Not like the city, huh?” Hud jests. I shake my head as he removes his arm and yanks his shirt over his head. I’m powerless to stop myself from drinking in the sight of his tanned skin glistening in the afternoon sun. His abs flex, and I have to bite back a groan. His green eyes dance with sin as he winks at me when he pushes his basketball shorts down his legs. I turn away, only to be met with the sight of Kye stripping down out of his clothes. I turn again, only to see Van standing there in his briefs, his eyes on me. The sound of Kye, Hudson, and Tess laughing and splashing behind me fades as I get lost in the eyes of the priest.
“I’ve sinned enough in my life. If I am to sin again, it will be for a sure thing, not for a moment of fun.”
“Huh?” I rasp, forcing my eyes to remain on his face and not drop lower.
“Your eyes say what your mouth doesn’t. Looking is fine but touching is a new ball game. I wear the white collar because it keeps my urges in check. You don’t want to know the person I am when I’m without that collar.” Van leaves me standing here, reeling as he runs toward the lake. I nibble on my bottom lip, mulling over his words, trying to decipher his meaning.
“Get your ass in here, Bunny, or I’m throwing you over my shoulder!” I whirl around and shoot Kye the bird, which just makes him laugh.
“Stop calling me that!” I call back.
“But you look like a cute little rabbit,” Kye says with a fake pout.
“Oh, she loves her purple rabbit .” I balk at Hudson, and I grind my teeth when the prick shoots me a wink.
“Come on, Pey,” Tess urges.
“I don’t have a suit,” I say sadly.
“Are you wearing a bra and panties?” Van asks. Everyone falls silent as they wait for my reply. I can feel Kye and Hudson staring at me as I look at Van.
“Yes,” I force out.
Van just shrugs. “Then you have a suit. You’ve got thirty seconds to get in before we chase you.” In unison, the three of them take a step forward, and I quickly reach for the hem of my crop top and pull it over my head. I ignore the feeling of their eyes on me as I pop open the button on my shorts and push them down my legs.