Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Sienna
When we reach the pool, Ethan is floating lazily on the giant unicorn inflatable Aria had claimed the day before, while Milo sits on the edge of the pool, legs dangling in the water, talking to Ethan.
I smile like an idiot the second I see him.
He tilts his head as if he can feel my gaze on him, and a genuine smile spreads across his face. He pushes off the edge and stands, water dripping down his toned legs, his board shorts hanging dangerously low on his hips.
Aria nudges me with her elbow, grinning. “Go get your man. I’m going to use the restroom quickly.”
She walks off, and I head straight toward Milo. He meets me halfway, reaching out to take my hands as I draw near. His thumbs brush my knuckles, turning my hands palm down so he can admire my manicure.
“These are beautiful,” he murmurs, trailing his fingers gently over mine. His gaze drifts to my left hand. His thumb stills over the bare spot where the ring once sat. “The ring is missing.”
My heart gives a sharp little stutter. “You… noticed I was still wearing it?”
He lifts his eyes to mine, tilting his head slightly. There’s a softness there, a quiet curiosity that makes my breath catch. “I noticed. Why aren’t you anymore?”
I don’t answer right away. Instead, I slip my hand from his, reach into my bag, and unzip the inner pocket. My fingers close around the ring, and I pull it out, holding it in my open palm.
Milo stares at it for a long moment, something unreadable flickering across his face. Then he shakes his head gently. “Keep it.”
“But you bought it.” I protest softly.
“For you.”
“It was part of a dare…”
“Still for you,” he says, his voice quiet and steady in that way that always melts something inside me. “It’s yours, Sienna. I don’t want it back.”
“Milo…”
He cuts me off by stepping closer and gently pressing a finger to my lips. “It’s yours. End of discussion.”
I close my mouth, the ring suddenly warm in my palm. The butterflies in my stomach aren’t fluttering anymore—they’re doing full-on cartwheels. I slip the ring back into my bag, and it feels heavier now, in the best possible way.
“Okay, fine. I’m going to grab a cocktail,” I say, needing a moment to collect myself. “Want anything?”
“I’ll come with—”
He doesn’t get to finish his sentence.
A sudden burst of laughter cuts through the air as Ethan comes barreling from behind him. With a powerful shove, he launches them both forward. Milo barely has time to let out a surprised grunt before they crash into the pool with a massive splash.
I burst out laughing as they both bob back up, sputtering and coughing.
“Payback for earlier!” Ethan grins wickedly, sending a huge wave of water straight at Milo’s face.
“Oh, you’re dead, Cole!” Milo grumbles, but he’s laughing too. He puts Ethan in a headlock and dunks him under the water, bubbles bursting around them.
Shaking my head at their antics, I head to the poolside bar and order a cocktail. Minutes later, the bartender slides me a vibrant, fruity rum punch with a pineapple slice on the rim. I take a slow sip, letting the sweet, tangy flavor cool me down.
As I return to the pool with my drink, my steps falter. A pretty blonde in a small red bikini floats near Milo, laughing at something he said, while Ethan watches nearby with a slight frown. She leans in way too close for my liking, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, clearly flirting.
Jealousy spikes through me.
Before I can second-guess my actions, I reach into my bag, pull out the ring, and slide it back onto my ring finger. Then I walk over to where Milo’s and Ethan’s things are, set my belongings there, slip out of my sundress, and slide into the water.
Milo turns toward me when I reach him. I don’t hesitate as I slide my arms around his waist underwater, pressing myself flush against his back before resting my chin on his shoulder.
He stills for half a second, then lets out a low, amused chuckle. “Well, hello to you, too.”
I let my left hand drift up his chest, palm flat against his skin so the ring catches the sunlight and sparkles brightly. “Miss me?”
“Always,” he murmurs, covering my hand with his. His thumb brushes over the ring and I can feel him smile against my temple. “You put it back on?”
“Hmm,” I hum, loud enough for the blonde to hear. “Couldn’t leave my fiancé waiting too long.”
The blonde’s eyes widen. She offers a polite smile, then quickly excuses herself. Milo turns in my arms until we’re face-to-face. His hands settle on my hips, and his thumbs stroke slow circles just above the waistband of my bikini bottoms.
He tilts his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Jealous?”
I shrug, fighting the flush creeping up my cheeks. “I don’t get jealous.”
His grin deepens, slow and entirely too pleased with himself. “Jealousy looks good on you, baby. Especially with my ring on your finger.”
“Shut up,” I mutter, looping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer. “I wasn’t jealous.”
He hums, unconvinced. Then he meets me halfway, kissing me slowly and sweetly. He tastes like mint and chlorine. When we pull apart a few seconds later, he rests his forehead against mine.
“For the record,” he murmurs, his voice low. “I only have eyes for one girl. And she’s currently wrapped around me after staking her claim.”
Before I can respond, Ethan’s voice cuts through the air from a few feet away.
“I’m just gonna… float over here so I don’t disturb whatever this is,” he announces dramatically, paddling farther away with exaggerated splashes. “Carry on. Pretend I’m not here.”
Milo chuckles, the sound rumbling in his chest. “You heard the man. Let’s carry on.”
“Shut up,” I laugh, burying my face in the crook of his neck.
Aria suddenly appears out of nowhere, her oversized sunglasses perched on her nose. “Why do I feel like I just swam into something interesting? Did I miss anything?”
“You missed nothing,” Ethan calls out, still paddling away. “Unless you count Sienna getting jealous and claiming Milo in front of everyone as missing something… then maybe you did. There was definitely tongue involved. I’m scarred for life.”
“There was no tongue!” I protest, cheeks flaming.
Milo leans in, his voice low, just for me. “There was a little tongue.”
“Milo!” I swat his shoulder.
Aria pushes her sunglasses up onto her head, her eyes sparkling. “Sienna, jealous? I never thought I’d see the day. I wish I were here to witness it.”
“I wasn’t jealous.”
Milo grins. “You were totally jealous.”
I splash water directly onto his face. “I wasn’t!”
“Yeah…” he murmurs, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he wipes the water away. “Keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day you’ll believe it.”
I try to push him off dramatically, but his grip is strong. “I hate all of you.”
Milo smiles against my temple, pressing a quick kiss there. “No you don’t.”
“I really do.” I protest.
Before he can say anything else, I plant both hands on his shoulders, flash my sweetest, most innocent smile, and shove him back with all my strength.
Milo lets out a surprised shout as he topples into the water with a massive splash. I burst out laughing—but my victory lasts only two seconds.
He surfaces with a wicked grin, lunging at me like a shark. “Oh, it’s on now, baby.”
I squeal and try to swim away, but he’s too fast. He catches me around the waist, lifts me halfway out of the water, then dunks me under with him. We surface together, both laughing and sputtering.
“You cheated!” I gasp, pushing wet hair from my face.
“You started it,” he replies, pulling me flush against him. Water droplets cling to his lashes, and the grin on his face is pure trouble.
I loop my arms around his neck, still giggling. “And what… you’re finishing it?”
He hums as he slowly runs the pad of his thumb along my lower lip. I lean into his touch, eyes drifting to his mouth, my throat suddenly dry.
“Not yet,” he says, his voice dropping.
My head tilts as I look up at him. “Not yet? What does that mean?”
Suddenly, the air is knocked out of my lungs as he lifts me again and dunks me under the water with him. I come up sputtering and gasping, then immediately lunge for him. Milo’s already swimming away, laughing so hard that something warm tightens in my chest.
“Oh, it’s fucking on!” I scream, chasing him through the water. “It’s fucking on!”
He glances back over his shoulder, his eyes sparkling with challenge. “You really think you can catch me, baby?”
I kick harder, closing the distance. “I don’t think—I know!”
I manage to grab his ankle and pull. He lets out a surprised laugh as he goes under, but the second he surfaces, he’s already reaching for me. We end up in a playful tangle—splashing, wrestling, and laughing like idiots.
He catches me around the waist and pulls me against his chest. We’re both breathing hard, grinning like fools as water streams down our faces.
“You’re trouble,” he murmurs, brushing a wet curl off my cheek.
“Pot, meet kettle,” I shoot back, looping my arms around his neck again. “You dunked me twice.”
“You shoved me first,” he counters. “I was just finishing what you started.”
I narrow my eyes playfully. “Keep talking, and I’ll finish you.”
Milo’s grin turns wicked. “Promise?”
Before I can answer, I feel his hands slide lower on my waist. I squeal as he lifts me again, threatening to dunk me, but this time he just holds me there, suspended in the air, our faces inches apart.
We’re both laughing, dripping wet, completely lost in our own little world as the rest of the pool fades into the background.
Yeah… definitely fucked.
And I’ve never been happier about it.