Chapter 33
Paige
I t is nearly five thirty when the guys and Katherine show up for our river day. It has been years since I have been on the river for more than some wilderness medical training I signed up for.
There is a slight chill in the air this morning, so I grab my favorite hoodie and bag, double-checking that I have everything I need. Including my favorite faded baseball cap that fits my long braids without giving me a headache. I slide on my flip-flops and am the last one out of the condo. I jump into the back seat of Chris’s Tahoe with Bre and Seth. Supplies are strapped down on the top and packed inside.
Across the parking lot, I notice Graham’s truck waiting for us with the rather nice black speed boat. I haven’t spoken to Graham since we had our small yet passionate make-out session after the club with a sleepover. I have somehow managed to convince myself it was just a horny dance club hangover.
There is only so long you can dry hump a person before kissing them. I am choosing to ignore that I wanted to kiss him long before that night. I also don’t think Seth even notices anything has happened. He seems distracted himself.
“Ready?” Seth says with a small smile before brushing his lips across my knuckles and buckling his seat belt.
I smile softly, nodding.
“Have you been on the boat before, Seth?”
Bre asks as Chris pulls out of the parking lot as we start the hour and a half drive to the river.
“Once or twice. They all went out for the fourth of July last year.”
I study Seth for a moment and can’t quite tell how he feels about it.
“Yeah, it’s more of a Lewis boy thing.”
Chris smiles reaching for Bre.
“When Graham first came around, we fought a lot. Fishing trips ended up being the only time we all got along. Well, that and football.”
“You and Graham didn’t get along?”
Bre asks, seeming surprised, as I reach into my bag to grab my headphones. That way I can’t listen to this whole conversation, especially since Seth just leans his head back against the headrest and closes his eyes.
“No, not even close. He is about two years older than me, and girls love him.”
I let out a small laugh, catching Chris’s attention. I clear my throat and reach for my bag.
“Don’t mind me. I’m going to read.”
I dig through my bag to find the demigod series I had recently started reading. I want to do anything I can to drown Graham out.
Once the truck Tahoe stops I tuck my stuff away to make sure it doesn’t get damaged and hop out, needing to adjust my cut-off shorts and bikini top. Before grabbing my bag and taking out my favorite sunglasses and baseball cap.
Throwing my bag over my shoulder, I head towards Graham’s truck and help launch the boat. Noticing Katherine looking pissed and stomping towards Chris’s Tahoe. Not even bothering to acknowledge me, and I just ignore it.
“Morning.”
I hear Graham say as my eyes meet his. Both of us linger for a moment before I smile and suddenly feel someone standing behind me.
“Morning. Ready to launch.”
Seth says over my shoulder, and it’s clear I am startled. I feel Seth’s arms wrap around me a moment later as he leans towards my ear.
“Sorry, gorgeous. I thought you knew I was behind you.”
I let my attention fall on Seth, noticing Katherine eyeing us over his shoulder.
“No worries.”
I push up and kiss his cheek softly before turning back towards Graham. I don’t meet his stare as I toss my bag into the boat. Losing myself in my head while we make it into the water.
We plan on being out here most of the day, and there is even talk of staying overnight at a nearby campsite and fishing early tomorrow. Once we finally have everything loaded and the boat in the water, it takes no time for the morning sun to creep up over the nearby mountains, warming our skin. I can’t help but smile as the air swirls around me.
Graham is driving and has turned on an alternative playlist that blasts over the speakers. I lean into Seth, who has kept his arm wrapped around me but has only talked to Katherine since we got onto the water. Chris and Bre have been making out off and on most of the morning. I love them, but they need to relax with the PDA.
Eventually, I get tired of being lost in my own thoughts and decide I am ready to drink. Grabbing a few beers from the cooler and offering one to Seth before pulling Chris off of Bre’s face. Both girls decline beer, but they drink some of the mimosa Katherine has brought in a huge cooler.
Finally, I grab two more beers and head toward Graham, steering the boat. Taking the empty seat next to him, I open one of the beers and place it in the cup holder beside him.
I can see the slight smile as he nods to me. I lean back into the seat, crack open my beer, and can’t help but smile when one of my favorite songs comes onto the speakers. I begin singing “Blurry” by Puddle of Mud. I can’t help but move my body with the words and not hold back anything. I look over to Graham, who is smiling, as I laugh between lyrics. As the song breaks down, I can feel Seth’s hand gripping my shoulder, and I look back and smile. He lifts my chin to reach my lips and kisses me possessively before pulling away.
I have no doubt I look like a lovesick puppy as he scoops me up and sits me in his lap in the chair. We have been almost inseparable since he came over the other morning. Our breakfast turned into three overnights.
I lean back against him and take another sip of my beer. Seth’s fingers playfully touch every piece of my exposed skin. He kisses my shoulder lightly, and I can see Graham notice every touch. I finally pull myself off Seth, but not before he stops me with another possessive kiss, this time a little rougher.
I pull away and can feel his hesitation before letting me go. I ignore my body’s reaction and return to the cooler for some of Katherine’s mimosas. One turns into three, and before I know it, I am asleep in the boat docked near a private lagoon area where Graham and Chris like to camp. Bre ends up waking me, and I have a slight headache.
What the fuck did she put in those drinks?
I grab my bag and take a sip of my water. Shuffling through my stuff, I don’t notice when Katherine sits beside me and hands me a bottle of ibuprofen.
“Now we’re even,” she says snarky before heading off the boat toward Seth and the others floating in the water.
I just stare at her, slightly insulted yet impressed all at once, before noticing they have put together a few inflatable tubes and tied some coolers up in the middle. I just let out a small laugh and took the ibuprofen before standing up, quickly taking off my shorts, and gently stepping down into the water.
It is still pretty cold, and I sober up way too quickly. I can feel eyes looking over every inch of my body. And I may have purposefully suggestively adjusted my purple ruffle bikini.
I know the chill of the late morning has my nipples hard, and the thin fabric can’t hide it. When I finally reach the inner tubes, I end up between Seth and Graham. I start to stress, looking towards Chris.
“I need some sister time. Can we trade?”
I try not to let the panic show in my voice. He studies me momentarily before smiling and letting out a dramatic fake sigh. Deciding in that moment, I could love him as a brother forever—no hesitation to help me. Bre also notices and pulls him in for a rather passionate kiss. Chris doesn’t bother hiding the need to adjust himself afterward. I let out a fake noise of disgust before taking his old spot between the girls.
Over the next few hours, we float in the water anchored to the shore. I end up falling asleep and only wake up when Graham and Chris decide to swim in the water.
Not caring who they splash along the way. The cold water instantly wakes me and the two of them play like brothers, tossing each other into the water. I can’t help but laugh and am grateful because I need to put on some more sunscreen, so I don’t burn too much.
I get up and notice Seth and Katherine on the beach talking, and keeping focused on each other. I can’t tell what they are saying but Seth looks fucking pissed.
“Get him, baby!” Bre yells from beside me, catching my attention as Chris somehow manages to lift Graham partially over his shoulder.
They look ridiculous, and I can’t help but smile at how this whole thing makes me feel then I look back towards Katherine and Seth. Seth walks towards me, all smiles, and there is no Katherine in sight.