Chapter 34
Graham
S o many things are wrong with all of this. I don’t know even where to start.
How can I trust myself not to spill my guts to Paige about everything I have been feeling for her? Of how the other night is on a constant repeat in my mind?
“This trip is supposed to be a few days away for all of us to bond.”
Bre had lied to us through her teeth last week when she suggested this idea.
I had a hard time the last time I saw them together. I ended up faking a call just to get out of the room. I just hated that Seth was with her. That he touched, kissed her, and definitely that he fucked her because I knew he wasn’t giving her all she needed.
I do worry, though. The longer she dates Seth, the further away from me she gets, and I am starting to hate it. Europe isn’t coming soon enough.
So now I stand in a river attempting to fish, feeling pretty buzzed, and I have been focusing on Paige sunbathing topless, laying on her stomach reading. Her sun-kissed skin on full display.
Every night her body has been exactly what I have thought about. How it feels to have her pressed against me and I am starting to wonder what will happen if I make a move. I never intended for her to wake up alone in her bed, which might be my biggest regret, and I need to show her how bad I want to keep things going.
Did I miss my shot?
I close my eyes and have to take a deep breath. She may be sleeping with Seth, but how she kisses me tells me she doesn’t love Seth.
“Hey, let’s call it a day here. We have enough, and I want to find a place for some privacy with Bre in the woods before it gets too dark.”
Chris winks, and all three of us laugh.
“Just head north for about ten minutes, and you’ll have plenty of privacy.”
I nod in the direction. Chris smiles.
“How many girls have you brought up there?” Seth asks, and I am surprised. Normally, he doesn’t start the conversation.
“I proposed to Kat up there. We camped out under the stars,” I say with a shrug as a memory of getting down on one knee.
Almost everything seemed perfect. Nearly everything was right.
“Why out here?” Seth asks.
“We first met at a music festival and spent the weekend camped out under the stars. I thought it might bring back that spark I was looking for,” I say, feeling like an idiot for thinking Kat has ever cared for anyone but herself.
We have barely spoken since I told her to find a new job. I was surprised last night when she came down to the garage as I was getting everything ready on the boat, and I was even more surprised when she showed up this morning, ready to come with all of us.
“You’re coming?” I asked, looking towards Kat confused.
“Yup. It’s couples, right? I figured I should make an appearance since we haven’t officially ended anything.”
There was something about her tone, and I felt my jaw tense.
“You may wear a ring, Kat, but it doesn’t mean anything. We aren’t together, and we both know it’s been heading this way for a while.”
She studied me for a moment before letting out a scoff and having some serious emotions dance across her face.
“You really want to move on?” Kat said with no judgment, and I lingered on her.
“Yes.”
Why lie? We are over, right? Katherine lingered on me again…
“Did we bring tents?” Chris asks, and I bring my attention back to now.
“Yes.”
Gesturing toward the boat reeling in my line. Chris helps me clean up, but Seth heads towards the girls, getting Paige and Kat’s attention when he kicks sand playfully onto Paige. Covering Paige, her book and her towel.
“Gorgeous, you need lotion.” I can hear Seth tell Paige as my favorite flirty smirk dances on her lips.
“Would you mind putting it on me?” she croons, pulling her sunglasses down and winking. Seth smiles and swiftly lifts her topless from the ground to over his shoulder. He doesn’t care who sees it.
I can hear her laugh, but I focus on cleaning up a bit before heading to the boat. Unfortunately, Paige’s soft moans and sex can be heard before Chris starts to laugh next to me. I just glare at him over my sunglasses.
“I’ll grab the tents.”
“You should have made a move, bro,” Chris teases with a laugh as the music starts to play over one of the Bluetooth speakers. I notice Kat on her phone before she went to lie back down, pulling a towel over her head.
I guess I wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to hear them .
The second I hit the deck, I open the cooler. I am not letting thoughts of how jealous I am of Seth take over and ruin our weekend.