Chapter 16
Whether it’s the humidity of the island, or the heat from my conversation with Dom, I’m suddenly roasting when I make my way down the driveway toward the strip of stores I spotted yesterday. I pull out my phone to shoot Abby a text while I walk.
Met Rex’s girlfriend. Going to drinks with Dom tonight. The girlfriend and Dom are both hot as hell. What do they put in the water here?
I fan myself as I wait for the three little dots on her side of the text thread to turn into words.
Rex has a girlfriend already? WTF??? And I thought we hate Dom?
I smile down at the screen.
Dom could be Jason Momoa’s twin. We definitely don’t hate him. And we have a plan to make Rex jealous. Going shopping. Stand by so you can help me decide which outfit is respectably slutty enough ??
I immediately send another.
Wish you were here xo
My phone pings again. I hop over a pothole in the sidewalk, then pause to read it.
Wish I was too, but that might get awkward when you’re shacking up with Dom later ? ? Forget about Rex & do something wild. Just for you xoxo
Once again, Abby is right. About everything, really. Maybe this trip was a good idea after all.
* * *
I crack a bedroom window while getting ready so I can hear Dom when he arrives. I don’t want to keep him waiting too long, and if I’m being really honest, I also want to hear Rex stumble through greeting him again when he realizes why the hottest guy I’ve ever seen is back at the townhouse to pick me up.
Right at five o’clock, Rex and Juju emerge from their side for their little happy hour ritual on the deck. I peek out the blinds just barely to see them leaning up against the rail, looking out at the view, with two mai tais in their hands. A pitcher and extra glass sit on top of the side table beside them. My stomach jolts when I realize Juju must have brought the extra glass out for me, in case I decided to join them after all. She genuinely seems sweet.
I drop the shades back into place, not wanting to be noticed.
A few minutes later, Dom’s feet thump up the steps outside.
I fight the urge to run out there, telling myself to just let this unfold naturally.
Don’t look too eager.
My heart is beating wildly. I feel like a kid trying to pull a prank on my parents.
I stand behind the drawn shades, straining to hear them.
“Oh, hey man,” Rex says in surprise, sounding stiff. I hear their hands slap together in what must be that bro-ey handshake thing that all guys seem to know. “Back to fix something else?” There’s more than a little hint of disdain in his voice.
Let the games begin.
“Dom!” Juju trills happily. “Please tell me you’re here to pick up that hot new neighbor of ours!”
Dom chuckles, then pauses. I wish I could see their faces right now , but I don’t want to pull back the blinds and risk being seen quite yet.
“That’s exactly why I’m here, actually,” he tells them. “To pick up Liv. We’re going out to Cliff’s tonight.” The faint smile in his voice makes the butterflies in my stomach start swarming.
A pair of knuckles taps gently against the back door.
I take a deep breath. This is it. I slide the shades back and pull the door open, beaming up at him.
Dom is grinning at me on the other side, nearly taking up the whole door frame. He’s wearing a soft, light green button-up shirt that matches his eyes perfectly, and makes him look even more tan than he did this morning.
He gives me a subtle wink then brings one hand up to his chest like he’s just been shot.
“You look . . .” His gaze sweeps down to my toes and back up to meet my eyes, even more slowly than he did in the townhouse earlier today. Like he’s taking his sweet time checking out every inch of my body. If all this feels so real to me, I’m almost positive his act will appear real to them too. “You look absolutely beautiful.”