2. Summer
SUMMER
T wo hours later, after we’ve finished lunch and the kids are distracted by technology, I slip into my bedroom and throw myself backward onto the king-sized mattress like I’m a character in a movie.
My bed at home is only a queen, and I’m looking forward to a whole week of flopping around in this giant bed by myself, stretching out like a starfish, rolling around like a burrito as I burrow into the blankets, even sleeping naked if I want.
The sky’s the limit. Or, the bed’s the limit, I should say.
A door slams, pulling me from my daydream. Sitting up on the edge of the bed, I wait for a scream to follow, certain I’m about to be needed to break up another fight. But it never comes. I exhale. That’s it, unclench those cheeks. Vacations are supposed to be relaxing.
Vacations with kids are anything but. There is no relaxation. It’s just managing kids in a different environment. It’s a sadistic form of raw-dogging life with none of the usual tools or tricks. But the setting is usually prettier. And this place is on the beach.
Knowing I probably only have a few more minutes before a kid interrupts my solace, I decide to slip on my swimsuit so we can head down to the beach.
Honestly, I’m surprised they haven’t asked to go yet.
I strip quickly, shimmying on the bottoms to my tankini.
The top has all these criss-crossy straps, and it’s gotten extra tangled in my suitcase, so I lay it on the bed to straighten it out.
I can see the door opening out of my periphery, but I’m determined to untangle this knot. “Mommy needs privacy.” I turn to see which kid walked in.
Only it’s not a kid. It’s a man. A man with blond hair and angular features I would know anywhere.
“Uhhh… Shit… I didn’t know anyone would be in here… Hey, Summer.” RJ smiles sheepishly, bringing out his perfect dimple.
Several seconds pass as I gape at him, slack-jawed. My heart pounds loudly in my ears as blood rushes to my face. I grip the top in my hands and stare at Raven’s brother. He’s the last person I expected to walk through that door.
The door snicks shut behind him, and his eyes travel lower.
And that’s when I realize I’m topless. In front of my first kiss. The boy I wanted to marry. The one that broke my heart.
I let out a blood-curdling scream as I scramble to put on my top. “What are you— Don’t look at me— Ahhh!” I screech as I struggle with the tankini.
His hands fly up to cover his eyes. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. Shit. I’m so sorry.”
My hands are shaking as I wrestle with the top, grunting each time I attempt to slide it down my body. No matter what strap I loop my arm through or how hard I tug, it’s not budging.
Who designs these things? Are they created to torture women?
The model on the website looked cute, and they had free returns so I didn’t have to drag my kids into a store to try it on.
The only thing worse than trying on swimsuits is doing it with kids in tow.
But I should’ve tried it on before now. Rookie mistake.
When it’s clear I’m not getting this thing on, I flop face-first onto the bed and scream into the comforter.
“Just leave me here.” This man doesn’t need to see how red my face is.
I’ve already embarrassed myself enough, and now I’m stuck in my tankini, held hostage by Lycra.
Is this how I die? What did I do to deserve this?
“I got you. Can I?” His voice is way too close for comfort.
I got you. He used to say that all the time when we were younger. But he didn’t get me—he moved on to someone else. It’s the reminder I need that he’s not someone I can depend on.
The bed dips, and the second his fingers touch my exposed flesh, I know I’m in trouble.
My skin prickles as he yanks on the straps.
There’s no way to hide goosebumps. He’ll know exactly what his touch is doing to me.
I squeeze my thighs together to relieve the ache as he works.
Every time I think he’s about to say something, I’m met with silence.
His knees press against my side as he pulls on the hem of my top, attempting to cover my back. I wish he would straddle me. Hell, I wish I could straddle him.
“I’m sorry, this is an awkward angle. Could you maybe… could you turn over…or maybe stand up? Then I’ll have gravity on my side.”
Biting back the groan wanting to escape, I slowly push up to sitting. He bites his lips as his eyes dart around.
And then it hits me that I’m still exposed. I smack my breasts hard, attempting to cover them. “Ouch.”
Furrowing his brow, he ignores my awkwardness as he tries to untangle me. It’s not clear if he’s annoyed at me or just concentrating on the mess of fabric on my body.
I look around the room, awkwardly trying to avoid the way his touch lights up my skin.
I’m firmly rooted in the land of denial.
A million thoughts race through my head.
I want to ask him why he dumped me back in high school.
Why, even though we were friends, he never reached out to me over the years.
But I do not want to go down this road with him again.
And certainly not right now while I’m half naked.
He huffs out a frustrated breath, making the hair on his forehead dance. “I think the best option here is to take it off.”
“What?” He’s got to be kidding.
His responding chuckle isn’t helping. “The top. You need to take your top off.”
“How long have you been waiting to use that line on me?”
His lips part, eyes blinking rapidly as something dangerous flashes in his gaze, quick like lightning in a summer thunderstorm. “Longer than you realize.”
What does that mean? “Hold on. What are you even doing here?”
He crosses his arms defensively. He has no right to look annoyed—he’s the one crashing my vacation. “Raven said Sophie and I could use her beach house.”
I’m going to kill her.
“Based on your angry little huffs, I’m guessing she told you the same thing.”
“She did. And she knows how much my kids have been looking forward to this. So… so… dibs.” It’s childish, but I’m grasping at straws here when I’m covering what’s left of my dignity with my hands.
RJ holds up his palms in defense. “Whoa, it’s okay. We’ll figure something out.”
“Good, because I’m not finding another place to stay.”
His brow furrows. Why does he look so cute when he’s annoyed? “Right. Neither are we. This place is big enough for all of us.”
“Umm, no. You’re not staying here. I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with my boobs out.”
“If you turn around, I’ll help with that.”
My mouth drops open, and his cheeks turn red at the double meaning in his words.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant—fuck. I meant if you turn around, I can get you out of that top a little easier.” His frustration is palpable, and I hide my disappointment. Clearly, I don’t cross his mind the way he does mine.
“That doesn’t sound any better.”
“Just turn around and put your hands up. I promise to be a gentleman.”
What if I don’t want you to be a gentleman? I turn my back to him and reluctantly lift my arms.
“What was that?” There’s a smirk in his voice.
Shit. Did I say that out loud? “Nothing. Let’s just get this over with already so you can find another place to stay.” I need to get myself under control. How long has it been since I’ve gotten laid? That’s why I’m having confusing, horny thoughts. It has nothing to do with RJ and his dimple.
His hands grip the hem, now even with my chest, and I shudder each time his fingers brush along my bare skin.
“I told you, we’re not going anywhere. There are four bedrooms. You can have two, and we’ll take the other two.”
“The boys are bunking together, and Lana’s room only has a twin. Unless Sophie wants to bunk with a ten-year-old, I’d say you’re out of luck.”
He tugs my top free, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Until I remember I’m standing there completely topless. A series of grunts come from behind me, and it takes all my strength not to turn around to see what’s happening.
“C’mon… stupid piece of… almost got it… there!”
“You okay back there?”
“Yeah. Put your arms up.” I comply, and he slides the top on easily. Whipping around to face him, I cross my arms over my chest. “How the heck did you do that?”
He shrugs. “I untangle a bunch of knots and rope all the time at the firehouse. They give the new guys the shit tasks.”
“Oh. I forgot you were a firefighter now.” I’m lying. I totally remember. Two of my mom friends are dating firefighters, and it takes so much effort not to badger Bella and Lucy every time I hear about a fire in town. I’m pretty sure they’re aware of my crush.
“Yeah. I like it. I’m older than half of them, though. Being the new guy, I have to put up with all kinds of shit, but I don’t mind it. It feels like I finally found my calling.”
I clear my throat. “About the rooming situation. Like I said, three of the four rooms are taken so you and Sophie will have to share a room.”
He laughs, crossing his arms over his chest as if to show he’s not backing down. “There’s no way my sixteen-year-old daughter will share a room with me.”
“Well, have fun on the love seats then.” For some reason, there are no couches in this house, only several love seats.
“There’s plenty of room in here.” He swings a hand gesturing around the bedroom, his eyes landing on the king-sized bed. “And there’s plenty of room for both of us in there.”
“Oh no, you don’t. We aren’t sharing a bed.”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“Yeah. Anything other than that.” There’s no way I can handle sharing a bed with him without wanting to climb on top of him. And I’ll be damned if I ever tell him that.
“Look, I get I’m the last person you expected to walk through that door and the last person you’d want to share a bed with, but we’re both adults. And it’s a big bed. I think we can handle it for… wait, how long are you staying?”
“A week.”