Chapter 16
RAQUEL
“It’s impossible to be stressed when you’re floating in one of these,” I murmured, my head resting on the tube and my face tipped toward the sun.
My eyes were closed, but I heard Theo’s answering chuckle drifting from my side. He and I had ended up together again, but I hadn’t questioned it when Avery had fastened our tubes securely together.
I probably should have, but honestly, I’d rather spend the time next to him than tolerating one of the other idiots. People were splashing all around us, Avery nearly flipping himself over every so often to grab a drifting beer.
Just a few minutes ago, one of his friends had gotten stuck sideways between two rocks and had to be rescued while the rest of us had laughed at the predicaments they kept getting themselves into.
Despite everything that had happened this week, I was actually having fun and the fact that it was Theo I was joking with as we floated definitely helped.
“Yeah,” he muttered, his arms spread across his tube and his own eyes closed under his sunglasses when I cracked mine open to peek at him. “I know what you mean. Real life feels really fucking far away out here.”
Once again, I was tempted to ask him about his so-called real life, but I was too blissed out right then to be bothered. Instead, I just stared at that dark hair, black now that it was wet and slicked back from his striking features, and I took a few mental pictures for later.
Theo shirtless with water sliding lazily from his broad shoulders to his chest was my version of live-action porn. No way was I letting something as trivial as reality ruin that right now.
“We should stay here,” I finally said when I managed to swallow the drool and turned to look up at the sky instead. “What do you think? We’ll build a little cabin and just forget the rest of the world exists.”
“I’m in,” he agreed without hesitation.
I’d noticed that he did that a lot, like he was intent on living his best life and was doing it by grabbing whatever opportunity came along with both hands. So far, he was proving to be the most spontaneous, adventurous person I’d ever met and I liked that. I admired it, even.
“This cabin we’re building,” he murmured a few seconds later. “How many bedrooms does it have?”
My head turned so fast, I nearly gave myself whiplash, but then I laughed when I saw the teasing smirk on his face. “It has six. Two for each of us, one for Avery when he visits, and one for your entire mystery family.”
His nose wrinkled, but there was still a curve on his lips and I was willing to bet that if he hadn’t been wearing sunglasses, his eyes would’ve been twinkling. “Bold of you to assume I’d invite them. I thought we were forgetting the real world existed.”
“Fair enough,” I said after a beat. “Okay, I’ve reconsidered, and if the real world doesn’t exist at all, then I guess we could get away with only two bedrooms.”
“Two, huh?” He let out a sigh that sounded vaguely disapproving. “If you insist.”
A thrill shot down my spine at the implication that he would have preferred only one bedroom, the cool water the only thing keeping me from overheating completely at this point.
Steam had practically started coming out of my ears when I’d realized he was getting naked only feet away from me and I’d felt myself go beet red when he’d caught me checking him out.
As the creek wound through the Pass in lazy curves, our tubes bumped against each other every so often, the current carrying us steadily to the lake below. The water was shaded in places by trees and desert brush, and the water was already cooler than it had been a few months ago, but not cold.
Most of the group had spread out naturally, some farther ahead while others lagged behind.
They floated in clusters, drinking beer and joking back and forth, but Theo and I were mostly alone, tied together, with the chemistry that had been simmering between us for the last few weeks now crackling so palpably that even I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
My heart pitter-pattered every time he smiled at me and the things that were happening to the rest of my body were entirely foreign to me at this point. This whole situation felt new, actually. Flirting. Chemistry. Yearning for someone I didn’t have.
Hunter had been my first—and last—boyfriend, and my first just-about-everything-else.
We’d gone from teenagers to engaged adults without much in between. After that had blown up in my face, I’d had no interest, desire, or patience to put myself back out there, but the idea of spending time with Theo made my heart sing.
It was so fucking embarrassing, but at least today, I could tell myself it was the beer, the sunshine, and the fact that he looked disgustingly good wet. So while I had the excuse, I fully intended on enjoying it.
I took another sip of my beer and finally faced him again, definitely not tracking a drop of water sliding down the curve of his neck from behind the safety of my sunglasses. “You fit in here surprisingly well.”
Theo groaned. “Not you too.”
I laughed. “What? I was just saying.”
“Yeah, but everyone else is just saying it too.”
“That’s probably because it’s true.” I kept looking at him, just chilling on his tube with his arms spread across the sides and a beer dangling between his fingers. “Is that a bad thing?”
A slow smile curved his lips. “Nah. It just makes me want things I can’t have, is all.”
Naturally, before I could ask what he meant by that, one of Avery’s friends launched a surprise attack with a water gun and chaos erupted.
People started yelling and Luis fell out of his tube trying to retaliate.
Theo got hit directly in the face and I laughed so hard, I almost tipped over, but I also took that as a sign.
Not now, Raquel. Don’t ruin it by going digging into things that don’t concern you.
“Oh, you think that’s funny?” he demanded, his sunglasses now dripping and pushed up into his hair. He was sitting a littler straighter in the tube, grinning despite the fact that he was obviously trying to look serious.
I caught his gaze and held it. “I think it’s hilarious.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Moving as fast as lightning, he leaned over and splashed me.
I squealed but splashed him back. Within seconds, we were both soaked and laughing, catching up to the others to join the full-fledged water fight that was developing, and for a little while, everything else disappeared.
Dad and his diagnosis, the uncertainties of the future, and all the responsibilities waiting back in Quartz Pass. Eventually though, the creek widened, the current slowed, and the sparkling blue expanse of the lake opened ahead of us, forcing the battle to a natural end.
People started paddling toward shore, but Theo kept floating beside me as we drifted into calmer water. He smiled as he caught my gaze. “This was really fun.”
“Yeah, it was exactly what I needed.”
“I think it was exactly what I needed too,” he agreed, then lowered his legs into the water and slung his arms over the front of his tube. “Hold on. I’ll give you a lift back to the shore.”
Surprisingly disappointed that the afternoon float had come to an end, I kicked to help him move us. The sun was starting to disappear behind the mountains. People dragged themselves out of the lake, hauling the tubes back to the campsite while a few of the guys went back for the trucks.
By the time the sun was gone, the night was still warm, but the campsite had transformed. Everyone was dry and changed. Lanterns glowed between tents and drinks sat on a folding tables with the leftovers of the burgers we’d had for dinner.
Luis’s truck was playing music at a much more respectable volume than it’d been before we’d hit the creek this afternoon, and a massive fire crackled near the shoreline.
We gathered around it, camping chairs scattered into loose groups while people talked and laughed.
Stars started appearing one by one. The last traces of the sunset reflected on the glittering surface of the lake.
I sat slightly removed from the group, watching flames dance against the darkening sky, but across the fire, Theo was laughing with one of Avery’s friends. My eyes kept finding him, seeking him out without my permission.
It was more like every time I looked up, there he was, talking to somebody new or with his head thrown back in laughter. To any outsider, it would’ve looked like he’d known these people his entire life instead of having only met them a few weeks ago.
Somehow, he’d already become part of their group. I took a sip of my drink, intent on going back to stargazing, but when Theo laughed again, my gaze drifted straight back to him. Jeez, this guy really is becoming dangerous to me.
With that thought at the front of my mind, I decided to put myself out of my misery and I stood up, calling out to my brother. “Avery?”
He glanced over from where he was arguing with Luis about fishing. “What’s up?”
“I’m heading back to my cabin.”
Several people booed, but I grinned and gave them a bow. “Have fun sleeping in the heat.”
Avery rolled his eyes, but before I could even begin to comprehend what was happening, he called out to Theo. “Hey, do you mind walking Raquel back to the cabin?”
My jaw slackened, but Theo stood from where he’d been sitting with his ass on the sand and brushed dirt off his shorts. He lifted his gaze to mine, looking smug as hell even as he replied to my brother. “Sure, man. I got it.”
He wandered over before I could start threatening Avery with violence, batting his lashes and gallantly offering me his arm. “Ready for your escort, m’lady?”
I gave his shoulder a playful shove. “I’m perfectly capable of walking myself.”
“Of course.” He winked. “Unfortunately, this is a full-service package. I shall escort the lady like a true gentleman.”
“I’m not a lady.”
Theo chuckled. “The way you look in a bikini suggests otherwise.”
My eyes popped wide open, my first instinct to check over my shoulder to see if Avery had heard that, but he’d already turned back to Luis. Finally, I took Theo’s arm, but it was mostly because I couldn’t be trusted to stand on my own two feet right then.
That had not sounded like a joke and Theo wasn’t looking away from me either, just smiling as he watched me. Heat rushed to my cheeks, my usually smart mouth completely dumb right now.
When did he get so bold? Or has he always been bold and I’m only noticing now?
Either way, it had caught me completely off guard, but what was even more worrying was I liked it.
It had been a long time since I’d actually wanted male attention, but now that it was his attention, my heart was suddenly attempting gymnastics.
I’m spending the whole day tomorrow in my bikini. Purely for scientific reasons, of course. It has nothing to do with the fact that I’d like to feel him staring at me all day.
Theo’s smile widened as we walked, like he could hear every embarrassing thought running through my head. Stars twinkled overhead as we made our way down the path toward the cabins. The sounds of the campsite eventually faded behind us.
I was supremely aware that I still hadn’t offered any comeback to that line, but try as I might, something clever and cutting kept evading me. Finally, I let go of his arm, but I stayed close, wondering what Miley or any other woman who was actually capable of flirting would do right now.
But the only thing I came up with was nothing.
Because I desperately, truly didn’t know what to do or say. The only thing I knew for sure was that I didn’t want this tiny bit of time I had with him to end just yet.