Chapter 4
FOUR
COLTON
A night swim with Kairi seemed like a good idea earlier, but now she’s standing at the edge of the pool in a tiny, pink, two-piece bikini with her curls pinned leaving the line of her neck completely exposed, and I’m realizing just how stupid that idea was.
All I can think about is how badly I want to peel that thin fabric off her and press kisses along the length of her body.
Kairi is beautiful. I’ve never seen hazel eyes as layered as hers, green and brown swirling together like a kaleidoscope. Her curls are my weakness, even when they’re wild and tangled from surf practices, and her tawny skin always glows golden under the light.
She lowers herself into the heated water with a soft exhale and starts drifting toward me.
“That was way longer than five minutes,” I say, though my voice lacks any real conviction. “Thought you cried yourself to sleep.”
She scoffs. “There will be no sleeping for me tonight,” she pauses, then adds, “or crying.”
Kairi stops in front of me, causing the water to ripple between us, and I fight the urge to reach out and pull her closer.
Having her pressed up on me in her bedroom earlier was something I didn’t realize I needed.
The constant pressure I carry about whether or not I belong on this team faded in an instant, and all I could focus on was her; the feel of her; the smell of her; the way she fits against me like she belongs there.
I want to feel that again.
A quiet pause stretches between us before my brain finally catches up to the present. “Why didn’t you want Zale to see me outside your room earlier?”
The question’s been burning holes in my mind since she dragged me into her room. What was she so afraid would happen if he saw me?
She holds my gaze for a beat before answering. “I don’t know,” she says softly.
I click my tongue. “I think you do.”
She frowns slightly, water shifting around her shoulders. “I guess I just didn’t want it to start up any more rumours,” she admits. “He’s finally stopped being so upset what happened between you and me the night of the bonfire two years ago. I didn’t want to give him a reason to start again.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes because I hate how much what Zale thinks and says matters to her. He isn’t the type of guy Kairi should end up with, because he doesn’t really see her. Not in the way someone should when a girl like her is standing right in front of them.
“Do you regret that night?” I ask.
“No.” She pushes off the pool floor and drifts closer. “I had so much fun that night, even if it doesn’t count to you.”
My breath stutters as she closes the distance between us without even realizing it.
“I just regret telling Zale,” she continues, her hand coming up to grip my arm instinctively. “He’s so childish about it because it happened with you.”
Electricity shoots up my arm from her touch and it takes everything in me not to react.
“He would’ve been childish about it regardless of who it was with,” I say, my voice rougher than I mean for it to sound. “That’s just how Zale is. He wants what he can’t have, and claims what isn’t his.”
She nods. “I know…but I especially hate hearing him talk down if it’s about you.”
“Why?”
Her brow lifts. “Because you’re my friend.”
If I could kick myself for expecting a deeper answer, I would, because I’ve known from day one that a friend is all I’ll ever be to Kairi. Expecting more is only setting myself up for disappointment.
I swallow hard. “You’re my friend too.”
She laughs softly, the sound floating across the water. “Okay, well now that we’ve cleared up that we’re friends—even though I thought we already knew that—can we talk about Alessia?”
I chuckle and nod. “What was it like meeting her?” I ask, moving away so that her hand slips from my arm, cutting off the current running through my body and allowing myself to catch a breath.
If she notices, she doesn’t say anything.
“She definitely hates me.”
I laugh.
“I swear! She threatened me with her eyes.”
“Eyes of a killer?” I ask.
“I’m serious,” she laughs, splashing lightly at the water. “I could tell she felt threatened for some stupid reason.”
“As she should,” I say easily. “You’re a sexy, badass athlete who lives under the same roof as the guy that she’s trying to lock down, and you two have years of history. You basically have a head start on her.”
When she doesn’t reply I glance down and find she’s staring straight at me with a goofy grin.
“You think I’m a sexy, badass athlete?” She asks, placing a hand over her chest in exaggerated flattery.
I roll my eyes and smack the water, splashing her but making sure it doesn’t reach her hair. She yelps and laughs, immediately splashing me back before quickly paddling away.
I grin as I go after her and she reaches the pool wall first, but before she can move again I corner her there, planting my hands on either side of her against the edge.
Even surrounded by chlorine, I can still smell her honey-vanilla scent. I inhale slowly, filling my lungs with it. Her wide almond-shaped eyes lock onto mine, and I watch them drop down to my lips.
I know she’s attracted to me just as much as I’m attracted to her.
If she wasn’t then we wouldn’t have hooked up that night.
But we both know this can only go as far as friendship between us.
I’m not the kind of guy that ends up with someone like Kairi, not even close.
And I promised I’d help her find the right guy—the one who’ll chase her the way she deserves.
“For a second there,” she says quietly, “I thought you were going to kiss me.”
My jaw tightens.
“If you weren’t so intent on finding the man of your dreams,” I say roughly. “I might’ve.”
“Why?”
I shrug. “You’re a good kisser from what I can remember…but then again my memory could just be flawed—you know—concussion and all.”
Her eyes move slowly between mine. “Kiss me then,” she whispers, “if you want to check whether you’re right.”
Every muscle in my body tightens. She’s so close, and all it would take is leaning in just slightly, but I push away from the wall instead and take a step back before I do something I can’t undo.
“You don’t actually want that, Kai,” I say.
“And how do you know what I want?” she asks, stepping toward me.
Maybe it’s because I know her better than she knows herself, but this isn’t what Kairi wants—it’s what I want, and she knows it. She’s always the one taking care of everyone else, because she’s convinced that making other people happy is the same thing as being happy herself.
But that’s not how real happiness works.
“You want Zale,” I remind her.
She freezes, the water rippling gently around her as she stares at me, confusion flashing across her face.
”I’m not kissing you,” I say. “Or fucking you,” I add for good measure.
She exhales slowly and closes her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she says after a moment.
I frown. “Why are you apologizing?”
“You’re my friend,” she says. “One of my closest friends. I guess I just wanted to forget about everything with Zale…and my nonexistent love life. But I shouldn’t have tried to use you as a distraction.”
“It’s alright,” I say, even though it doesn’t feel alright at all. “That just means we should really find you a first date now and get you a proper distraction.”
Her brows lift.
“How does tomorrow sound?” I ask.
“Tomorrow?” Her voice shakes nervously.
I nod and swim toward the pool edge, hauling myself up until I’m sitting on the side, water streaming down my body. It’s proving way harder than I thought to force myself to keep my hands to myself.
“Yeah,” I say. “Let’s find your first date tomorrow.”
Her eyes travel down my bare chest before returning to my face.
“Tomorrow works,” she says, voice distant.
“Alright.” I force a grin.
“You made me a dating profile?”
Kairi stares down at my phone, swiping through the photos I pulled from her social media accounts earlier this morning.
“It’s set so that your profile only shows to guys within Saltwater Springs and nearby towns,” I explain, watching her reaction carefully. “Are you still okay with this?”
”Yeah,” she says, glancing up at me. “Of course. Thanks for doing this.”
I shrug. “I told you I’d help.” I take the phone back. “You’ve already got a few matches.”
She gasps and leans closer, the coconut scent of her hair drifting toward me. My eyes close for a second as I breathe it in. I’ve been around plenty of girls, but none of them smell as good as Kairi.
“Is that Brandon Dingalo?” She asks. “How the hell did he get so hot?”
My eyes snap open and I glance down at the profile she’s looking at, frowning when I realize she’s right.
That is Brandon. In high school, he was a short, pale, pimply redhead with braces and thick, square glasses.
If a girl so much as looked at him, he’d make a wheezing noise and disappear into the bathroom for an hour.
Now he’s buff with clear skin, contacts, and the straightest, whitest teeth I’ve ever seen. He’s even managed to get somewhat of a tan.
”I never thought he’d end up looking like this,” she mutters, scrolling through his pictures. “And he’s a poet?”
According to his profile, when he’s not working out he’s working on his poetry. He’s self-published three poetry books as of this year, with one being a bestseller, and he’s halfway through writing his fourth.
“Sounds like he might be right up your alley,” I say, opening the blinking message icon.
Brandon Dingalo:
Hey Kairi, are you free for dinner tonight?”
“That’s it?” She asks, pulling back from my phone and looking at me with furrowed brows. “No small talk?”
I shrug. “Maybe he doesn’t want to bother with that since he already knows you.”
“Maybe.” She studies the message for a moment.
“So?” I push. “Ready for your first date?”
Kairi chews her bottom lip, deep in thought, before looking at me with wide, worried eyes.
“I don’t even know how dates work,” she admits.
I frown. “What are you talking about?”
She shrugs awkwardly. “I’ve never actually been on a real date.”
My stomach drops and I can’t help but feel sad for Kairi. She’s stunning. Completely and utterly stunning. And she has one of the most beautiful personalities I’ve ever known.
How is it possible she’s never been on a real date?
I clear my throat and glance back down at the messages. Based on his profile, Brandon might actually be perfect for Kairi, but I’m not sending her out there completely clueless. That would make me a bad love coach, and I don’t want to let her down.
“Alright,” I say, typing back a quick reply. “Then we’ll tell Brandon you’re busy tonight.”
“Okay,” she says, seeming to visibly relax when I send the message.
“And tonight,” I continue, locking my phone and meeting her eyes, “you and I will go on a date.”
She swallows, her breathing shallowing out. “A date?”
I nod, ignoring the loud pounding of my heart. “A practice date,” I clarify. “Before the real one.”
She gives me a small smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Sounds fun.”
“Be ready for six,” I say, standing up and sliding my phone into my pocket. “And wear something nice.” I head toward the door and step outside before she can say anything else.
Kairi needs a friend, and that’s what I intend to be for her. She’s the only good thing in my life right now, and I refuse to screw this friendship up like I do everything else.