Chapter 16
BE-B-BILLIE. H-HEY.
DARCY
Neve’s already texted me the location for the beach, and I’ve typed a reply to her at least four times, trying to come up with a good way to ask if I can drive Beth. The half-hour journey would be a hell of a lot more fun with her in the car next to me.
In the end, I settle on not being a creep and drive by myself. It’s a picture-perfect July first. And as I walk along the boardwalk, with the sun beaming down on me and the salty breeze ruffling my hair, I smile so wide it nearly has a laugh spilling out of me.
The chortle dies in my throat when I trip over my own feet, nearly dropping my towel and cooler.
Wearing nothing but a hot-pink bikini about a hundred feet in front of me is the woman who’s infiltrated my every thought. She’s lying on her stomach, feet in the air, swaying back and forth while she reads.
As I get closer, a spot of black ink catches my eye on the top of her right foot, and though I can’t make out the exact shape, I can see it in my mind: small black numbers that read “90%.” I filed the detail away in Halifax, along with all the other things I’m cataloging about Elizabeth Cameron, wondering what it means.
Seeing it again feels intimate. Like being privy to a secret.
Her perfect, round ass, which lately I’ve only seen fitting into work pants extremely well, is now nearly on full display, and I’m practically running toward it.
Her. Them. Because my friends are there, too, of course.
When I nearly fall on my face for the third or fourth time, Leo catches the movement and lifts an eyebrow before standing from his chair to walk toward me.
“Hey, man. You made it. Thanks for bringing water. The girls packed their special drinks, but nothing to properly hydrate with.” He shrugs, clearly not surprised by this turn of events.
“Uh-huh,” I answer, my eyes not leaving the bright pink scrap of fabric I now see has little white daisies all over it.
After handing Leo the cooler without so much as a glance in his direction, I beeline for Beth.
“Hey, Neve.” I manage the greeting, also without looking at her.
I know she’s here. Somewhere. But if she got abducted right this second, I would not be a reliable eyewitness.
I couldn’t tell anyone what she’s wearing, whether she was sitting or standing, or literally anything else about her specific appearance at this moment.
“Be-B-Billie. H-hey.” I’m already sweating through my T-shirt, and it’s not because of the sun or the thirty-degree temperature.
“What’s up?” There’s a one hundred percent chance I look and sound like an idiot right now, but I can’t be bothered to care when she slowly turns to lie on her side, lifting a hand to her sunglasses as she smiles up at me.
“Hi, Darcy. Glad you made it, buddy.” She gives me a thumbs-up while I wince at her use of that god-awful b-word. I’m not her buddy. Never was, never will be.
“Yeah,” I respond, and turn to lay my towel on the sand in an attempt to hide my scowl.
When I straighten, it’s so I can take off my shirt and take the spot next to her.
“Thanks for letting me tag along.” I lower my own sunglasses before bringing my hands to cradle the back of my head.
I’m incredibly grateful I had the foresight to put on sunscreen before walking down here, or I’d be setting myself up for severe sunburn.
I register Neve’s giggle, and then all I hear are the sounds of the beach.
The waves crashing, the wind blowing, and the white noise of people nearby, but not close enough to us for me to make out what they’re saying.
It’s the perfect setup for a nap I don’t need, but that I allow myself to drift off into anyway.