Chapter 30 #2
The guys want to play volleyball, so we break into two teams with Nick and Bay on my side.
I forget all about the other people as we have fun.
When we’re about to start our third game, a group walks over.
Alex seems to be familiar with some of them, and they want to join us for a game.
My guys all join me on the far side of the net to make one team as the newcomers spread out opposite us.
I can work with this. The only people I’ll bump into are my guys.
Nick and E make a fantastic shield at the net, and we win easily.
Once we win our second game, the newcomers want to mix up the teams, so I excuse myself to the canopy, and Nick joins me.
“Don’t want to play anymore?” I ask him.
He shakes his head no and hands me a water bottle before sitting in the chair beside mine.
We watch the next game, and a large group of onlookers begins to crowd around the net.
By the end of the second game, I’ve moved my chair under the canopy to avoid the crowd.
No one is trying to touch me, but I’m getting a little stressed, and I can’t see the game anymore with all the people standing around.
No one has tried to enter the canopy, though. “Run?” Nick asks.
“Yes, please,” I reply. Nick grabs two more water bottles as I text the guys we’re going for a run.
Looking around, I see nothing valuable under here, so I follow Nick towards the house before we cut around the crowd to the wet sand.
Nick waits while I stretch before we start.
I have to avoid a few little kids and dogs, but it’s not enough to interrupt my flow.
We run to the end of the beach again and take a break there.
There’s hardly anyone at this end of the beach, so I flop onto my back and stare at the blue sky while sipping my water.
After my heart rate settles, I look over at Nick sitting beside me. “How come it’s so empty down here?”
“Rip currents,” he says, pointing to my right.
“Where? The break in the waves?” I ask.
“Yeah. Never swim where there are no waves.”
“Huh, good to know.” I lie back down, closing my eyes and letting the ocean’s energy flow through my body. Once I feel calm, I turn my head and open my eyes to find Nick in the same position. “Ready to head back?” He nods and stands up, pulling me with him.
There’s still a good-sized crowd around the volleyball net when we get back, but I don’t see our guys playing.
“Sunshine,” I hear Seb yell. Looking around, I don’t see him anywhere.
I check the water and see Alex, E, and Bay, but no Seb.
Nick points towards the house, and I find Seb up on the balcony.
Nick leads me around the crowd until we get to the house, then tells me he’s going swimming. I thank him and head inside.
Joining Seb on the balcony, I ask him what he’s up to. “I came for food, Sunshine. How was your run?”
“Good. I’m gonna hop in the shower,” I tell him.
“I’ll be here,” he smiles, before munching on a wrap leftover from lunch.
I take a quick shower before dressing in a tank top and shorts. Once I grab a granola bar and a glass of iced tea from the kitchen, I rejoin Seb. “So, what are we doing now?” I ask.
“People watching. Have a seat with me,” he says, patting the chair beside him.
I munch on my granola bar as I survey the beach. I find Alex, E, and Bay together in the water, but not Nick. “Where’s Nick?”
“Swimming out past the guys,” he says, pointing to the left.
I see someone actually swimming laps, so that must be Nick.
There’s still a volleyball game going on at the net.
Our three guys get out of the water and head towards the canopy.
“How long do you think before the guys get hit on?” He asks.
“Let’s bet kisses,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
I chuckle at him. He’s probably going to win, but I can’t lose with kissing Seb. “Alright. I say within 5 minutes.”
“Oh, it’s on. I say 10,” he bets, starting a timer on his phone. We watch the crowd, and at the 7 minute mark, the volleyball game ends and two girls walk over to the guys. “Damn. I thought the game would last longer,” he mutters. “One point to you.”
“Which of the guys will leave first?” I ask.
“E. That’s too easy. I’m not betting you on that, but I will bet that Alex leaves before Bay.”
“You’re on,” I smile. We spend the next two hours betting and laughing on the balcony. I’m actually up a few kisses when E checks on us. “Hey E,” I smile.
“Hi. What are you two doing?”
“People watching and betting kisses,” Seb answers. “Sunshine is actually beating me,” he pouts.
“What are you betting on?” He inquires, coming to lean on the railing.
“Who will get hit on. Which of you will walk away first. How many times someone will flirt with you,” he shrugs.
E smiles adoringly at him. “You know the first few weekends are crazy down here.”
“That’s why we’re doing it. It’s fun. Sunshine is not a fan of desperation, though. Oh look,” Seb points. “The three chicks from earlier are back, and they’ve spotted Nick.”
I look back towards the water and see Nick coming out of the waves like a Greek god.
He’s not trying to be sexy; he just is, pulling his hair back into a bun with water dripping down his sculpted chest. The three women are standing in his path at the edge of the water.
As the one in the middle steps forward, Nick veers to the right, but the other two slide over to block him.
I can see his furrowed brows and scowl from here.
Seb finds it hilarious. Nick says something to them and walks around towards the canopy, but the middle chick grabs his arm to pull him back.
I stand up at that. It's not appropriate to touch someone without their permission.
E grabs my hand. “It’s okay. He can take care of himself,” he tells me. I nod, but don’t sit back down. Nick turns on her and yanks his arm out of her grip. He says something I obviously can’t hear and walks away. “Come help me find something for dinner?” E asks.
“Okay,” I nod, irritated on Nick’s behalf. Seb and I walk into my bedroom, but he grabs my hand and spins me around.
“I believe you won by three kisses, Sunshine. I’d like to transfer ownership of one of those to E.”
“Oh,” I nod. “I’m good with that.”
Seb grins and turns me to face E, who is smiling at us, his golden eyes happy. “Our girl is owed a kiss,” Seb tells him.
E steps up and sandwiches me between them. My heart races, and I feel myself flushing. E bends, wraps his arms under my butt, and lifts me up so our faces are level. “Hi,” I say.
“Hi cutie. Can I kiss you?”
“Okay.” E leans in slowly and brushes his lips gently against mine.
Once, twice, before applying more pressure.
I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back.
E is slow and cautious in his movements, so different from Seb.
There’s no tongue, but the varying pressures has my belly flipping upside down.
He eventually pulls away and gives me a huge smile. “Wow,” he says.
“Yeah. Wow,” I smile back.
“Wow, number three,” Seb says from behind me. “I’m hard as a rock now.”
E chuckles and sets me down, adjusting himself before giving Seb a peck over my shoulder, and my blush deepens. “I’ll see you both downstairs,” he says before walking away.
Seb comes around in front of me and smiles. “Let me know when you want your other two kisses, Sunshine. I’m at your disposal,” he says, bowing down.
Giggling, I reply. “I will. Let’s go help E.” We head downstairs and find E bent over the freezer. “Are we grilling on the beach or eating here?” I ask.
“I think we need a break from the crowds,” E replies. “We can still grill, though. There’s a barbecue in the garage.”
“How about kebabs?”
“Good choice, Sunshine,” Seb replies.
I help E get dinner prepped while Seb gets the barbecue out and cleans it. The rest of the guys come inside before we finish, and break off to get showers.
We enjoy dinner on the front patio, then I call to check in with Zander.
After watching the sunset on the deck, Seb asks if I want to go to one of the parties down the beach.
I agree, so Nick fills a small cooler with beer and water while the guys grab folding chairs for all of us.
We leave the house to walk along the beach in the opposite direction Nick and I run.
It takes about 20 minutes before we reach a huge bonfire.
People are drinking, dancing, or sitting on the sand, clustering around the bonfire.
Seb drops his chair and grabs my hand to pull me closer to the music.
He dances with me on the edge of the crowd as the guys set up our chairs within view.
Bay and E join us for a few songs before a slow song comes on.
I pull Bay closer to dance with him, and he seems surprised. “Hi,” I smile.
“Hey,” he smiles back. “Having fun?”
“Yup, so far. Did you enjoy the beach today?”
“I did, except for the pushy girls.”
“Yeah, some of them are aggressive,” I agree, “or desperate.”
“True. It’s much less crowded during the week in the summer,” he informs me as the song ends and we go back to dancing as a group.
I notice Alex get up and walk over to speak with a group of guys, leaving Nick alone.
He seems content to watch the crowd, sipping his beer.
I get lost in several songs before checking on him again.
This time, the three women from earlier are surrounding him.
The pushy one is sitting in Alex’s chair beside him, wearing a tight, tiny dress, so I turn and dance so that I’ve got a view of Nick.
Of course he can defend himself better than any guy I know, but I’m protective of my friends.