5. Laur
Chapter five
Laur
M y heart practically leaps out of my chest watching Lucas saunter over to our table in his black swim trunks and floral button-down shirt. His shirt flows open with several buttons left undone, showing off his delectable chest but not revealing his entire torso like Blaine.
“Oh, hello, Captain, didn’t know I’d see this much of you at the bar,” I tease, before kissing him softly.
“Too much?” Lucas cocks an eyebrow.
“The perfect amount for the public eye.” My gaze runs the length of his enticing body again. “Anything more is for my eyes only,” I whisper in his ear.
“Luc, you want anything?” Ryder calls, “Mitch and I are headed to the bar.”
“I’ll go with you,” Lucas replies. Before he goes, he tries to kiss my disappointment away.
I knew I’d have to share him a lot on this trip but I hate the time apart from him.
It seems like he is getting on well with Ryder King at least. Surprisingly, Ryder seems to be keen on Mitchell, even after he was such an asshole when we arrived.
Bren pulls me into a conversation about application reviews, which admittedly I should be much more focused on, but my brain has been so overloaded, I needed this break.
Tomorrow we’ll multitask by tanning by the pool and selecting the final candidates to interview, then set up the video interviews for when we are back on campus.
I catch myself nibbling at my nails as nerves chew their way through me with each word from Bren. Hoping to ease my tension, I take the last sip of my drink. My responsibility when I get back to campus is going to dramatically increase.
Bren narrows her eyes at me, sensing my stress. “You’re going to do an amazing job leading the PR and marketing crew, Laur.” Bren places her hands on my shoulders, consoling me. “Just don’t forget to have fun! Especially while we’re at the beach.”
Almost as if on cue, a drink decorated with a maraschino cherry and orange slice appears in front of me. Lucas takes his seat next to me, smiling broadly. My eyes grow wide with delight as the fruity drink hits my tastebuds.
“What is this deliciousness?” I demand, eagerly taking another drink.
He leans in close to my ear, placing a hand on my bare thigh below the table. With a raspy voice, he whispers, “Sex on the beach. I figured you might enjoy it. I know I certainly would.”
Covering my mouth with my hand, I try to contain myself and keep from spitting out my drink at his unexpected answer. My cheeks heat desire mixed with embarrassment that our friends might overhear.
“Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll get some of your own,” I respond softly with a sheepish grin.
“I’ve never done that before.” He runs his fingers along my thigh. The heat from my cheeks rushes to the space between my legs.
“Done what?” Libby interrupts from across the table. The color on my face deepens to scarlet.
“Skinny-dipped,” Lucas replies smoothly while he still casually caresses my thigh. His ability to remain cool and calm never ceases to impress me. I would have tripped over my words in an attempt to come up with a reply.
Tyler snorts. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously.” Lucas gives a dismissive shrug.
“There are a million lakes in Michigan! How is that even possible?” Libby pries.
“I haven’t either,” I chime in .
“You both need to get out more,” Bren mutters.
Have all our friends gone skinny-dipping? I never thought of Lucas and I as boring people but maybe in comparison to our friends apparently we aren’t that adventurous.
“I’ve never done it,” Ryder adds. “Didn’t realize it was a requirement.”
Unease lingers in the air around our now silent table from Ryder’s confession. With his reputation, it takes everyone by surprise. He shrugs nonchalantly, taking another sip of his beer. “Anyways, what else do you guys do for fun besides skinny-dip in lakes?”
A fit of frantic laughter bursts from Libby. “You’re so funny, Ryder,” she croons, placing her head in her hand as she pines over him. “We like to dance. Do you dance?”
“Not really. But there isn’t really dancing music at this bar anyways.” Ryder glances around at the group, as if trying to will someone to change the topic.
“Well let’s finish these drinks and dance in the sand!” Sydney shrieks, startling me. She’s been so quiet I almost forgot she was there.
“One more round first!” Libby exclaims.
Tyler rises, joining Libby and Sydney to order one last drink. My pulse quickens as I catch his eye and raise an eyebrow at him as if asking him if he’s sure he really needs another one.
Reluctantly, he sits back down at the table, telling Libby he’s good on drinks.
A few of us leave the bar and meander down the beach back to the house. Blaine plays music off his tiny, but incredibly loud, portable speaker he brought in his pocket.
My heart beats rapidly again as Tyler makes his way to my side and signals for me to part from the group so we can talk. We veer off a little to talk in private.
“What was that look for back at the bar?” he snarls, his voice low and irritated.
A lump grows in my throat at the bite in his rude tone .
“Nothing,” I answer quickly.
“Laur, that’s a lie. I don’t need you to mother me. I can hold my liquor, and we’re on vacation—”
I cut him off. “You can do whatever you want, Ty, but, if you want to make alternate captain this year, maybe lay off a bit and don’t miss any more workouts because you’re too busy partying.”
“Did Lucas—” He starts before I interrupt him again.
“Lucas didn’t say anything. But as one of your closest friends, who knows how badly you want that ‘A’ on your jersey this year, it’s just my personal opinion.”
“Noted,” Tyler mutters. My stomach twists with unease as an unfamiliar awkwardness falls between us as we drift back with the rest of the group. I’m used to being able to talk to Tyler about anything.
The discomfort doesn’t last long. Sydney ambushes Tyler from behind, jumping on him, almost causing him to fall face first in the sand. Libby’s hysterical laughter mixes with the music. She grabs Ryder’s hand, trying to pull him to dance with her along the beach.
“I don’t dance,” he comments.
Libby pouts with zero subtly, kicking up sand like a child throwing a fit.
“C’mon, Ryder King,” Blaine calls. “Live a little.”
Blaine rushes forward, scooping up Libby and twirling her around as if the beach is a ballroom dance floor.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot movement from Lucas.
He tries to be discreet, but I can tell he’s ready to pounce.
I take off running down the beach, with Lucas hot on my heels.
Catching me easily, Lucas picks me up, spinning in circles.
I squeal like a woo-girl. His speed could never be outmatched by mine.
“Is everyone on the team this cheesy?” Ryder grouses, making me giggle.
“What’s cheesier than playing a game of truth or dare?” Sydney inquires, clearly hoping to keep the night going.
My stomach does a somersault at her suggestions.
I absolutely despise the childish game. It brings back memories of my toxic ex and his friends.
They got high off the game by daring each other to do the stupidest things while they were drinking, like running as hard as possible into the garage door with a hockey helmet on.
Someone’s mom was less thrilled than I was about that one—it cost her an entire new garage door.
“Aren’t we a little old for that?” Blaine retorts. Bad boy Blaine Mitchell doesn’t like truth or dare? Everyone seems to be full of surprises on this trip.
“Not even a little bit,” Libby argues, crossing her arms. “It’s a classic for any trip. What are you scared of Blaine?” She narrows her eyes at him, challenging him to back out.
“Whatever,” Blaine grumbles as we approach the gate to the back patio.
Libby and Sydney bounce with giddiness, eager to play. They scurry into the house and return with a pack of hard seltzers. Bren says goodnight, mentioning she wants to take advantage of the empty room and call Liam before it gets too late.
“You first, Lib, since it was your idea,” Tyler requests, earning him a groan from Libby.
“Technically it was Syd’s idea, but whatever, Tyler. I’ll be a good sport.” Libby flashes a teasing grin, “I pick truth.”
“Which guy on the team would you sleep with if you had to choose?” Silas Harlan, a junior defenseman, asks. Sydney bursts into a fit of giggles as she sips a seltzer she grabbed from the fridge.
“What a waste of a question, Harlan,” Blaine grumbles. “We all know she’s going to say Ryder. Next person.”
Ryder shrugs unfazed by Blaine’s comment. Harlan mutters “shit” under his breath, not realizing his obvious mistake. Before Libby gets a word out, Sydney starts with a new victim, locking her eyes on Blaine.
“Blaine, truth or dare?”
“Truth,” he responds. Tyler huffs ‘boring” under his breath. “Fine. Dare.”
“I dare you to streak. One lap to the beach and back,” Sydney challenges him.
“Easy.” A cocky smirk forms across Blaine’s face. “Just remember you asked for it.”
Keeping his eyes focused on Libby, he takes off his Hawaiian shirt and works to untie his shorts.
“I’m going to get a drink,” I stammer, not wanting to witness Blaine naked. I’ve already seen him in all his glory in the locker room last year. Before anyone can respond, my feet carry me quickly to the kitchen. I grab a cup of water, not wanting any more buzz than the slight one I currently have.
The sound of the sliding door opening alerts me that someone else has come inside. Turning, I expect to see Lucas but instead I’m greeted by Ryder King.
“Hey, Ryder.” I take a long sip of my water.
“Hey. I’m headed to bed. Long travel day today,” he offers. “And truth or dare isn’t really my thing.” He mumbles the last part so quietly I can barely make out the words. I wonder if it was more to himself than to me.
“I don’t blame you,” I laugh softly. “Just text Lucas if you need anything.”
He acknowledges with a nod, then darts up the upstairs to his bedroom.
Filling my water glass up again, a big sigh escapes me.
Truth or dare is also not my thing. Nathan and his teammates at East used to force it on everyone at parties all the time his freshman year.
It always became a pissing contest. But I continue to move on from the past, one day at a time.
“Laur, perfect timing,” Libby calls to me as I close the door and make my way to Lucas on the patio. “It’s your turn.”
Great. Just what I was hoping to avoid.
“Since Blaine, everyone has picked truth. So please, provide us with more entertainment on our first night of vacation,” Sydney pleads .
“Oh,” My fingers nervously twirl a strand of hair. Despite the new knot in my stomach, I oblige, “Dare.”
“I dare you to go skinny-dipping,” Tyler proclaims loudly
“No way in hell is my girlfriend getting naked in front of my teammates,” Lucas interrupts.
“Oh c’mon, it’s just a game!” Libby squeals, “If it’s that big of a deal she can go down to the beach and get naked there. Not like she needs to get buck-ass-naked right here like Blaine did.”
“Blaine was right. We’re too old for this shit,” Lucas comments under his breath. A slight victory smile creeps along Blaine’s lips.
“Why the hell not?” I state. Lucas’ jaw tightens when I accept the stupid dare. “Like Libby said, I’ll just go down by the beach and strip down there. Do we have any dry towels out here?”
Lucas clenches his fist as Blaine scrambles to find me a towel.
“Care to pop that skinny-dipping cherry with me, Captain?” My lip tingles as I not-so-subtly bite it. His fists unclench and a wicked grin replaces the tension that painted his face seconds ago.
“Well, this isn’t fun anymore,” Harlan groans, taking another hard seltzer from the open pack.
“Yep, I’m ready for bed. See you all tomorrow.” Blaine leaves the patio.
A few guys linger behind with Sydney, chatting and drinking their seltzers. Clearly not taking anything I said to heart, Tyler is one of them.
“Let’s cross skinny-dipping off the bucket list.” Lucas grabs my hand, holding the towels in the other, as we run down the beach.
“Sorry to be possessive,” Lucas starts as we get to the edge of the water.
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not like I want to be naked in front of our friends!” Pulling Lucas to me, I start to unbutton the rest of his shirt. “And I certainly don’t want my friends or anyone for that matter drooling over you. ”
He flings his shirt into the sand. I pull my black swim cover up over my head, throwing it on the sand next to his shirt.
“I don’t mind when you’re possessive.” I slide my shorts off. “If I’m being honest . . . it’s kind of a turn on.”
“Good.”
“Good,” I agree, untying my bikini top, letting it fall to the beach. Lucas eyes widen as he takes in my bare chest, my nipples hardening with the cool breeze.
“In that case,” he growls against my lips before claiming them with his own as he takes off his boxers and swim trunks in one fell swoop. “You are mine.”