Chapter 23 #2
My eyes meet his, and the air slips right out of my lungs. Do not drool, Madison. Do. Not. Drool. There are people around.
Hunter stands behind the cooler, shirtless.
Droplets slide down his bare chest, racing over the hard lines of his abs before disappearing into the waistband of his board shorts that hang low on his hips.
His damp hair is sticking up in every direction, and in the deep V of his hip is the small purple bruise I put there.
My stomach flutters; he’s wildly attractive, and that’s so unfair.
When my eyes find their way back to his, a small smirk plays at the corner of his mouth. Ugh, he knows exactly what he does to me.
Before my brain can form a single coherent word, wet arms wrap around my chest and lift me off the ground. I squeal as I’m spun in a dizzying circle, then plonked back down on shaky feet.
“You got a little drool there, Queen,” Connor murmurs into my ear, tapping at the corner of my mouth.
I smack his hand away, laughing. “You got me all wet,” I groan, looking down at my now see-through white tee, proudly showing my blue bikini top.
Connor grins wickedly. “Aw, I don’t think I’m the one making you all wet.” His brows bounce, smug as hell.
“Connor!!” I shriek, heat crawling all over my skin.
Hunter rolls his eyes and shoves him playfully as he steps closer to me. His shoulder brushes mine, and my heart quickens as he hands me a drink. “Ignore him. He’s being childish.”
“Oh, relax, Dad,” Connor sing-songs.
Asher walks over at that exact moment, dropping a case of water onto the table with a thud and peeling off his shirt. I catch Halle’s stare—burning, unblinking—and snort.
I lean over. “You’re doing the burning-eye thing.”
“I can’t help it,” she hisses. “Look at him.”
Asher shoots a look between Connor and Hunter, a daring smile spreading across his face. He takes two slow steps back.
“Last one to jump mans the barbecue,” he declares, taking off.
The guys laugh, sprinting after him into the water, arms and legs flying everywhere. Hunter pushes Connor down mid-run, sending him falling in the water, and Halle and I double over, laughing at the sheer dramatics of it all.
“I’m going to take Remi in with Sarah. You coming?” Halle asks.
“I’ll be over soon. Let me put this down”—I lift my drink—“and get out of this.” I tug at the wet tee stuck to my boobs.
I move over to where all our stuff is, peel my tee off, and dig out the sunscreen, lathering my skin in it.
My hands slow as I spread it over my arms, a nervous flutter settling low in my chest. I glance over at Hunter as he trudges out of the water, shaking droplets from his hair before starting up the trail.
I know I need to talk to him today about everything circling in my head, and if I have to get mad like Mom said, to be heard, then so be it.
“Don’t look behind you, but Xavier is here, and he’s walking over,” Tessa says, dragging me out of my head, grinning as she ties her hair into a messy bun. “Ohhh, girl… he is locked in on your ass. He’s not even trying to hide it.”
My hand hovers stupidly over my boobs as I freeze mid-sunscreen rub.
“You’re fucking with me,” I breathe.
Tessa’s grin only widens as she side steps, planting her hands on her hips.
“Oh my god.” I groan.
Heat blooms across my cheeks, the hairs on the back of my neck stand, and I’m suddenly hyper aware of everything—my bare stomach, the way my bikini top doesn’t leave much to the imagination, the tacky sunscreen on my palms.
I spin around and nearly collide with Xavier as he comes to a stop in front of me. He’s close—too close—and his eyes catch mine with a spark I can’t quite figure out. Interest? Mischief? Something warmer? Whatever it is, it makes me take a step back, my mind racing to Hunter.
“Why, hello there, Xavier,” Tessa purrs.
“Tessa. Madison, Hi,” he replies.
I clear my throat, shifting my weight, and glare at my childhood friend.
“Hey, Xavier.”
He looks different today. His casual shorts and sleeveless tee are a far cry from the suit-and-tie version of him I’m used to seeing around town. The relaxed, easy way he carries himself almost throws me.
“I’m gonna”—Tess hooks her thumb behind her, already backing away—“just go over there. Leave you two to it.”
“Subtle,” I yell after her, earning a smug little wink.
“So…” Xavier starts, attention sliding back to me. “Are things still complicated?”
My mouth twitches, the answer catching in my throat. The prickle at the back of my neck intensifies, the tips of my ears beginning to burn. He’s watching me. I can feel it. The same electric pull, the same jump in my pulse that only happens when Hunter’s eyes are on me.
“You could say that.”
“Hmm. What a shame.”
He steps closer, deliberately testing a boundary he isn’t sure exists. “Does he need a little push? As I said, I don’t do complicated, but I do love a bit of fun. And if he needs it, I’d be happy to help.”
I bite down on my lip, my gaze snapping away from him. My eyes sweep across the creek—the benches, the shallow pebbled edge where the sunlight dances on the water, the groups of people mingling about—searching for Hunter.
“He’s behind you,” Xavier murmurs, a slow grin spreading across his face. “And damn, he looks ready to come over here and punch me square in the jaw.”
I inhale wrong and choke on absolutely nothing. Xavier lifts a hand, patting between my shoulder blades.
“Okay, don’t look,” he adds, eyes flicking over my shoulder. “But me touching you just snapped something in him. He’s coming over.”
His hand moves up and down my back in slow, unhelpful strokes now, mischief flaring in his eyes. “If I swung that way, I’d be hella excited to be on the receiving end of that look.”
“Jesus Christ, Xavier,” I hiss.
“What?” He shrugs, still grinning. “I can appreciate a man on a mission. Looks like I gave him that push unintentionally after all.”
Heat floods my chest, rising up my neck.
The air shifts, and the hairs on my arms lift as if my body feels him before I see him.
My pulse stumbles over itself. Xavier’s hand slips away from my back, leaving my skin tingling.
He steps away, widening the space between us right as that familiar cedar scent closes in from behind.
“Hunter! How’s it going?” Xavier calls, a little too brightly.