by Claire Adams
"What?" I stopped before going into the cabin and glanced back over my shoulder.
"I asked Dedra out, and she said yes." He smiled widely as his cheeks colored pink.
I stifled a chuckle. "Like out on a date or out like she's your girlfriend?"
"Like a date. Do people really ask each other out like boyfriend-girlfriend anymore?"
"No clue. Either way, that's cool as hell. Congrats, man. It would seem that your balls have finally dropped." I winked at him and walked into the house to the sound of him berating me. "Let's go, fuckers. I want to get out of here for a little while and go out to the island. You guys coming?"
"Yep." Derek got up from the couch and stretched. "Are the girls going with us?"
"Nope. It's a guy’s afternoon. We're taking a hot little number out to the island with us, but we'll drop her off and go play some volleyball or something." I rolled my shoulders and turned as Clay stopped by the opening to the kitchen.
"What hot little number?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "I just fucking left you on the porch, and you already got some girl's digits?"
"You know it. Some chick whose brother was drowning, and I saved his scrawny ass." I beat on my chest like Tarzan. "I'm a hero; she wants to pay me back. She's a good girl, obviously."
He rolled his eyes. "I swear, dude. You're impossible to figure out."
"Like a human-sized Rubik’s cube." I grabbed my swim trunks from the basket by the couch and stripped out of my shorts before tugging my trunks on.
"Come on, man. Shit." Derek covered his eyes and stopped by the couch.
"Jealousy doesn't look good on you, Derek." I laughed and turned, walking back out to find Daniel on the phone, laughing with someone. It was cute, too cute, and left me wanted to gag toward him. It made me want to see Cora again. "Let's go."
I jogged back down to the boat and got everything situated as the other guys walked down the pier. Vanessa walked up a few minutes later in a much more revealing bikini.
"Damn," someone muttered behind me.
"Right?" I reached up and smiled at her. "Hey, you. Your brother okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks again, Brody." She reached down and slid into my arms, fitting almost too well. Guilt blasted through me, but I couldn’t find a reason to hold onto it. I was doing Cora a favor. Having come to respect the beautiful brunette over the course of a week or less, I was taking a step back and leaving her alone because she was too much woman for me. Plain and simple. I'd never admit it in a million years, but the fact still remained.
"Guys, this is Vanessa." I moved back, releasing her and getting into the driver's seat. The guys greeted her as I started the boat. "You just need a lift to the island?"
"Yeah, and a date for the big Fourth of July party they’re throwing out here. I don't suppose some lucky girl already has you for the night?" She gave me a sexy smile that should have thrown my hormones in overdrive, but I felt nothing but a small thrill over the fact that my favorite holiday was coming up.
"I'll give you my number, and we can talk about it later. I'm pretty sure I have plans, but if not, I'm all yours." I winked at her and turned back to the wheel before pulling on the gearshift and hitting the gas.
The boat picked up speed fast, and I moved us easily in between the various boats around us. The wind felt good in my hair and rushing past my skin. I should have been enamored with the beautiful blonde beside me, but I couldn't seem to find any desire to do much more than press the gas harder and push my luck with the speed of the boat.
"Hey. Slow your wild ass down, or you're going to get us a ticket. Shit." Clay patted my shoulder, reminding me that there were rules that even I had to keep to.
"Sorry, man." I glanced up and looked over to find Veronica watching me closely. I winked at her again before pulling my glasses out of the container below the dash. I was going to force myself to pay her a bit of attention, but it wouldn't come naturally. I couldn't shake the thought of how badly I wanted it to be Cora watching me like that, fucking me ten ways to Sunday in her mind.
I pulled up to the dock, slowing down significantly and smiling over at Veronica. "We're here, pretty girl. You need help off?"
"Are you not coming?" She stood and moved just beside me.
The guys got off and left me to deal with the girl and the anchor on the boat. I stifled the need to sigh and stood up as Veronica reached out and brushed her hands over my chest.
"I'm coming. I just wanted to let you get to your friends or whoever you're meeting over here." I reached out and gripped her narrow hips, not really having anywhere else to rest my hands.
"Then, I'll help you and we can go together. I owe you for helping me this morning." She took a step toward me, filling the space in between us and sliding her hand up my chest to cup the back of my neck.
"No need to pay me back." I kept a firm grip on her, not quite sure I could spend the afternoon with a girl I wasn't interested in.
"I want to." She pulled me down and lifted to her toes, pressing her mouth to mine and brushing her tongue across my lips. I opened up and let her in, sucking on her tongue and closing my eyes so that I could imagine her to be Cora. It was horrible, and yet ever cell in my body woke up at the idea of it.
I pulled her closer and ran my hands over her ass, letting my fingers play along the side of her bathing-suit as she groaned softly into my mouth.
"So hot," I whispered against her lips and tugged at the soft curves of her rear to press my budding erection more firmly against her tummy.
"Let's go find somewhere to get lost in each other." She nipped at my lips as I opened my eyes.
I had to force myself not to take a step back. Instead, I dropped down into my seat and reached for her, tugging her into my lap and clasping my hand over her thighs, the other around the back of her neck as I brought her down for another wave of kisses.
My eyes closed, and I was right back there again, the woman in my lap none other than the intelligent, sexy, rich girl that was sure to spike my pulse from afar for the rest of the summer. Every girl could be her. I could do this. No big deal.
"Cora," I mumbled against the girl’s mouth as I dove in deep, greedy in my need to claim her as my own.
Chapter 19
Cora
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Emily pushed her shoulder against mine as we sat out on the dock, watching the boats drive by. It had been three days since my date with Brody, and where everyone else had been hanging out off and on together, I hadn't seen him, or any of them, since our date. I was still confused over what had happened. Did he just want to have a quick warm up round with dinner and the movie and not sleep together?
He wanted to sleep with every girl on the island, but I make a move and he pushes me back? What the hell? Was I not good enough?
I guess not. I wasn't for Brandon, either.
"Cora?" Dedra nudged me from the other side. "Hey, tell us what happened. Did he force himself on you?"
"What? No. No." I glanced over at Dedra and then Emily. "No. I don't know what happened. Dinner was great, and we skipped the movie to go walking on the beachfront, and then we danced a little, and I don't know... I guess he thought I wanted to sleep together."
"So he asked you to spend the night, or what? You haven't said a word about this shit in three days. We're all a little worried." Emily gave me a stern look.
"No. He basically turned me down. I think. I don't know." I ran my fingers through my hair. "I guess he really just wanted a friend to talk to, and I felt a connection that seemed like more was happening between us. He was...I don't know. I'm done talking about it. I hit on him, and he shut me down. End of story."
I'd cried a few times over the situation simply due to the embarrassment of being the only woman on the island that wasn't capable of seducing the whore who slept with everyone. It was sickening to think that I'd tried. I'd tried, right?
"Hey, maybe you should just talk to him. Daniel said he's not doing so great hi
mself. Maybe it's just an odd misunderstanding." Dedra reached over and ran her hand down the back of my hair.
"I'm not worried about how he's doing, Dee. He denied me and left me feeling like a two-bit whore. Whatever was starting between us was in my head and it's over now. No biggie."
"It is a biggie," Emily barked. "I want to spend my summer with you and Clay, but that's not possible."
"Well, excuse the fuck outta me for messing up your love story." I pulled my legs up and stood as she started to back track.
"Cora. That's not-”
"Save it. I'm not interested. I've been cool about all this bullshit where you guys want to hang out with the same fucking friend group of guys every day and night. Cool. Have fun with it, but I'm not fitting into the mold of hooking up with the forth member of their group. He doesn't want me. I'm sorry that once again, I'm not enough." My voice broke as tears filled my eyes. I turned and jogged back toward the house, not wanting them or anyone else to see me upset.
I busted through the door to find Cindy and Derek on the couch dry humping.
Cindy jumped up. "I'm sorry. We should...oh hell. What's wrong?"
I lifted my hand and let out a soft sob as I shook my head. "I should have knocked."
She reached for me, but I moved to the side of her and walked to the bedroom.
"Cora! What's wrong?" She followed after me. "Hey, talk to me."
"I'm good. Just tired." I stopped at my door and wiped at my nose and eyes. "I'm good. Really. Don't keep Derek waiting. I just need sleep."
"You sure?" She pressed her hand against my door as I walked into the dark.
"Yeah, I'll be out later," I mumbled and pushed the door closed, locking it and leaving the light off as I dropped down into my bed.
How in the hell some dude I'd met a week ago had me wallowing in self-pity like I had with Brandon was beyond me. It was a clear indicator of two things. One, I'd yet to truly heal from Brandon cheating on me, and two, I didn't need a summer fling. They always ended before they began.
Much like this one.
*
The phone ringing just beside my head brought me from my nap. I reached over in the darkness and patted the bed beside me, grumbling at the idea of talking to anyone.
"Hello?" I turned onto my back and cleared my throat.
"Hi, Cora. It's Mom." Her voice was warm and friendly.
I jerked up. Wherever my mother was, my father was close behind her. She was his puppet, which meant that if she was calling... he wanted something.
"Hey, Mom. How's it going?" I wiped my eyes and stifled the need to yawn as I moved to the edge of the bed.
"It's good. Your father and I were talking about some upcoming casework we have that's really unprecedented. It would be a great opportunity for you to see some of these things, but of course, they're happening during your summer vacation that you have planned."
"Right." I got up and walked to the door to flip on the light switch. "Can't I study the cases after they're completed? It would be the same right?"
"Not really." She wasn't going to force me to come back early, but that's the way my lawyer parents did things. They slowly twisted your arm until you made the conscious decision to do what they wanted, making it your call and leaving their hands clean of the repercussions of your disappointment or anger.
"When are the trials, Mom?" I let out a short sigh, wishing that I could hold myself back from letting her know that their request was a pain in my ass.
"They're mid-July, baby. I understand if you don't want to come back early, we just thought this would be a great opportunity. You know your father is always watching out for what's best for your future. You're going to make lots of money once you're a full-fledged lawyer, and then you can take loads of trips to the lake all the time. Right?" She chuckled as if something she said was humorous.
"How many trips have you and Dad taken?" I dropped down on the edge of the bed and tried to clear the haze sitting over me. I wasn't going to get out of going back early, but giving up any of my time with my best friends before starting to work for my parents was painful.
"We like what we do, Cora. You know that. We don't really need vacations. Do you want to talk to your dad for a minute?"
"No. I was headed out the door. I'll call you guys later tonight, and we can pick back up on this conversation then. Is that okay?" I ran my fingers through my hair as my stomach soured a little.
"Yeah. We can do that. I love you. Have fun, okay?"
"Okay, Mom. I love you, too." I dropped the call and flopped back on my bed, letting out a long groan.
The door to my bedroom opened, and Emily stuck her head in. "Hey, grumpy butt, we're heading out for a ride on the boat. Get on your suit and come with us."
"Yeah, alright." I sat back up and let out a long sigh. I hated fighting with her. We both were good about letting things go when we could. Now was one of those times.
"What's up?" She came in and closed the door behind her as I stood and walked to my dresser.
"Just my parents and their plans for me." I shrugged and pulled out a pink and black bikini. I didn't expect to see Brody, so there was no need for wearing something too terribly sexy.
"Well, you're not supposed to be thinking about that shit. It's the Fourth of July on Monday and we have plans to party like it's 1999, remember?"
"Yeah, but they're wanting me to come back into town in a couple of weeks, instead of the end of the summer like we talked about." I tossed my swimsuit beside her and pulled off my t-shirt and shorts.
"What? No. That's not how this works." She handed me the suit. "I'm jealous that you're already getting a tan."
"Well, at least it's not my boobs making you jealous anymore." I smirked, thinking back on all the times when we were younger when she would rant over me having boobs and her not.
"I have my own now, thanks." She lifted her eyebrow at me and smirked. "Wait... You're getting off subject."
"I think it's better if we do. I don't want another reason to feel like shit. Just drop it and we'll figure it out later. I'm not sure what I'm going to do." I tugged my shorts over my bathing suit bottoms and worked my hair into a short ponytail. "I should grow my hair back out. This shorter cut makes me look too young."
"You look great. You always do." She got up and stopped behind me in the mirror. "No more being bummed out, okay? Especially not if you think you're leaving us in a few weeks. Brody isn't worth all that. You guys didn't even date."
"Yeah, I know." I shrugged and reached over to grab a tube of Chap Stick from the top of my dresser. "I just wish we would have. The sexual tension between us is so delicious. I haven't felt so aggravated over a boy in a long time."
"Aggravated? And, this is a good thing?" She laughed and walked to the door, opening it and watching me.
"Yeah. You know," I turned to face her, "where you want him so bad it hurts, and yet you know it would be a horrible decision, so you act like a bitch and flirt a little here and there?"
"No. Sorry. This one is new for me, but it makes sense seeing how you've been acting the last week or so." She gave me a look. "Come on. Let's go have some fun and forget all of this shit. I didn't mean to snap at you out there. You mean the world to me."
"I'm sorry, too. Let's get out of here. No more moping. Especially not over the town whore." I left my phone on the bed, not interested in talking with anyone that might call or text for the next few hours. Brody was out of the picture from what I could tell, which was for the better. He'd made it quite obvious that he was interested in the chase, but that was all. Once I started to give in... He pulled back. Hard.
Funny how sweet he was at dinner, talking about the future and seeming genuinely interested in knowing more about me. All part of the game.
"There you guys are. We thought you were going to sleep the day away." Dedra stood up and picked up her towel. "You're starting to worry us."
"What? You guys are being mother hens." I grabbed my sunglasses off the tabl
e and walked outside, breathing in deep and deciding then and there that I was good. No more being upset about Brody. It was childish and stupid. Rejection stung like a bitch, but whatever. Maybe he was doing it because he wanted to save me from the havoc that he thought himself capable of reeking all over me.
"You look good in that suit." Cindy moved up beside me and wrapped an arm around my back. "And you know what?"
"What?" I glanced over at her and smiled.
"We can stop hanging out with the guys so much. There are loads of guys out here to hang out with. We're all being a little clingy with this group. It's getting old." She winked and released me.
"Are thinks not going well with the cowboy?" I chuckled and followed her down the stairs.
"No, they're good, but I'm here to meet lots of different people and have some fun. I'll settle down soon, but I'm not ready to do that over the summer, I don't think." She slowed down as I caught up to her.
"I agree." Dedra walked up on my other side. "Daniel and I are going to get a bite to eat tomorrow after I go to church, but it's just going to be a friendly date. Getting involved with anyone right now would be stupid, you know? A fling would be fun, but I think I need to keep it to that."
"Not me. Clay is exactly the kind of man I've been looking for most of my adult life." Emily skipped out in front of us in her short shorts and tank top and spinning around, which was so far out of character for her that I stopped in the middle of the road to watch her.
"Dear Lord...she's in love." I glanced at my other two friends as we cracked up laughing.
She turned to face us and put her hands on her hips. "Alright...keep it up!"
"We will." Dedra laughed and pulled me toward the boat. "Come on. You slept through most of the afternoon. Let's enjoy what's left of the sunlight."
I jogged down to the dock with them and moved to the front of the boat to lay out while someone else drove us around. The wind and waves stole my thoughts, and a few minutes later, all thoughts of Brody's rejection or my parents' demanding personas was all but gone.