watch myself or my new friends would start wondering why I was so different. Worse, I’d draw the attention of those who weren’t my friends.
I glanced toward the head table where Amalia now sat alone. She scanned the room, and to my relief, her eyes passed right over me. I was invisible on her radar. For my own good, and for Emmy’s, I needed to keep it that way.
Chapter Eleven
Sway
Amalia sent us out to the beach the next morning. I guessed it was good for Nox’s image to have a bevvy of bathing beauties decorating the shoreline outside his home. If they sported freshly sun-kissed skin—even better.
Like the other girls, I wore a bikini, though mine was comprised of considerably more fabric than most. Fortunately, I’d packed a good supply of sunblock. While the air felt cooler, the California sun seemed stronger than Mississippi’s summer rays. Maybe because here the UVA and UVB weren’t fighting through so many layers of humidity to get to my skin.
The day was bright and crisp. I’d never seen a sky so blue and cloudless. Settling onto a beach towel, I attempted to read a paperback but couldn’t keep my focus on the story. A nearby conversation kept hijacking my attention. The curvy blonde who’d been chosen by Nox last night was recounting her evening to her suitemates.
“He was so sweet. And his room is amazing . Oh my God, you should see the size of his bed. ”
Suddenly sweltering under the midday rays, I leapt to my feet. No doubt spraying sand from my digging strides, I went to the water’s edge and charged into the surf, diving under the sparkling blue surface. Oh dang this is cold.
I’d never swum in the Pacific before, having grown up much closer to the sugar sand and turquoise waters of Florida beaches. While the Gulf of Mexico was like a warm bath, this was more like a cold shower. Which was perfect. I needed a good shock to the system to clear out all the crazy images going through my head.
After a few minutes of wading deeper and deeper, my body acclimated to the bracing water temperature. I began swimming laps perpendicular to the shoreline, glancing back every once in a while at the huge beach home to get my bearings. The blonde’s story seemed to have drawn a crowd. A group of girls sat in the sand around her, no doubt fascinated by the details of her night with the Rock God.
I plunged my face back into the water for one, two strokes, determined not to let myself speculate on those details, on what might have occurred in Nox’s room, in his reportedly enormous bed.
What is the matter with me? I could care less what Nox did with the other girls, beyond concern for their well-being as brainwashed glamour victims, of course.
“Having a nice swim?”
I stopped mid-stroke and choked on a mouthful of salt water I’d suddenly inhaled at the sound of the silky male voice beside me.
Nox laughed and pounded my back with a warm fist as he treaded water and supported me with his other hand. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. Guess you were pretty focused on your laps there.”
I coughed again, finally expelling enough seawater to respond. My voice was scratchy and annoyed-sounding. “Where did you come from?”
“I got in down the beach there.” Pointing toward a rocky outcropping in the distance, he smiled and rolled his eyes toward the horde on the beach in front of his house. “Wanted to get in a swim before facing the feeding frenzy.”
I nodded. “Probably wise you didn’t walk out your back door in a Speedo. You might never have made it to the water.”
He laughed out loud. “If you ever catch me in a Speedo, you have my permission to feed me to the sharks. So, how are you this morning? Sleep well last night?”
“Fine,” I lied, unwilling to admit to the dreams that had plagued me throughout the night. Dreams where Nox’s dark head bent over a small platinum one and the scene progressed from there.
“Well, that’s good, because the
I glanced toward the head table where Amalia now sat alone. She scanned the room, and to my relief, her eyes passed right over me. I was invisible on her radar. For my own good, and for Emmy’s, I needed to keep it that way.
Chapter Eleven
Sway
Amalia sent us out to the beach the next morning. I guessed it was good for Nox’s image to have a bevvy of bathing beauties decorating the shoreline outside his home. If they sported freshly sun-kissed skin—even better.
Like the other girls, I wore a bikini, though mine was comprised of considerably more fabric than most. Fortunately, I’d packed a good supply of sunblock. While the air felt cooler, the California sun seemed stronger than Mississippi’s summer rays. Maybe because here the UVA and UVB weren’t fighting through so many layers of humidity to get to my skin.
The day was bright and crisp. I’d never seen a sky so blue and cloudless. Settling onto a beach towel, I attempted to read a paperback but couldn’t keep my focus on the story. A nearby conversation kept hijacking my attention. The curvy blonde who’d been chosen by Nox last night was recounting her evening to her suitemates.
“He was so sweet. And his room is amazing . Oh my God, you should see the size of his bed. ”
Suddenly sweltering under the midday rays, I leapt to my feet. No doubt spraying sand from my digging strides, I went to the water’s edge and charged into the surf, diving under the sparkling blue surface. Oh dang this is cold.
I’d never swum in the Pacific before, having grown up much closer to the sugar sand and turquoise waters of Florida beaches. While the Gulf of Mexico was like a warm bath, this was more like a cold shower. Which was perfect. I needed a good shock to the system to clear out all the crazy images going through my head.
After a few minutes of wading deeper and deeper, my body acclimated to the bracing water temperature. I began swimming laps perpendicular to the shoreline, glancing back every once in a while at the huge beach home to get my bearings. The blonde’s story seemed to have drawn a crowd. A group of girls sat in the sand around her, no doubt fascinated by the details of her night with the Rock God.
I plunged my face back into the water for one, two strokes, determined not to let myself speculate on those details, on what might have occurred in Nox’s room, in his reportedly enormous bed.
What is the matter with me? I could care less what Nox did with the other girls, beyond concern for their well-being as brainwashed glamour victims, of course.
“Having a nice swim?”
I stopped mid-stroke and choked on a mouthful of salt water I’d suddenly inhaled at the sound of the silky male voice beside me.
Nox laughed and pounded my back with a warm fist as he treaded water and supported me with his other hand. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. Guess you were pretty focused on your laps there.”
I coughed again, finally expelling enough seawater to respond. My voice was scratchy and annoyed-sounding. “Where did you come from?”
“I got in down the beach there.” Pointing toward a rocky outcropping in the distance, he smiled and rolled his eyes toward the horde on the beach in front of his house. “Wanted to get in a swim before facing the feeding frenzy.”
I nodded. “Probably wise you didn’t walk out your back door in a Speedo. You might never have made it to the water.”
He laughed out loud. “If you ever catch me in a Speedo, you have my permission to feed me to the sharks. So, how are you this morning? Sleep well last night?”
“Fine,” I lied, unwilling to admit to the dreams that had plagued me throughout the night. Dreams where Nox’s dark head bent over a small platinum one and the scene progressed from there.
“Well, that’s good, because the
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