No Regrets by Kate L. Mary Page A

go and try again later.
    We headed downstairs and Liam grabbed us another couple drinks while I searched the room for Annie. The more I thought about Liam and what had just happened in that bed, the more my body heated up.
    I still hadn’t found Annie by the time Liam came back with my drink, and it was halfway gone when I finally spotted Chris wandering around the room. He looked kind of lost and I figured he was looking for Annie too, so I flagged him down. Chris shoved his way through the crowd and headed our way.
    Liam stayed glued to my side, which I saw as a good sign. Guess he wasn’t too freaked out that Ryan was my brother or cousin or whatever.
    â€œHave you seen Annie?” I asked Chris when he stopped in front of us.
    He shook his head and pointed to the back of the house. “I saw Ryan head out to the beach. Maybe she’s with him?”
    I’d searched the whole house already, so unless she’d snuck off to get busy with a drunk frat guy, she wasn’t inside. The beach seemed like the next logical place to look. “Let’s check it out. She sure as hell isn’t in here.”
    We headed toward the back of the house, and by the time I got there my cup was empty. My head was feeling pretty light too, like it was full of helium or not quite attached to my body. Despite the setback with Liam, I was having an awesome time.
    When we stepped outside, the air felt warm and sticky with humidity, but the ocean breeze was cool. I tore my shoes off at the bottom of the stairs, then stepped onto the beach. The sand swirled between my toes when I wiggled them. It was a nice feeling. Like being young and free.
    We walked toward the water, but no one was around. I looked to the right, trying to catch sight of Ryan in the distance, then to the left. As far as I could tell, no one was on the beach.
    â€œWhat the bloody hell?” Liam said behind me.
    I turned to find him holding up a shirt and recognized it immediately. It was Annie’s. On the ground were other things: shoes and pants, and a bra. I spun toward the ocean and let out a laugh that rang through the air. The light from the moon shimmered off the water as the waves rolled in, and I could just make out two figures in the distance.
    Number eight: skinny-dipping.
    How do you like that, Julie? I didn’t get anywhere with Liam, but I can still strip down and go skinny-dipping in the ocean. That’s something we always joked about, isn’t it? Too bad you aren’t here to enjoy it with me.
    â€œAnnie!” I yelled, pulling my dress over my head.
    â€œCami!” Chris snapped and stepped forward like he was going to stop me from taking anything else off.
    Liam grabbed his arm. “Back off, mate. She’s a big girl.” He was grinning from ear to ear.
    I called out to Annie again just as Liam dropped his pants. He pulled his shirt over his head and I giggled like I was a thirteen-year-old boy who had just heard someone use the word boner. Liam’s muscled chest was highlighted by the moon above us. Even though I knew he was toned because I had plowed into him only a few days earlier, I still couldn’t help the flush that came over my body. Then he dropped his boxers onto the sand and I was able to appreciate the full package. Literally.
    I followed Liam’s lead, and even though Chris hadn’t been up for it at first, he did too. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that Annie was out there naked.
    Liam and I took off toward the ocean just as someone behind us yelled, “Skinny-dipping!” I looked over my shoulder and laughed. A handful of people were busy stripping down, and more were pouring out of the house behind them.
    The salty sea stung my skin when I ran in and it was warmer than bathwater. The waves crashed against my legs, almost knocking me down, but Liam grabbed my hand before I could fall. The moon reflected in his blue eyes when he looked me over, savoring the sight