has better features than I do. Why are some people blessed with so much beauty while others…well, they have to work so much harder with what little they do have?
I remind myself that Ryder has gotten his reputation because he’s used to getting his way with women, and no doubt, people in general.
As though I’m a woman possessed, I splash him in the face.
His deep laughter gives me goose bumps. It’s a combination of surprise and a husky chuckle that lets me know I’m in trouble. He swims under the water, and then the entire air mattress is being rocked and a second later I’m hitting the cold water.
When I come up for air, Ryder is on my mattress with the biggest shit-eating smile I’ve ever seen.
“Come and get it,” he says as he starts paddling toward the dock.
I wade for a few minutes, staring in disbelief as his strong arms work the mattress and he moves further and further away.
Does he seriously think I’ll swim after him?
He stops about ten feet from the dock. He’s now lying on his back, arms crossed under his head, looking at me with that cocky smile, daring me to follow him.
I’m so tempted to try and flip him over.
I swim toward him, glide under the water, and bypass the raft.
With my heartbeat pounding in my ears, I grab hold of the dock ladder and pull myself up.
Kenzie and Deklan are holding hands, and they both look over at me as I lay down beside Deklan.
Ryder is saying my name, and I ignore him.
“You can have your raft back,” he says, his voice full of humor.
“I don’t want it,” I snap. Oh my God, I sound like such a bitch.
Why is it that he always manages to bring out the worst in me?
ELEVEN
Ryder
Curtis is staring at me.
He’s been watching me the same way my mom had watched me those last weeks before she kicked me out of the house.
He knows I’m using.
Feeling like the bastard at the family picnic, I lie flat on my back on the dock and close my eyes. Trust me, I’d much rather be taking in the view of all the hot chicks at the lake parading around in their bikinis. Ange’s body surprises me the most, I think. She has the tightest butt I’ve ever seen, and curves in all the right places.
Too bad I make her squirm. And here, for whatever reason, I had thought we’d made a connection.
Even now she’s gone to the opposite side of the dock to get away from me. I hear her laughter, and I have to smile to myself. The girl is a bit contagious. I can see why Kenzie considers her such a good friend.
“You going to make practice tonight, Ryder?”
I open my eyes and squint at Brooke. I’m so not buying it. I know why she’s asking me a question. I have five sets of eyes on me now. One of those sets of eyes is my best friend. Deklan sucks the lip ring into his mouth and chews on it as everyone waits for my response.
Everyone is watching me too closely. I can hardly wait to get back to land and put my sunglasses back on.
Big fucking mistake not to bring them with me out here, especially with the newly converted. Recovering addicts were the worst when it came to pointing the finger. I had to constantly bite my tongue, especially around Curtis. Everywhere I looked around the house there was some self-help book about addiction. Good for him for celebrating his sobriety and all that, but damn, I found it all so…exhausting.
It’s like none of them remember the day when we all got high together, which wasn’t very long ago.
Judge away, you hypocritical motherfuckers . The words were so close to coming out, but I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself in check.
Now I felt like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
“Yeah, of course,” I say. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
I rest my head back on the wood planking and ignore their gazes. I can’t resist though—and I pop one eye open.
They’re all looking away, except for Deklan.
He’s the one person I don’t want to disappoint. The only guy who believes in me, even more than I believe
I remind myself that Ryder has gotten his reputation because he’s used to getting his way with women, and no doubt, people in general.
As though I’m a woman possessed, I splash him in the face.
His deep laughter gives me goose bumps. It’s a combination of surprise and a husky chuckle that lets me know I’m in trouble. He swims under the water, and then the entire air mattress is being rocked and a second later I’m hitting the cold water.
When I come up for air, Ryder is on my mattress with the biggest shit-eating smile I’ve ever seen.
“Come and get it,” he says as he starts paddling toward the dock.
I wade for a few minutes, staring in disbelief as his strong arms work the mattress and he moves further and further away.
Does he seriously think I’ll swim after him?
He stops about ten feet from the dock. He’s now lying on his back, arms crossed under his head, looking at me with that cocky smile, daring me to follow him.
I’m so tempted to try and flip him over.
I swim toward him, glide under the water, and bypass the raft.
With my heartbeat pounding in my ears, I grab hold of the dock ladder and pull myself up.
Kenzie and Deklan are holding hands, and they both look over at me as I lay down beside Deklan.
Ryder is saying my name, and I ignore him.
“You can have your raft back,” he says, his voice full of humor.
“I don’t want it,” I snap. Oh my God, I sound like such a bitch.
Why is it that he always manages to bring out the worst in me?
ELEVEN
Ryder
Curtis is staring at me.
He’s been watching me the same way my mom had watched me those last weeks before she kicked me out of the house.
He knows I’m using.
Feeling like the bastard at the family picnic, I lie flat on my back on the dock and close my eyes. Trust me, I’d much rather be taking in the view of all the hot chicks at the lake parading around in their bikinis. Ange’s body surprises me the most, I think. She has the tightest butt I’ve ever seen, and curves in all the right places.
Too bad I make her squirm. And here, for whatever reason, I had thought we’d made a connection.
Even now she’s gone to the opposite side of the dock to get away from me. I hear her laughter, and I have to smile to myself. The girl is a bit contagious. I can see why Kenzie considers her such a good friend.
“You going to make practice tonight, Ryder?”
I open my eyes and squint at Brooke. I’m so not buying it. I know why she’s asking me a question. I have five sets of eyes on me now. One of those sets of eyes is my best friend. Deklan sucks the lip ring into his mouth and chews on it as everyone waits for my response.
Everyone is watching me too closely. I can hardly wait to get back to land and put my sunglasses back on.
Big fucking mistake not to bring them with me out here, especially with the newly converted. Recovering addicts were the worst when it came to pointing the finger. I had to constantly bite my tongue, especially around Curtis. Everywhere I looked around the house there was some self-help book about addiction. Good for him for celebrating his sobriety and all that, but damn, I found it all so…exhausting.
It’s like none of them remember the day when we all got high together, which wasn’t very long ago.
Judge away, you hypocritical motherfuckers . The words were so close to coming out, but I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself in check.
Now I felt like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
“Yeah, of course,” I say. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
I rest my head back on the wood planking and ignore their gazes. I can’t resist though—and I pop one eye open.
They’re all looking away, except for Deklan.
He’s the one person I don’t want to disappoint. The only guy who believes in me, even more than I believe
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