Beach Side Beds and Sandy Paths

by Becca Ann

  Nate spins his fedora in his hands. “Maybe they’re dancing around in their underwear. Pillow fights and whipped cream…”

  I snort into the sand, grateful I’m on my stomach in case visuals creep in my head and cause a major hard-on.

  “Sure, he says it, and you laugh. But if I say it, you beat the shit out of me.” Brett grabs a handful of sand and starts burying his feet. I know he brings up a fair point, which sucks and I slam my face into my towel and try to breathe. I was doing pretty good this morning…with the anger thing. Lex sleeping next to me and understanding without me telling her everything, helped a lot. Made me realize I don’t even know where the anger is coming from. And that I should probably find out so I can make it stop.

  I clear my throat and grumble, “Yeah, I probably would.” Then I tilt my head up and a light smirk touches my lips. Brett’s brow furrows, but he doesn’t say anything. Just goes back to covering his feet.

  Nate flips his fedora again, setting it on his head. “You know, I think I’m gonna go in.” He pushes off his beach chair and marches into the waves. His hands are like vices on his hat as the tide rushes over him. I shake my head and flip to my back so the sun can roast me evenly.

  “He’s weird.”

  I want to punch him for saying it, but I keep my fists to my side and say, “Sometimes.” I don’t want to be angry anymore. I don’t want to get set on edge over every comment that comes cascading from his mouth. And after what Lex did for me, I need to be a better guy for her. Not just for sex, but for every reason under the sun. I need to be the guy she fell in love with, and not this screwed up version of myself.

  “I had a friend like that in Vegas. She saw one Chriss Angel show and was sold.”

  Taking a deep breath, I throw an arm over my eyes and talk to the sky. Seems easier this way. “Did she stick with it?”

  There’s a pause before Brett talks again. Not sure if he’s just surprised I’m responding or what.

  “Uh, kind of. She… she counts cards. Not exactly magic, more math, but still. Vegas seems to be a good place for her.”

  I adjust on the beach towel, trying to get the sand from riding up my shorts. “I’ve never been.”

  “I’ve been so many places I’m not sure if I know them all anymore.”

  He sounds weird about it, and I peek out from under my arm to see his face. His eyes are on his hands as he digs his feet farther and farther into the beach.

  Scratching the top of my head, I clear my throat and ask, “So… your dad’s mostly stateside, right?”

  “Up until now, yeah.” He uncovers his feet and stretches his legs in front of him. “But even stateside, it sucks. We moved all the time, and I’m not all that good with first impressions.”

  A sharp laugh bolts from my mouth. “No shit.”

  He punches my shoulder, and it’s the first real brotherly contact we’ve had. It feels strange, but it doesn’t at the same time.

  “You know, I get that from him,” he says.

  “What? The douchebag thing?” I joke.

  His mouth picks up at the corner. “Do you get the asshole thing from your dad?”

  “I’m pretty sure I get that from Mom.”

  Brett somewhat laughs, then he drops his gaze to his knees. I throw my arm back over my face and ignore the tension in the air. Or that could be the heat. Man, I’m roasting alive. I’m seriously considering heading back to the beach house even though Lex told me not to set foot in there till she gave the thumbs up.

  “I’m not like her, you know,” Brett says, cutting the silence.

  “What?”

  “Mom. I’m nothing like that woman.”

  Is that why he thinks I have a problem with him? No, I have a problem with the way he came into my life. He jacked it up, threw his anger at me and my dad and said things I can’t get out of my head. I didn’t do anything to him. I didn’t even know about him.

  Just like he didn’t know about me.

  Ah shit.

  I rub my hand over my eyes and breathe out. “Yeah, I’m not like her either.”

  We don’t say anything else. His presence isn’t bugging me as much anymore. Like the sun soaking into me, my anger seeps out in the process. I try not to think about him being my brother—he’s just a kid who had a messed up childhood like me. Only I had the best dad. I had Pop-Pop and Grams. I had Nate and Kaylee and… Lex. I have no idea what or who he had, but now he just has me. And as I think about it, that really sucks for him.

  I still can’t erase the things he said to me. But maybe I can try understanding them.

  “What’s your dad li—”

  “Hey there!” a female voice says over my head. I let my arm fall so I can see who’s interrupting my brave moment here.

  A couple of girls, one in a bright red bikini and another in a yellow stand over us with pouty, playful lips and a bottle of sun oil or something or other.

  “Would you guys mind getting our backs?” the girl in the red asks, tucking a strand of her brown hair behind her ear. Brett jumps to his feet so fast you’d think the sand was burning his ass.

  I put my arm back. “Sorry, I’m waiting for my girlfriend.”

  “She won’t mind, will she?” one of them asks, and I roll my eyes under my lids.

  “I’ll mind.” I wave my other hand in the air. “But Brett’s got two hands.”

  I don’t even have to open my eyes to know he’s smirking at them and wrapping his arms around their waists as he says to me, “I’ll be back later.”

  I wave my hand in the air again and nod. Then I let myself smile because I’m pretty sure we just spent five whole minutes without wanting to kill each other. That and other girls will keep him from hitting on my girlfriend.

  I’m about to doze off when a petite body with a whole lot of force behind it plows onto my lap. Before I can open my eyes, Lex’s familiar lips crush mine. Her tongue jumps out hard and fast in my mouth, and I can’t help but laugh around it at first out of shock, but I match her rhythm and after a few moments, I pull away because if we keep kissing like we are, I’m going to have to dive into that cold ocean before going anywhere.

  “Hi,” I say, wiping her soft hair from her face.

  “Hi.” She looks happy, and she’s in that bikini top of hers that makes it real hard to concentrate. I drag my hands up her sides and squeeze, tickling her a little just to watch her smile grow wider.

  She stops my hands, laying flat against my chest. “I think I have the best boyfriend.”

  “Yes, you do,” I tease, then lock my fingers with hers. “But tell me why, please.”

  “I saw those girls, and hell, even I’d rub oil on their backs.”

  “I fully approve of that.”

  She flicks my nose, then kisses it better. “Can I do yours?”

  I let out a rush of relieved breath. “Yes. I’m frying my ass off.”

  She sits back, reaching around behind her. I sit up, too, needing to be close to her. My hands plant on her waist as she bites a smile back and squirts sunscreen on my chest. It’s cold, and I jerk back and tickle her sides again as she laughs.

  “You know, I could totally live in California,” she says, spreading her fingers on my chest and rubbing the sunscreen in. She runs her palms over my collarbone and to my shoulders, and I find my brain turning to the off switch. “But only if you’re here with me. Shirtless. All the time.”

  “You shirtless all the time? Deal.”

  She pinches one of my nipples and twists, and I threaten to do the same to her, but she starts rubbing again, and off goes my head.

  “Did you apply for a college out here?” I sort of grunt at her.

  “Nope. But hey, speaking of… Mom said I got a big huge envelope from Colorado State.

  “Yeah? What’d it say?”

  She shrugs and her hands move down my arms. I give her a nice good flex.

  “I told her not to open it till I get back. But big envelopes are good, right?”

&nbs
p; “Usually.”

  “So, you should call Grams and see if you got one too.”

  Her fingers slide down my forearms, and I catch them in my palms. I give her a slight smile. I didn’t apply anywhere, and I know bringing it up now will probably cause a fight, and I just don’t want to do that. I’m finally feeling okay. Had a good brotherly moment and shit, and my sexy girlfriend is rubbing tanning lotion all over me. Not ruining it.

  “So…I have a surprise for you,” she says, when I don’t say anything.

  “Mmmm…what’s that?”

  She leans forward and bites my earlobe. “It’s back at the house. And don’t worry, it’s not about expectations or anything. Just something I want to do for you.”

  Now I feel like a damn girl. I sort of want her to have expectations, but I’m glad she doesn’t. Today’s been better…but I don’t know if that’s because I’m bottling it up and it’ll explode, or if I’m finally letting it go.

  I’d hate to let the bottled up anger explode around Lex.

  “Do I get it now?”

  She slowly shakes her head, her two-dimpled smile still on her face. I love seeing her so happy, especially after how pissed she was last night. I can’t help but bring her lips to mine again, lightly this time, to show her how much it really means to have her happy.

  “Ry?” she breathes when we part. “We need to get to the water.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if you keep kissing me like this, and the way I’m sitting on your lap…I’m going to end up dry humping you on this beach into next Tuesday.”

  I laugh, grabbing her arms and securing them around my neck. Her legs tighten around my waist, and she clings to me as I stand us up and take us to the edge of the ocean.

  Then I dump her sexy ass in.

  Chapter 20

  Lexie

  I scream and suck in a breath right before I go under. My top flies up and my boob pops out. Holy wardrobe malfunction. Luckily, I manage to push it back into place.

  Payback time.

  Before I surface, I swim until I feel Ryan’s leg, grab his shorts and yank them down as hard as I can. A laugh erupts in my throat, but I hold it down so I don’t gulp water. I swim away and resurface. Ryan is red faced, and he’s pulling off some pretty hilarious maneuvers under the water.

  “You are so going to get it,” he says and lunges at me. I scream again and dive into a wave, moving my body like a mermaid. Hands wrap around my ankle and pull me back. I kick with all I got, but he only tightens his grip and gives a final yank, running his hand up my leg.

  Chills follow his fingers and shoot right up my spine. He turns me towards him, and I link my legs around his waist. His lips press against mine and light breaks through my eyelids as we emerge from the depths of the ocean.

  The sun warms my back, a wave crashing through us, and a seagull caws somewhere above us, but I don’t take my lips away from Ryan’s. Ever since Brett came into the picture he’s been acting weird.

  Right now, with his fingers losing themselves in my hair, his body pressed against mine, he’s not acting. He’s just Ryan. My gorgeous best friend. My boyfriend. The only person that could turn any situation into the best possible moment.

  “I’ve missed you,” I say against his mouth.

  He pulls back, resting his head against mine. “You’ve been the one hiding out at the house.”

  I smile, knowing the surprise I have waiting for him. “That’s not what I mean.” He cocks an eyebrow at me and I kiss the bridge of his nose. “I mean I missed you. Ryan. My Ryan. Physically you’re here, but mentally?” I tap his forehead with my fingers. “You’ve been somewhere else.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I just wish I could do something to help with whatever it is that has you all in a tizzy.”

  “I’m not in a tizzy.”

  I blink up at him. “If you say so.”

  “Tizzies are for girls. I’m a manly man,” he says and holds his arms up. I grab onto his bicep, and he flexes at my touch.

  I shake my head and laugh. A suspicious grin passes across his face. He leans in and kisses me, then pulls back with all he has, dunking us both into the water.

  I don’t know how long we stay in the water, but by the time we make it back to shore, my fingers and toes are a pruney mess.

  Kaylee, Nate, and Brett are nowhere to be seen, which means Kaylee followed through with our plan and got them to go with her into town for ice cream and shopping. Nick slept the morning away and hasn’t been around all afternoon. I’d bet my nail polish collection he’s off with some girl. Now I just have to get Ryan back to the house and pray that he doesn’t shut me out again.

  He reaches down and grabs my towel wrapping it around me, and rubbing his hands up and down my arms.

  “Ready to head back to the house?” I ask, trying to conceal the excitement surging through me. There was no way he was going to be able to turn my surprise down.

  “It looks like everyone else went back. Why don’t we stay here for a little while longer? I’m enjoying it being just the two us.”

  I couldn’t bear to watch the hopeful look on his face dissolve, so I lift on tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “Sounds perfect.”

  If Kaylee sticks to the plan, her and the guys will be gone for at least a few hours. What was a few more minutes at the beach? Lately every second I spend with Ryan, my Ryan, seems like a fleeting moment.

  Even though I have our night planned out at the house, I’m perfectly content sitting in between his legs, his arms wrapped around me as he trails kisses down the length of my neck.

  “Have you talked to your Mom today?” he asks.

  I nod against his shoulder and moan when he nibbles at my earlobe.

  “How’s she doing?”

  “Good.”

  “Do you believe her?”

  I look up into his eyes. Though, it was a thought in the back of my mind it still rears its ugly head from time to time.

  “I want to.” I shrug.

  “I know.” He kisses my forehead and squeezes me tighter.

  “She’s been doing so good, but she did relapse in the beginning.”

  “You know I’m not your mom’s biggest fan, but that was one time. The withdrawal symptoms she had, I don’t know if I could really blame her either.”

  Most people wouldn’t have defended her. Justified her turning back to the bottle, . especially if they knew all she had put me through. But that’s why I love Ryan so much. He doesn’t say what I want to hear. He says what I need to hear.

  “I’ve blamed her for so much already,” I say and snuggle my head into the crook of his neck.

  “And she deserved that blame. She didn’t exactly make it easy for you.”

  “No, she didn’t.” I peek up at him and rest my hand on his cheek urging his eyes to mine. “She made things absolute shit, but I survived. You know why.” I dragged my finger down his jaw and back up.

  He kissed my nose. “Why?”

  “Because you always said the right thing and knew when words wouldn’t fix it. Then you would just hold me. Let me cry. No matter how much snot I got all over your shirt, you never let me go.”

  “Your boobs were pressed against me, so of course I wasn’t letting go,” he says and I tweak his nipple. A squeal slips from his mouth, and we both laugh.

  That’s the other thing about Ry. When things get heavy, he always manages to bring back the light.

  “You are so going to get it,” he says and tosses me under him.

  My back against the sand, the sound of the waves crashing behind us and Ryan hovering mere inches above me, I momentarily forget we are on a public beach.

  I wrap my hand around his neck and erase the distance between us. His lips sync with mine the instant they touch and every nerve ending in my body comes to life.

  I arch into him, and his hand finds my hip, swallowing it in his grasp. His fingers massage into me, squeezing tight and pulling me close.


  “Get a room!”

  It takes a moment for my mind to register, but once it does I can feel the blush spreading up my chest into my cheeks.

  I cover my eyes and bury myself into Ryan’s chest. A laugh rumbles up his stomach, and my head bounces against him. “How embarrassing!” I say, but I doubt he hears me over his laughing fit. “Keep laughing.” I go to roll away and he pulls me against him.

  “I’m going to need a minute to cool down.”

  “There’s iced tea at the house,” I say and he shakes his head.

  “I don’t mean temperature wise.” His eyes travel south, and now I’m the one laughing.

  “It must suck to be a guy.”

  “Not always. I mean I can pee whenever and wherever I want.”

  I laugh, “Guys really do have it easy.” I rest my hands on his chest. “Truth or dare?”

  “Seriously. You want to play that right now?”I nod, and his lip quirks. “Considering I can’t go anywhere anytime soon, I’ll go for truth.”

  “Has this ever happened to you in public before?” I cock my eyebrow at him playfully and bite back my smile.

  He rolls his eyes and runs his hand through his hair. “Do you remember that day in Mrs. Golden’s class when she asked me to go to the board and work on that math problem?”

  “How could I forget? You told Mrs. Golden that you hurt yourself in gym class and didn’t want to stand on your ankle anymore than you had too, but that Lexie would be ‘more than happy to volunteer.’ I wanted to kill you. You knew I sucked at Algebra. I never understood why…”

  His lip quirks in the corner, and he shrugs his shoulder.

  “Oh. My. God. You put me through public humiliation because you had a boner!”

  “I think my public humiliation would’ve been a lot worse compared to your inability to solve an equation.”