Collide (Collide #1)(35)

He appeared angry.

Looking at Dillon, Olivia rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Emily smiled at the two men, whom she had yet to meet, and followed Dillon across the yard.

"Are you kidding me, Em?" Dillon asked, eyeing her up and down when they were far enough away from everyone. "What the f*ck are you wearing?"

Her brows knitted together as she tried to keep her voice under control. "Are you kidding me, Dillon?"

"Fuck no, I'm not kidding. We just talked about this the other night. Don't you have a one-piece?"

"No, I don't have a one-piece. I have a bikini that's covered by a sarong."

Puffing out a breath, he scrubbed at his face with his hands. "At least go the f*ck back upstairs and put on a pair of shorts then."

"I'll do no such thing," she scoffed, placing her hands on her hips. "You're overreacting. It's blazing hot, there's a pool that I plan on going in, and I want to tan."

"What a f*cking joke, Emily. You're going to put me in a bad spot here if I catch any of these guys looking at you."

Tilting her head to the side, she studied his demeanor. His voice left no room for argument, and the last thing she wanted was for him to get drunk and start a fight. She walked away without a backward glance in his direction and headed upstairs to do as he asked. Beyond pissed by his reaction, she made sure she slipped herself into the shortest pair of booty jean shorts she owned. To top it off, she left her bikini top on - uncovered.

By the time she made her way back outside, Olivia was lying on a plush beach chair, talking on the phone. Emily walked over to the four men, shot Dillon a wry smile, and politely asked him to make her a Captain and Diet Coke. He didn't look too happy with her new ensemble, but it was obvious he saw the look in her eyes this time, telling him to deal with it.

He honored her request and went to make her drink.

Gavin glared at Dillon as he walked away, and then flicked his eyes down to Emily's shorts. Knowing how overly possessive his friend was, he knew Dillon made her change. He gritted his teeth, not understanding why his friend couldn't be proud of what he had in his grasp.

Nevertheless, a charming smile ran across his mouth as he gazed into Emily's eyes. "I'd like to introduce you to my buddies, Chris and Joe. Guys, this is Dillon's girlfriend, Emily."

She smiled and shook their hands. Seeing that they could pass for brothers - with eyes, hair, and features that were strikingly similar - she asked, "Are you two related?"

Chris spoke up first, his hazel eyes wide as he laughed. "Very good observation on your part; we're actually cousins," he remarked, tossing a hand through his almond-colored hair.

Joe smirked. "Yes, unfortunately, our mothers are sisters," he joked, patting Chris on his back.

Emily laughed with them. She learned that both men went to high school with Gavin and Trevor. They relocated to Florida and opened a landscaping business together after graduating college. When Dillon brought her drink over, she excused herself from the group of men and got comfortable on one of the poolside beach chairs with Olivia.

"Em, he's really starting to become - "

Emily held up a silencing finger. "Please. Just let it go for now, Liv."

She propped herself up on her elbow and flashed a frown. "Let it go?"

"Yes, please. I don't want to talk about it, okay?"

"I'll let it go, friend, but I have to say Douchebucket is officially a total * now," she remarked, securing her blonde hair in a messy bun. Leaning over, she reached for the suntan lotion, smearing more over her milky-white skin. "And you need to grow a backbone with him sooner or later."