Every Girl Does It(30)

I’m scowling after him when I hear a knock on the door. Preston rushes to open it, and in walks Kristin and Brad. Kristin immediately walks to where I am sitting and grabs a seat, taking my coffee and pastry in the process.

“Whoa, rough night?” Brad asks as he joins us on the patio.

“You have no idea,” I say squinting my eyes at Preston, who gives me the I-have-no-idea-what-you’re-talking-about look as I pull my coffee from Kristin’s hands.

Kristin appearsas animated as ever. “You will never guess what happened last night,” she says, looking back and forth between us.

“I’m sure I could,” Preston coughs to himself, masking the words while I hide a chuckle.

“We saw them!” Kristin exclaims, throwing her hands in the air. “And they were so nice, and we bought them champagne, and they toasted to us!” She’s now yelling, making my headache all the worse.

“You don’t say.” Preston plays along, making me smile even harder.

“Yes!” Kristin says, totally not getting Preston’s sarcasm. “And you know what’s so great?” She turns back to me. “I hear they’re going to be staying the rest of the week.”

“They are?” I say through clenched teeth, glaring at Preston.

“Yes!” Kristin does a little fist pump. I never knew she was so in to celebrities. Must be the new mom thing. She definitely needs to get out more, poor thing.

“So, you guys ready to go or what?” Brad asks, looking directly at me and my train wreck face and just-rolled-out-of-bed clothes.

“Ready for?” I ask.

“Snorkeling,” Brad says, standing up. “I thought Preston told you. The boat leaves in like a half hour.”

I bite my lip so I won’t lunge for Preston’s face, then smile. “Of course, I’ll go grab my stuff.”

I hurry into the bathroom, throw on my swimsuit, brush my teeth, put on waterproof mascara, and am out the door. I’m wearing my new swimsuit cover up as well as my giant sunglasses to hide my swollen eyes.

“For later,” Preston whispers and drops something into my beach bag. I can’t seem to be able to keep my stomach from doing a flip flop as my eyes scan his kissable lips. And okay, I know I’m supposed to hate him, but it’s hard not to feel totally 007 right now with us sneaking around together. I mean, it’s fun pretending to be someone else, and it’s not like I’m going to marry the guy. Clearly he’s not marriage material. Plus, he’s probably just stringing me along until he can embarrass me like I did him. Although, in his defense, he’s had many opportunities to do so already.

Today he’s wearing long board shorts and a tight muscle T. His skin is more bronzed than mine, making me all the more pathetic-looking next to him. We drive our rental car to the spot where the boat is waiting and get out. Preston and I are the last to leave the car, but only because Brad has to chase down Kristin as she charges the boat. Like I said, she needs to get out more.

“I think you’re wine,” Preston says and takes my bag from the trunk.

“What do you mean?” I fall into step with him, and we head in Kristins direction.

“I mean,” he says. Wait, is he turning red? “You’re anything but diet.” It was as if the mask which was once in place—the mask dripping with selfish pride and sarcasm—had fallen away, and it’s just us. Me and Preston. I stop and look him square in the face and grin. His eyes light up, and before I know it, he leans over and kisses my cheek.

“But don’t go around telling people about this side of me. It might ruin my reputation,” he says, then he playfully trips me as we walk onto the dock.

“That’s the last thing you should be worried about,” I say, returning the trip and causing his flip flop to sail into the water.

“Go get it,” he says seriously.

“No, you get it.”

“Children?” Kristin comes up to us. “A problem?”

“Yes.” I point at Preston. “He just called me stupid and tripped me. When he tripped me, his flip flop fell into the water, and now he wants me to go get it. And you know how much I hate the water.” I stomp my foot for effect and shed a fake tear, all the while Preston stares at me, mouth open in shock.

“Preston! Be nice to her! She has a legitimate fear. Now stop being a bully, and get your shoe out of the water. We’re going to be late for our snorkeling appointment.” She pulls me into her side and escorts me safely to the boat. I turn quickly to stick my tongue out at Preston. He smirks, then wades through the shallow water to retrieve his flip flop.

Two can play that game, buddy, I think.

****

I should have never underestimated him. I don’t know how I get myself into these situations. Honestly, I don’t. I mean, sometimes in hindsight, I can see myself make the choice, and I want to yell at myself to stop. You don’t know what you’re doing! But it’s always too late, and, seriously, how was I supposed to know the boat actually had a high dive?

Stupid Preston and his dares. He knows how much I hate water, yet here I am, standing on what I would like to refer to as the “plank of death”, waiting to jump into the dark abyss. “Jump! Jump! Jump!” I hear the voices chant, but all I feel like doing is passing out. Heights and water do not mix. This is at least thirty feet, and I feel like I might be sick.