Love In Between(25)

“Didn’t you get my text? I told you something came up.”

“I got it, and I don’t believe you, so grab your things, and let’s go. The gang is probably already there.”

“I don’t appreciate you being so bossy,” I snapped.

He stared at me with his beautiful brown eyes that were making me weak in the knees. I had to turn away because I was starting to melt right in front of him. I walked over and picked up the beer bottles. As I walked passed him, he reached out and lightly grabbed my arm.

“I know you probably think things are weird now because of last night, but they’re not. You said that you would come to the beach with us. I don’t want you changing your mind over something that isn’t true. Things are fine, Lily.”

I stood there for a moment before looking at him. I could hear the sincerity in his voice. He let go of my arm, and I set the bottles on the counter.

“Let me go get my things. I’ll be right back,” I said as I headed towards my bedroom. I grabbed my bag that was already packed for the pool, grabbed my camera, and then I slid on my flip-flops and walked back to the living room.

“Ok, I’m ready.”

Luke looked at me and smiled. When we left the apartment, I walked towards the spot where he parks his Jeep, but his Jeep was gone. I looked behind me, and Luke was sitting on his motorcycle with a big grin across his face.

“Oh no! Once was enough. I’m not getting on that bike again!”

Luke started it up and rode over to me. “Come on, Lily, hop on,” he said as he handed me his helmet.

“Let’s take the Explorer!” I yelled.

“Hop on, Lily. Let’s not keep everyone waiting.”

I rolled my eyes, grabbed the helmet from his hands, and I put it on. Climbing on behind him, I put my bag across my shoulder and wrapped my arms around him.

Here we go again, I thought to myself.

***

The beach was crowded. I took off the helmet and handed it to Luke as I got off the bike. My heart was still racing from the nerves and excitement.

“Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked.

I looked at him and smirked as I made my way through the parking lot. When I reached the end of the sidewalk, I stopped to take off my flip-flops. The minute my toes hit the warm sand, I felt serene. Luke and I walked across the sand and over to where Sam and a group of people were sitting around. Lucky jumped up when he saw me.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said as he lightly kissed my hand.

I smiled at him, and I saw Luke giving him a dirty look out of the corner of my eye. I said hi to Sam, and Luke introduced me to the rest of his friends.

“Isn’t Gretchen here?” I asked Sam.

“She’ll be here in about an hour. She had a photo shoot this morning.”

I smiled at him. They already sounded like a real couple, and it made me happy that Gretchen found someone. I couldn’t ask for a better man for her. Lucky put his arm around me and started walking me away from the others.

“Every time I look at you, I feel like I’ve died and gone to Heaven. You’re a real angel in disguise, aren’t you? I just know that we can make beautiful, angelic music together. How about we give it a try?”

I looked at Luke and winked at him. He could tell I wasn’t falling for Lucky’s bullshit lines.

“You know Lucky,” I said, pausing to turn around and face him. “Every time I look at you, I feel like I’ve died and gone to hell, so please do me a favor and back the f*ck off so that I can go on with my day.” I smiled politely.

He looked at me for a moment with knitted eyebrows. Extending his hand to me, he said, “You are one awesome chick! Friends?”

I smiled and shook his hand. “Friends,” I said.

Sam and Luke both busted out laughing; then I looked over at Luke as he was shaking his head at me.

“What do you guys want to do?!” Luke yelled to everyone.

“I think I’m just going to lay in the sun for a while,” I said as I took off my top and shorts, revealing my bikini underneath.

“Hot damn!” Sam squealed as he ran towards me, picked me up, and ran to the water.

I yelled at him to put me down, but he just laughed and said he would, but not until we cooled off. We hit the water and he carried me out until the water stopped at our chest.

“Sam! You just wait!”

He was smiling at me, and suddenly, out of nowhere, someone had a tight grip around my waist and pulled me under the water. My heart started racing, but within moments, I was released and returned to the surface. When I turned around, Luke was inches from my face, smiling.

“You *! You scared the shit out of me!” I said as I splashed him.

“Watch your mouth, and I couldn’t resist! Please tell me you’re not mad.”

How the hell could I be mad at that face? He was having fun, and I’m all up for crazy, wild fun—at least I used to be.

“I’m not mad.”

“Good. Then let’s get out of the water,” he said as we swam back to shore.

Sam was standing at the shoreline with two towels. “Here, dry off, and let’s play some volleyball.”

I saw Gretchen waving to me as she sat in the sand, so I ran over to her.

“Look at you miss sexy thing in that teeny weeny bikini! You’ve gone and gave all the boys a boner!” she said in her fake southern accent.