Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2)(61)

“Low, your friend left a tip and a box with your name written rather impressively for a guy on the table.”

Unable to mask my curiosity, I rushed back to the booth where Marcus had been seated. He’d left a fifty dollar bill to pay for his twenty dollar meal. Frowning, I pocketed the money and picked up the package he’d left. I ran my finger over my name. I recognized his neat handwriting.

“Hey, Seth. I’ll be right back,” I called out as I headed for the back door. I needed privacy. Once I was outside safely hidden out of the way, I opened it.

It was a 2006 Guns & Roses Chinese Democracy t-shirt, signed by all the members of the band. A small note was tucked inside of it and I caught it just before it fell onto the muddy gravel.





Willow,

There’s a story behind this shirt. I actually went to this concert opening night in Miami. It has been one of my prized possessions ever since. It’s special because it was the only thing my dad ever took me to. He knew how bad I wanted to go. I’d just turned fifteen and he came to my room one night with two tickets. They weren’t just any tickets. They were backstage passes. He’d used every connection he could to get his hands on those tickets. It’s the only fond memory I have of my dad. Maybe that’s why it was so special.

Anyway, I want you to have it. I’d like to see it on you instead of stuck back in a drawer in my dresser. It’s one of the good parts of me and I’d like to know it’s in your hands.

I love you. I always will.

Marcus





Chapter Twenty-Five





Marcus



Larissa kicked happily in the pool as she bobbed in the shallow end with a life jacket on. Dad had called to let me know they were at the condo for the week and Larissa would like to see me. I wanted to see her too. He and Tawny went out shopping and left me alone with Larissa, since I still didn’t care to see Larissa’s mother. I didn’t like Tawny. I never would. She hadn’t just been the cause of my mother and sister’s pain but she’d mistreated Low all her life. I’d disliked her before I’d known her for that reason alone.

“My lowlow,” Larissa squealed slapping at the water. I followed her worshipful gaze to see Willow walking out of the house in a royal blue bikini. Woah.

“Hello sweet girl. I’ve missed you too,” Willow replied, grinning down at Larissa as she continued to squeal and slap at the water. Willow glanced shyly over at me and I was pretty sure I’d swallowed my tongue.

“Hello, Marcus.”

“Low,” I managed to reply.

“I hope you don’t mind. Tawny called and said Larissa had woke up asking for me, and that you had her at the pool today if I wanted to come swim with her a little.”

She was here.

She was talking to me.

She was in a bikini.

“Uh, No, I don’t mind at all.”

There was nothing in her hands. She wasn’t brining back the shirt I’d left her three nights ago. She was keeping it. I couldn’t help but smile.

“My lowlow,” Larissa squealed as Low lowered herself into the water and made her way over to Larissa.

“Look at you swimming all around like a big girl,” Low cooed at her. Larissa ate it up and started spinning in circles anxious to show off her new trick.

“Wow! And you can do tricks.”

“Martus ticks,” Larissa pointed a little finger at me.

“I bet Marcus can do tricks,” Willow agreed. I wanted to show her just how many tricks I could do. Especially with her in that bikini.

A frisbee zoomed close to Willow’s head and before I could open my mouth to warn her she had grabbed it.

“Hey nice catch,” a guy with a buzz cut and way more muscles than was normal jogged up grinning at Willow like he’d just hit the jack pot.

“Yes well be careful next time. You could’ve hit her in the head,” Willow chided him politely nodding her head toward Larissa.

“Oh, yeah, sorry about that. The wind caught it. I’ll just move out further.”

Willow shot him that heart stopping smile of hers and he looked a little shaken. I completely understood how he felt. But he needed to walk away. Now.

“Martus ticks,” Larissa demanded.

Willow cut her eyes at me smirking, “ I do believe you’re going to have to show us your tricks. The queen has spoken.”

Standing up, I walked over to the diving board. I jumped up on it. I felt like a teenager again. I was excited about showing off in front of a girl. Willow’s appreciative gaze was traveling down my body. Well damn. Now I couldn’t concentrate and I was going to get a boner which would be obvious in these swim trunks. I needed to hurry up. I ran out and did a back flip and dove into the water.

When my head broke through the top of the water both Willow and Larissa were clapping. “Bravo. I’m impressed. I wasn’t aware country club boys new any tricks,” Willow teased. She started to swim toward the ladder but stopped beside me.

“Thanks for the shirt. I love it,” she said in a soft whisper then darted off for the ladder. She loved my shirt. She wasn’t going to give back my gift. My heart sped up at the thought of her wearing it.

I watched in fascination as she climbed out of the pool. Her bottoms were hugging her butt like a second skin. The water running down her body glistened as the sun hit it. When she turned around to give me a front view, I was really glad to be underwater.