Daring the Bad Boy (Endless Summer)(17)

“Next time you have one of those bursts of confidence? Make sure it’s in the middle of the day, and there’s a lifeguard on duty.” I nudged her shoulder with mine and she nearly stumbled off the trail. I reached out and grabbed a shirtsleeve, keeping her from tipping over. Shit, I didn’t know my own strength or what? “Sorry about that.”

She giggled and tugged on the edge of the hood, shoving it off her head so her still-damp, dark blond hair shone in the moonlight. “This night isn’t working out as planned.”

“Tell me about it,” I agreed, which only made her giggle harder.

It was kind of a cute sound. I was never one to think much of giggling girls because most of the time, they were annoying. But this one—she was all right. I guess. Any other chick would’ve ratted my ass out and I would’ve ended up in deep trouble. But for some weird reason, Annie had my back.

“I don’t know how to swim,” she admitted softly.

I stopped and grabbed hold of her arm, turning her so she had to face me. “Are you serious?”

She nodded, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. “Really stupid of me to jump into the lake, right?”

“Uh, yeah.” My voice dripped with sarcasm.

“We were playing truth or dare and I took the dare. I was trying to prove to myself that I was brave. That I could do anything if I just set my mind to it.” She shrugged, my hoodie flopping all around her. She really was tiny. “I’ve never been very daring.”

“What you did tonight was pretty damn daring.”

Her face brightened, and she beamed. Why she took my words as praise I don’t know, but I didn’t argue with her. “You really think so?”

“Oh, yeah.” I nodded.

Her smile faded. “I need someone to teach me how to swim.” She hesitated. “Maybe you could help me?”

“Uh, I don’t know about that…” Yeah, I was certified and I’d helped Dewey during the first session giving lessons, but always to the younger kids. I was the master of the guppies. That’s what the first session kids called me, and I ran with it.

She shifted closer to me, her hands going to my chest. “Please? It would help me out so much. I just…I feel lame, being the only sixteen-year-old in this entire camp who can’t swim.”

I glanced down to where her hands touched me. Her fingertips felt like they were charged, sending tiny electrical currents shooting all over my skin. It was…strange. “I have a pretty full schedule.”

Her hands dropped from my chest, and disappointment crashed through me. “I’ll…I’ll tell your uncle you were out here with a girl.” When I stared at her blankly, she continued. “That you were hooking up with her.”

“Wait, what?” I reared back, shocked by her words. Shocked even more that she’d ventured so close to the truth, even though nothing really happened. This chick could totally play hardball.

She curled her arms in front of her chest, her expression fierce. “I saw Lacey approach you after I left. You were meeting up with her, right?”

Well. I couldn’t deny that. “Are you serious right now?”

“As a heart attack.” She nodded, her expression still fierce. She wasn’t going to back down. “Just…teach me how to swim. I…I dare you.”

Why did she dare me? Was she trying to force me to help her? It would probably take the entire month camp was in session or longer to teach her. From what I witnessed, I wouldn’t call her the most natural swimmer in the world. No way was I tying myself to this girl for weeks on end teaching her how to doggy-paddle. “I’ll give you three lessons.”

“Ten.”

“Seven.”

“Deal.” She smiled, dropping her arms to her sides. “There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Huh. I had a feeling this could end up being a major mistake.





Chapter Seven


ANNIE

I still couldn’t believe I’d had the nerve to talk to Jacob like that. Or Jake. Whatever I should call him, the more time we’d spent together last night, the more I realized he was actually really good-looking, with those dark brown eyes and dark, touchable hair—when he wasn’t acting so grumpy. And he’d saved my life, sacrificed his hoodie (which smelled really good, like citrusy clean boy), and treated me like I was a regular girl, not some nerd he could barely tolerate.

And he had a really nice chest. Firm and warm and smooth. I mean, I actually touched him last night. Gave him grief, dared him to spend more time with me…

Who am I? A week at camp and I’ve completely transformed myself already? Or am I just getting started?

We were sitting in the dining hall finishing breakfast in our pajamas, and Kelsey had a captive audience, telling everyone my rescue story. I was still wearing Jacob’s hoodie. Kelsey wouldn’t stop talking about what happened last night. How Fozzie Bear busted her out on the dock. What a hero Jacob was for running into the lake and saving my drowning butt.

“He literally just tore off that hoodie, tossed it onto the sand, and ran into the water before he smoothly dived under, disappearing like he was some sort of dolphin or something. It was freaking amazing? ” Kelsey said for about the hundredth time.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Kaycee said, sounding bored. She looked at Hailey and they both stood, picking up their trays. “We’re headed back to the cabin. Who wants to come with?”