True Colors (The Masks #1)(72)
Stella and most of her sad-ass, cheating friends were finishing their senior year on a major downer. She was running off to Europe for the summer with a private tutor. I’d heard she’d planned to catch up on all the repeated work she had to do while checking out Tuscany. She’d probably work her way through Italy and end up on some Spanish beach by the end of the summer. I no longer cared.
The people I did care about, however, were doing great.
Libby, free from the demanding workload, had ended up flying through her last couple of months. Thanks to her, we aced our Biology assignment. She got into Princeton, just the way she’d wanted to and would be graduating with one of the highest GPAs in the school. She was hanging around L.A. for the summer and we were planning on catching up as much as we could.
Indie had spent the rest of her year on set with her father. She really didn’t want to go, but he’d insisted. She’d had a tutor to get her through and when I saw her last week, she’d managed enough credits. She was going to graduate no worries. She and Micah were still loved up to the max and she’d managed to convince her father to let her attend U.C. Berkeley, which is where Micah had scored his basketball scholarship. Things were looking good for both of them.
And me. I was pretty happy too.
Eric made his way out of the water, a big grin on his face as he ran up the beach towards me. Dropping his surfboard to the ground, he collected me in his arms and laughed at my squeals as his wet body soaked my clothing.
“Thanks for that.” I kept my hands on his damp shoulders.
“Anytime.” He nuzzled my neck, making my skin tingle. “What are you doing here? I thought I was meeting you later.”
“I know. I just wanted to show you something.” I pulled the acceptance letter from my back pocket and tapped it against his chest.
Grabbing his towel, he dried his hands and carefully unfolded the paper. His curiosity morphed to pleasure and he leaned forward to kiss me. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” I nodded. “I’ve heard U.C.L.A.’s a good school.”
“It is.” He grinned. “I know a couple of people who already go there. One in particular, who is very keen to show you around...keep you out of trouble.” He winked.
“Hey, I’ve lasted two months without trouble.” My grin faded. We both knew it was only a matter of time. I shoved the letter back into my pocket and tried not to let that thought bother me. “I figured that this was probably the best school for me. It’ll be good to have certain people nearby, you know with all the trouble I supposedly get myself into.”
“Supposedly. Mmhh.” He stepped towards me, gliding his arm around my back. “I sure hope you know someone who can keep you safe, Caitlyn Davis.” His eyes danced.
I shrugged, biting back my smile. “I'm pretty tight with Hercules, so I should be sweet.”
He captured my grin with his lips, his tongue dancing with mine as he lifted me off the sand. Eric was right; I wouldn’t be able to stay out of trouble forever. There were too many screwed up people in this world and I’d be drawn to help another sooner or later, but with him by my side, I knew for sure that I could handle it.