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Anger flares, searing through my veins.
He laughs harder. “I’m fucking with you.Jesus.This guy.”
Boss’s raucous laughter echoes his own.
I flip them both off.
We head past the pool, and Boss lets out a low whistle—the fucking idiot—as his gaze rakes over Addy. Thankfully, Coach doesn’t catch it. Neither do either of the girls.
Unfortunately, I’m not any smarter than Boss is. Just as much of an idiot as my feet slow, glued to the ground as my eyes find Declan once more. She’s lying on a pool float, body dampand glistening, braving the heat along with Addy who’s spread out beside her. My gaze travels over her, from the blonde hair pulled up at the crown of her head to the red polish painted at the tips of her toes.
Face tilted up to meet the sun, a small smile graces her lips.
My pulse quickens at the sight, a hundred scenarios running through my mind. Scenarios that have me balling my hands into fists and turning on my heel, jogging away before I get myself into some serious trouble. Trouble I need to work out of my system as soon as I hit the shower.
I growl in frustration as I head out of the yard.
It’s going to be a long fucking summer.
Chapter Six
Declan
The Oklahoma heat is something else. There’s nothing quite like it. The way it masquerades as a literal furnace, seeping warmth into your entire body until it feels like the heat is working its way through you from the inside out. I imagine it’s what it would feel like to be a rotisserie chicken, skewered and slowly spinning over an open flame. Skin crisping, insides melting.
Maybe that’s a tad dramatic, or maybe it’s because I’m from California where the mid-nineties are considered sweltering and the low hundreds unbearable.
Whatever it is, though, it’shot.
Even with my feet in the water, my body sprawled across a pool float, my hair still damp, and a spiked lemonade in my hand—courtesy of Addy—I can still feel the sun sucking every drop of moisture from my body. The vodka lemonades might not be helping, but they sure do taste good.
I sip the last bit in my cup through a straw, making a slurping noise against the mostly melted ice.
“Another?” Addy asks with a laugh.
“Yes, please.” I cheese. It’s a smile fueled by sweet lemonade, blazing sunshine, and mind-numbing vodka. The best kind of smile, maybe.
Addy pulls our float to the edge of her pool, and her cooler cracks open before ice is being clunked into my glass, the weight of cool, spiked lemonade being poured in last.
“Thank you,” I tell her, bringing the straw to my lips and swallowing half of it down in one go.
Fishing out a couple pieces of ice, I squeeze them inside my fist. Coldness bites at my palm as I hold it over Addy’s torso, chilled drops meeting her skin. She squeals and slaps my hand away, and I laugh as I move my fist over my own stomach, letting the water sprinkle down on me. I move it up my chest and over my neck before working my way back down, droplets of water falling onto my legs until there’s nothing left in my palm.
Dropping my hand back into the pool, I glide my fingers through the water, slowly spinning the float we’re laying on.
I close my eyes, inhale a deep, intentional breath, and slowly set it free.
It’s the kind of moment I’ve been subconsciously waiting for. One not shackled by fear, or doubt, or anxiety, but one that’s… simple, easy, quiet.
One that’s infused with…life.
______
The short, harsh burst of Cal’s whistle tears me from my reverie.
I open my eyes and lift my head, spotting the football players littering the Masons’ field. If it weren’t so hot out here, I’m sure I’d feel the warmth of my blush flooding my cheeks, not at all able to help myself as I scan the field for Jude.
Two full sleeves of tattoos—there.