Page 47 of If It's You

Instead of joining whatever game they had in mind, Christian went to the locker room where he tried to wring out his clothes for the next thirty minutes. Then he called Jayce.

Thirteen

Maizie stripped off her long pants and thick t-shirt and replaced them with a breathable tank top and running shorts. Much better. The last several hours spent mending a fence had been torture under the sun’s blazing heat. And she was still so tired from last night.

In all honesty, the dance hadn’t been terrible. Watching Christian get thrown into the pool had been the highlight of her night. She could have done without the awkward ride home from Jayce, though. The look he’d given her and Christian when he picked them up from the pool had been laden with questions. They had definitely looked suspicious coming from the pool instead of the dance, and Christian’s soaked suit. She could still picture the way his white dress shirt had clung to his broad torso like it couldn’t stand the thought of not being stuck to him.

She rejoined the boys in the kitchen. Christian and Jayce must have been equally exhausted because they looked like they had fallen asleep while eating.

“All right, let’s go finish,” Maizie said.

Christian’s head snapped up and he did a double-take on her wardrobe change, his eyes lingering on her legs for a second too long. He’d had that same look last night when he’d seen her in her dress.

“My eyes are up here,” she said.

His face turned beet-red, and he ducked his head as Jayce laughed.

They headed to the truck, and she hopped in the driver’s seat. Christian got in the passenger side. Their designated distances from each other.

“Scoot over.” Jayce shoved Christian.

Christian glanced at Maizie before sliding into the middle. The cab of the truck shrunk, and Christian’s leg rested softly against hers.

She kept her eyes strictly on the road, as if his touch didn’t affect her at all. But it did. And it bothered her even more that she wasn’t irritated by it. Even though he’d basically been holding her in the pool last night, this felt wrong. Like they could only touch if they were fighting.

The second the truck stopped, Maizie bolted out. Normally, she appreciated the help with her chores, but today, it was leaving her flustered.

“Start digging,” she commanded the boys. Jayce dug his shovel into the dirt. Christian, who hadn’t made eye contact with her since he’d checked her out in the kitchen, rested an arm on his shovel and stared at her.

“Don’t you mean please?”

“Please what?”

“Oh, maybe, ‘Please dig for me because I’m not dressed to replace fence posts.’” He mimicked her voice.

Maizie’s face burned. He was getting back at her for earlier. She tucked her toes in her sandals. She should have worn real shoes.

“Why would I ever say that?”

“Maybe because it’s a nice thing to say. You know. . . manners.” He took a taunting step closer.

“I’ll show you manners.” She matched his step, pulling her fists up to her chest.

“Let’s see what you’ve got, princess.” He waved her on.

“Okay, children, stop fighting.” Jayce threw a shovel full of dirt into the air between them, and Maizie jumped out of the way.

“I will when he does.” Maizie pointed her shovel at Christian.

Christian looked offended. “Me? What did I do? Refuse to be your slave?”

Maizie’s lips parted, ready to let off any number of snide remarks floating around her head. What a jerk.

“I quit.”

Maizie barely registered what Jayce had said until the truck came to life, and he was roaring down the dirt road.

“Great! Look what you did!” Maizie yelled at Christian.