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My worries turned into soap bubbles, and as they popped and fizzed away, I hooked an arm around Ruth’s waist, pinning her to my side. I loved how itty bitty short she was, but curvy and soft at the same time. She was all round curves and sloping sweetness, and it was hard to not stare at the way her thighs filled out those shorts so nicely.

Mom went on and on about conservation and the funds they had raised to build a new pier because sea lions were a little hard on infrastructure, and I moved my gaze down to Ruth’s waist where it sloped in but tucked with a little bitable roll, and then up to her breasts. Fucking hell. She was perfect.

Suddenly, Ruth stumbled on the pier, and her sandal caught in one of the planks. I tightened my hold on her, but I was tipsier than I thought, and my balance went askew. We both went down, and I did my best to take the brunt of her fall. She caught herself on my chest and on her knees, and I landed hard on my ass with her half on top of me. I wrapped my arms around her and let out a surprised, “Oof.”

Ruth burst out laughing. “Oh my God.”

“Ruth!” My mom rushed over, but I had already joined Ruth in her laughter, and we both collapsed to the pier.

I kept my arms around her, and she let her forehead fall to my chest. We dissolved into completely unjustified, goofy laughter. “I’m so sorry,” I wheezed out.

“I can’t,” Ruth laughed, clutching my black T-shirt and pressing her face to my chest. “I can’t breathe. I’m sorry. That was me.” She paused, her voice thick with laughter. “That was so funny, though.”

My mom blurted out a reluctant laugh. “Are you two alright?”

Still laughing, I nodded and sat us up. Ruth’s chest was pressed against mine, and I realized it would take only the smallest maneuver on my end to put her ass in my lap. My laughter died slowly, and I let myself drown in her eyes, lined with thick lashes and shimmering with laughter as she looked up at me. I swept one of her stray curls away from her pink cheek. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she said, and one corner of her mouth curved up.

Mom’s tightly coiled, wild curls bobbed as she tilted her head. “You sure? You fell pretty hard.”

I swallowed, and my eyes followed the heart-shaped lines of Ruth’s face. That little warm spot in my chest blossomed suddenly, and I tightened my hold around her waist. “Yeah,” I said, my voice husky. “I did.”

Chapter eleven

Ruth

Ruth

Cal was definitely drunk. I could smell it on his breath, but more telling, he was looking at me like he’d found a mermaid on the pier. And a mythical, beautiful creature I was not. I released another breath, ignoring the stinging in my knees, and tried to lift myself away from him. “Thanks for catching my fall.”

“Yeah,” he said, his mind clearly running away somewhere I couldn’t follow.

“Maybe we should get you two a cab,” Cal’s dad suggested with a laugh in his voice.

I patted Cal’s firm chest. “I think that’s a smart idea.”

Cal groaned, sitting up straighter and tightening his hold on me as he stood. He helped me up but didn’t loosen his hold. “Alright, yes. A cabis smart.”

“Cal,” Jayla said with reprimand in her voice. “How old are you?”

“Two drinks old,” Cal grinned shamelessly. “Which is like three drinks less than it used to take. Jesus.”

I laughed under my breath, and as he swayed, I supported him. “He got a hotel already. No worries. Thank you so much for a lovely dinner,” I added. “It was great to meet you.”Ooh, that sounded super normal, Ruth. You’re doing it!

“Ooh, a hotel,” Jayla said with sharp interest.

My mouth went dry. “Not for sex,” I said hastily.

Cal laughed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ruth.”

I cringed. “Oh fuck.” I paused after I realized I had just cussed, and then I groaned out a sigh. “I mean, sorry.”

Jayla and Cal’s dad, Terrence, exchanged amused looks, and Terrence took out his phone. “Fuck is a well-loved garnish in the Reed house,” Terrence assured me. “I’ll order the cab.”

I clamped my teeth together hard. “Right,” I gritted out.

“Ruth,” Jayla said, coming forward to hug me. “It was an absolute pleasure. I hope we’ll see you again.”