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I giggle under my breath. We make keyboard bantering a thing, and my lips can’t keep from smiling as I hope for a vacay hookup with John. One time won’t hurt, right?

Tanned and tipsy, we let the morning slip into a lazy afternoon, with nothing to worry about except whether one of us is going to swim to the floating bar or if we’ll just wait for the waitress.

Suddenly, booming laughter reverberates all around us. The guys are back, changed into swim trunks or in Federberg’s case, a skimpy Speedo. He’s from Germany which is all that needs to be said regarding his attire—hanging proud.

The girls eyeball John, and Oakley smirks and says, “I was thinking of getting a new pet. A pet lizard would be fun.”

John’s eyes shoot in my direction, and I shrug. He grins. “Lizards are lucky. I drove the ball like a madman this morning.”

I wonder if that’s why he thinks they’re lucky.

“Adalee and I need to see the beach. Everyone going?” Hagan asks, with his deep dimples framing his face.

Harper jumps up. “Me and my star QB.”

They’re so much in love, they’re sickening. If there’s a hint of jealousy in my voice, it’s out of love and admiration.

“I reserved a cabana for the week.” Bryce takes Emmaline’s beach tote from her. “Oh, and I requested lizards so we can all get lucky.”

The jab at John has everyone bursting out in laughter. John takes it on the chin. “I’ve changed my mind; it wasn’t luck—I’m just better than you.”

Reed, who’s an inch or two taller than John, ruffles John’s hair. “Whatever makes you sleep at night.” He pauses, allowing for the guys to tease John a little longer. “Brooke and I are heading back to the villa. Cannon is playing in an Under 9 hockey tourney, and Brooke’s dad is streaming it live.”

“Jolie’s with them. She couldn’t stop talking about Cannon’s game today,” Emmaline chimes in. Jolie is Bryce and Emmaline’s seven-year-old daughter. The Crosses and the Wynwards are the best of friends, especially since Reed joined the Georgia Jets a couple of years ago.

Some of the couples stay at the pool, but the core group of Corbin’s besties race to the beach. We ladies grab our towels and jog down the winding path to the wooden bridge. When we reach the dunes, Adalee nudges me, and we take off running.

When we reach the dense sand where we don’t sink, Adalee and I kick off our sandals and do gymnastics on the beach. Even though she was a gymnast, I can do everything she can do on the sand. Emmaline, Lettie, and Harper are tall compared to us, and they watch in amazement. “Woohoo,” Lettie screams into the breeze as they all sunbathe right outside the cabana.

John and Hagan meet us with water bottles in hand. “Babe, you two are working up a sweat. You need to stay hydrated.”

Babe?

I take the bottle from John, guzzling it until it’s empty. “Thanks. I was having so much fun, I didn’t realize how thirsty I was.”

“I’m at your service,” he says with a glimmer in his eyes.

Adalee asks, “Who’s up for a little competition?”

Each one of us thrives on competition, so I ask, “What do you have in mind?”

“Cheer stunts. I know how to do the basic ones. We just need to teach these two how to be the base.”

“Yes, but can I have Hagan?” I half-joke, both terrified and thrilled of my body’s reaction to John’s hands being on me.

John bumps my hip. “Never bet against me, Bex.”

“I don’t want Adalee to get hurt and stunting requires trust in your partner. I’ll take the big guy here.” I crook my thumb at the hot hockey player beside me.

First, I show John how to hold my waist and Adalee how to jump while Hagan observes but standing close enough to catch me if John misses my feet, which he does. However, John catches me around the waist, not permitting me to fall.

We switch to Adalee and Hagan and of course, Adalee controls her body perfectly and on the third try, Hagan holds both of her feet above his head.

“You did it! Wave, Adalee. That’s what cheerleaders do.”

She cackles and throws her arm in the air. “How do I get down?”

I gesture for John to move behind Hagan in case she goes backward, then demonstrate for Hagan. “Don’t bend your elbows. Bend your knees but give a little pop of your fingers, releasing her heels so she comes off in front of you.”