Page 13 of Best Vacation Ever

We don’t see the guys for most of the day, either because they’re avoiding us or they’re still sleeping, but no way am I missing precious time in the sun.

Eventually, we plant our butts on beach chairs on beautiful white sand, with a perfect view of the crystal clear ocean, and that’s where we stay for most of the day. I’m working on my tan, eyes closed and headphones in, and Lori’s beside me reading a book and being boring.

Freezing cold water hits my body, jerking me out of my tranquil state.“Ahh!”

I rip out my headphones and glare at the source of my dis-comfort, which is, of course, Kellan. He has an empty water bottle in his hand and an annoying smile plastered on his face.

“What?” I ask flatly, wiping the water off my stomach.

He grows visibly delighted at my annoyed tone. If he wasn’t so damn hot, I’d push him into the sand.

“They say you get a better tan in the water. I was helping you out.” He moves my stuff from the chair beside me and makes himself comfortable.

His hair is messy and curled like he’s been swimming in the salty ocean all day. He’s shirtless, which I’ve seen countless times, but damn, it never gets old.

“You’re such a pain in the ass, you know that?” I pick up my bag, which he dumped onto the sand, and move it somewhere else.

He closes his eyes and lies back in the chair, intertwining his fingers behind his head. “Not as much as you are. I wasted all morning running around for you.”

I sit up and study him, keeping my eyes trained on his face instead of where they want to roam. “What are you talking about? I’ve been here since like eight a.m.”

“There’s a foam party in the red-wristbands-only pool tonight.” He completely ignores my question.

“That’s nice. If you haven’t noticed, Lori and I have blue wristbands.” I wave my arm in front of his face as proof, but his eyes remain closed.

“Because you don’t turn eighteen until later this year. Unlike me and the guys, who are all nineteen.”

I feel a headache coming on. “Did you come here to bother me and state the obvious?”

His eyes stay closed, and one hand remains behind his head as he reaches into the pocket of his swim shorts, pulling out two new red wristbands.

“Don’t say I never do anything for you.” He opens his eyes to gauge my reaction, an arrogant smile playing on his full lips.

My eyes light up as if he just pulled out a million dollars.

I was bummed Lori and I wouldn’t have easy access to the fun parties or the booze, but not anymore.

“Where did you get these?” I reach for them, but he holds them out of my grasp.

“Remember how I said I was running around all morning? I was trying to find someone to get me these.”

With red wristbands, Lori and I will no longer be stuck in the PG-13 sections of the resort. We can get drinks and go to all the X-rated parties.

“You’re the greatest!” I try to reach for the wristbands again, but he’s not done being a pain in the ass, keeping them beyond my reach.

“I want a kiss for them,” he whispers, but Lori, who’s on my other side, hears anyway.

She sets her book down and takes off her hat. “I’m gonna go jump in the ocean. Thanks for the wristbands, Kellan.”

Then it’s just the two of us. Just me and Kellan and his stupid, flirty smile.

“She heard that, you know,” I inform him.

“I know you wanted to keep everything between the two of us, but you really expect me to believe you didn’t tell her?” he asks, gesturing at Lori’s receding form. “You FaceTimed her the second after it happened, didn’t you?”

I smile innocently at him. “At least I waited until you left to call her.”

He grabs my wrist and secures the new red wristband on it, then rips off the blue one while I pretend that I don’t feel sparks wherever his skin touches mine. He slips the extra band in my bag to give to Lori later, not bothering to close it again.