Page 8

8

TASHA

“ H ow can you even think that?” I scoffed.

“Because it’s true.” Trevor shot back.

“It’s the furthest from the truth.” I countered.

“Doritos are the best chips.” Trevor said. I looked at him like snakes were coming out of his ears.

“Doritos? Out of all the chips out there you choose them?” I retorted, the idea of Doritos being the best chip made my face crinkle.

“And you think Fritos are the best?” Trevor sent me a look of his own. One that told me he didn’t agree.

“The chili cheese twist Fritos, first of all. And second, they are better than Doritos.”

“What’s so wrong with them?”

“They’re just so…” I tried to come up with a better word. “Plain.”

“I can’t even look at you right now,” he said dramatically, turning his body in the other direction.

“I didn’t say they were disgusting, just plain.”

“So, that means you think I’m plain.” Trevor flung back.

“I mean… ”

“I am not plain!” He turned around to gape at me, eyes wide in fake horror. I barely had time to look at his feet before he kicked a huge chunk of sand at me, hitting my dress in the process.

“Trevor!” I had already cleaned the stuff out of places that I didn’t even understand how it got there. I didn’t want to do it again.

“What?” He looked at me innocently, but the teasing smirk on his face was anything but.

“If you get sand in my freshly washed hair, you will feel a world of pain,” I threatened, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Oh, really?” I watched him closely as he shifted in his spot on the log near the bonfire. I didn’t trust him for one single second.

“Trevor,” I warned. I watched as he bent to the side, grabbing a handful of the coarse but tiny grains. It was the kind that stuck to everything it touched.

Scrambling up off my seat, I took a step back, hands out in front of me. Eyes glued to his hand as some of it slipped through his fingers.

“Don’t you even dare.” I pointed a finger at him, but Trevor just slowly stood up. The fire behind him made him look like a menacing shadow. From the evil look on his face, he wasn’t far from it.

“Don’t do what?” he asked innocently as he stepped forward, mimicking my steps. There was no way in hell I was letting him near me with that. It took me ages to get the sand out earlier, and knowing Trevor, he’d make sure every inch of my hair was covered.

“I’m telling you right now not to do whatever it is you are thinking.” I stumbled slightly as I kept my eyes on his figure. I didn’t dare look away.

I knew the odds weren’t really in my favor. Trevor was over six feet tall with long muscular legs that could easily reach me within a few steps. His body was basically a lethal machine, thanks to all his hockey training. Running in a medium that easily slipped away with each step was probably a walk in the park for him. Whereas for me, it would take extra effort on my part and probably make my legs replicate jelly for the next week.

“But you see, calling me names isn’t very polite.” He slowly advanced on me, easing me. I knew if I said anything it would only make it worse, but I never could control my mouth.

“I wasn’t calling you names or referring to you as plain. I was just stating a fact.” I could barely make out the expression on his face at my words.

“You’re not really helping your case here.” With each word, he kept walking in my direction. With the moon hanging high over the ocean, there weren't many people left on the beach and none spared us any attention.

“How about we come to an agreement?” I offered. Maybe I could talk myself out of this one.

“I don’t think so.”

“But—” Before I could finish, Trevor lunged for me.

Squealing, I dodged his attempt, pivoting on my heel and took off running. The sand was loose, which did not help as I struggled. I heard Trevor behind me and a quick peek over my shoulder told me he was right on my ass.

With wide eyes, I veered toward the wetter sand for better traction, pushing myself to run faster as my calves burned. There was no way in hell I was letting him catch me. Not with that sand still in his hand.

“Tasha!” Trevor yelled after me. “Get back here!”

“No!” I yelled back. Hearing him curse, I glanced over my shoulder again only to giggle at the sight of Trevor tripping. He fell to his knees. “Ha! Sucker!”

Laughing loudly, I kept running to put distance between us. My legs were already getting tired, stupid self for not spending more time at the gym, but I pushed forward. The sound of the waves lapping at the sand muted the sound of Trevor getting back to his feet, making me run that much faster.

I wanted to believe I was running at super speeds, but the sand kept slipping away, making me stumble every other step and giving Trevor plenty of time to catch up. Damn him and his long legs.

“Just accept it, Tasha!” he yelled from behind.

“Never!”

I knew we looked like complete maniacs running down the coast yelling at each other, but I didn’t care. For the first time in a long time, I was carefree.

My breathing got heavier and my calves started to cramp, making me slow down a little. I definitely was not a track star. But as I slowed, I didn’t hear a sound from behind me. It didn’t even seem like Trevor was behind me at all. Did he hurt himself when he tripped?

Coming to a stop, I went to turn around to make sure he was okay only for a pair of arms to wrap around my middle. I screamed as he lifted me off the ground and twirled me in a circle. I barely registered that he no longer had a handful of sand.

I couldn’t help but squeal and laugh as I was twisted in the air. Trevor’s arms were snug around my waist as he held me effortlessly against his chest. The feel of his breath on my neck made my skin break out in goosebumps.

“Should have said sorry,” he whispered in my ear, bringing us to a stop. Before I could comprehend what he meant, we were moving again. My toes grazed the slightly chilly ocean water, making me squirm in his hold.

“Trevor.” He kept a firm hold on me as he brought us closer to the water. This was worse than the sand. “Don’t! ”

“Are you going to say sorry?” My hands scrambled to grab his forearms, but my feet were already fully submerged. Say yes, Tasha!

“No.” The word left my lips before I could stop myself. Way to go.

“Okay then.” He swung me to the side as if getting ready to launch me in the ocean. Yelling, I gripped his forearms tighter, struggling to hold on.

“No, no, wait!”

Trevor stopped, leaving me hovering above the water, the waves hitting my shins. I brought my legs up in an attempt to keep myself dry.

“Yes?”

“I take it back.”

“Take what back?” His lips grazed the shell of my ear as he spoke. Obviously wanting me to say the words out loud.

“There are two things.” He whispered. When I hesitated, he started to swing me again.

“Fine, okay! You aren’t plain!”

“Nope, that doesn’t count.” More of my feet dipped into the water as he waded farther out.

“Okay, okay. Trevor, you are not plain and neither are Doritos!” He paused. “Is that better?”

“Hmm,” he hummed, his chest vibrating against my back. “It will do…for now.”

“Then please let me down.”

“If you insist.” Trevor loosened his hold, lowering me a bit so waves hit my knees. Yelling, I gripped him once more.

“Put me down on dry land, you idiot!” I shrieked, kicking at the water.

Laughing, Trevor turned us both around and walked out of the ocean. Each step toward dry land made me relax more and more in his hold. Stupid man threatening to drop me in the ocean. As soon as he got us away from the water, I wiggled in his hold so he would release me.

As soon as my feet hit the sand, I let out a sigh. I loved the ocean, I did, but someone threatening to throw me in while it was dark? No, thank you. My mouth threatened to protest when Trevor’s arms dropped from my body.

I liked his arms around me, maybe a little too much, but being in them was fogging my head. I needed my thoughts clear whenever I was around Trevor because it was really easy to give in, and the thought of that scared me. Getting attached too quickly never turned out well.

“You are so dead.” I twisted around and glared at the man in front of me. I had to tilt my head back just to see at his face. Damn him and his height. Trevor had the balls to smile down at me like something was funny. “What?”

“You are as threatening as a squirrel,” he replied, his smile somehow getting wider.

“Am not!” Putting my hands on my hips, I narrowed my eyes.

“Uh-huh.”

Letting out a huff, I looked away. The way he was looking at me made my stomach flip and my cheeks to heat. His stupid smile was not helping.

Tasha no. Don’t even think about it.

A cool breeze picked up, blowing salty air right from the ocean. I shivered as goosebumps rose on my skin, my thin summer dress doing nothing to hold off the chill. Didn’t help that my legs were still wet from before.

“Here.” I looked back at Trevor to see him shedding the windbreaker he had on. In a gesture that somehow made my heart race even more, Trevor held it open for me.

“But—”

“You’re shivering,” Trevor cut me off. He gave me a look that told me not to argue with him. I didn’t have it in me to do so. Biting the inside of my cheek, I moved closer, sliding my arms into the sleeves and letting him pull it around my shoulders.

I was instantly enveloped in warmth and that familiar citrus yet spicy smell again. The same smell that was all Trevor. It took everything I had not to bring the sleeves up to my nose. Instead, I took small, deep breaths, basically inhaling his scent as if it was oxygen. Maybe I was crazy, or I was somehow still intoxicated.

“Thanks,” I murmured. “What about you?”

“I’ll be fine.” He waved me off. “Want to head back?” He tucked his hands in his pockets, the T-shirt he was now in stretching across his biceps and chest. Averting my eyes, I nodded.

Our little moment ended. Disappointment washed over me because I wanted to stay in our little bubble where reality didn’t seem to exist. Tonight, the walls came down just a little. It was like Trevor was softly, but firmly, hitting those walls and tearing them down brick by brick. I wasn’t entirely sure if I was okay with that or not.

We walked side by side back to the hotel, stopping to grab our shoes and phones we left by the bonfire on the way. A few people lingered on the beach, which wasn’t surprising since it was only eleven thirty. I hadn’t realized how long Trevor and I had been out. Time seemed to pause yet fly by when we were together.

As we walked, our fingers brushed against each other, each time making my breath still in my lungs.

“Thank you for tonight,” I finally spoke as we walked through the lobby of the hotel.

“Would you want to do this again tomorrow night?” Trevor scratched the side of his neck as he asked, almost like he was nervous to bring it up. I found it cute. Trevor never struck me as a guy who got nervous about anything, let alone a girl. I found myself liking the fact that I made him react like that.

“I’d like that.”

“Okay. Good.” The corner of his lip tilted up as he nodded. Turning my head to the side, I hide my own smile.

We stayed quiet as we rode the elevator up to our floor. My steps slowed as we headed for our rooms, trying to savor this last moment. I had a good night. No, a great night. It wasn’t what I expected, but it turned out even better than I thought.

Coming to a stop in front of my room, I held back a sigh. With my head back, I met Trevor’s eyes. I went to open my mouth to say something but all the words got stuck in my throat.

Trevor seemed to sense my trouble. The corner of his mouth lifted in a soft smile. When he brought his hand up, my breathing stopped completely. His fingertips softly grazed the top of my cheek before tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

I couldn’t stop the tremor that ran down my spine at his touch. My eyes fluttered as my breathing picked back up. My heart raced. Trevor’s green eyes darkened as he stared down at me. The muscle in his jaw ticked.

I watched as he battled with himself before he dropped his hand back to his side and took a step back.

“Goodnight, Tasha.” I couldn’t form words as I stood there watching as he opened his door. I wanted to say something, but my mouth wouldn’t work. He glanced at me over his shoulder one last time before stepping through the threshold, leaving me there in the hallway.

“Goodnight, Trevor,” I whispered after he was already in his room.