Page 8 of Meet Me in the Valley (Oakwood Valley #2)
Annoyance bubbles in my chest, sharp and rising. Jaw tight, fists clenched, I dunk my head under the water, trying to drown the heat building inside me.
I hear what Tia’s saying. And maybe that’s the worst part—the frustration comes from knowing there’s truth in it. Isabel’s been my friend for a long time. Longer than Tia, if we’re being technical about it. The urge to tell her that is on the tip of my tongue, but that’s not us.
We never fight. Hardly even argue for real. Sure, we throw jabs and give each other shit, but this? This undercurrent of judgment radiating off her has me grinding my teeth.
As I come up for air, my eyes flutter open, only to find Tia closer to me, standing almost toe to toe. The moon beams reflect off her wet collarbones, leading down to the swell of her breasts that rise and fall with each breath she takes.
She’s under the water just enough to cover anything that could lead my mind further astray. I recognize her beauty. My best friend has always been a stunner, there’s no question there.
But her eyes flicker—seriousness giving way to lustful possession in a single blink. If I hadn’t been watching her so closely, I would’ve missed it.
“Wait a second,” I rasp. “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
Now she’s the one who’s rearing back, looking at me like I’ve just spoken another language. Possessive hazel eyes turn to dark pools of annoyance.
Now this I can handle.
This is familiar. Whatever weird lustful, desire-filled gaze she was casting my way had my brain going haywire.
“Of course you’d make this about you. You’re such a dick,” Tia taunts, splashing water into my face. A smirk tugs at my mouth before I can stop it, and just like that, we drift back toward something that feels like normal.
“I’m calling it how I see it, T. You’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous. Far from it. Isabel doesn’t know you like I do. That girl is going to fall for you—just like every girl you’ve taken into your bed. You break hearts, Lo. I don’t want Iz to get hurt.”
Laughing was not the right response. Tia’s on me faster than a fighter off the bell. Sound leaves once I’m underwater, her hands pushing my head down with her fingers gripping my hair.
She’s going to murder me right here.
Blindly, my hands reach out in front of me, gripping her naked waist and using all my strength to haul her up so I can fucking breathe. Heat shoots through my fingertips as I dig into her skin, and I toss her off of me like she’s on fire.
I’m gasping for air the minute I hit the surface, smiling in victory when all I see is a ripple of water and foamy bubbles where I threw Tia. A few seconds later, she emerges with a new found anger in her eyes.
If looks could kill.
Immediately, I throw my hands up in surrender before she tries to drown me again.
“Don’t come any closer, T. You started it!” I chuckle, swiping the water off my face.
“Why, God?” she cries, looking up with feigned agony at the sky. “Out of all the humans on Your great, green Earth, you give me him?!” She points at me while still looking up, the faint curl of a smile forming slowly on her lips.
“Quit your whining. You love me,” I say very matter-of-fact. “You couldn’t live without me.”
There’s a pause, only soft ripples of water and the familiar song of crickets filling the space between us.
Tia’s eyes have never been this expressive—emotions flashing through them like a slideshow I can’t quite keep up with. Maybe they always have been, and I just never noticed.
But tonight, it’s impossible to miss. And I don’t know what it means—or why it feels like it matters so damn much.
“Need I remind you, I’ve known Isabel a lot longer than you. She won’t get attached.”
“How would you know that? Have y’all hooked up before?” Tia asks curiously, licking the beads of water dripping from her lips.
Shrugging my shoulders, I give her an honest answer.
“We have. But it didn’t go further than kissing and some heavy petting.
It was during our high school senior year camping trip.
I accidentally snuck into the wrong tent,” I chuckle to myself at the stupid memory.
“I was trying to hook up with Rosie Teak.”
“Then you ended up in Isabel’s and thought it was a good idea to mess around with her instead?” There she goes again with this weird ass judgy tone. This time it’s me rolling my eyes for once.
“Yes, T. That’s exactly what happened. What’s with you tonight? Did I do something different to receive this inquisition?”
Tia exhales in frustration, dragging her hands over the water, her fingers slipping through it like she needs something to hold onto.
“I’m sorry. You know I’d never judge you, but I meant what I said earlier. Isabel is a friend. It’d be stupid for you to cross that line, even if she’s the one initiating. Look,” she swims closer, “I’m not your keeper. Do what you want.”
Why do I get the feeling she wants me to do exactly the opposite?
The sharp thud of a car door cuts through the stillness, and we both snap our heads toward the top of the hill. Headlights shut off, shrouding us in darkness as shadowy bodies emerge and a lone silhouette runs toward us.
A playful shriek splits the air, followed by a winded laugh. Then she appears on the dock, the girl who’d asked me earlier if I was down for a good time, stepping into view with the moon casting her in silver light.
And she’s gloriously naked.
Isabel.