Page 3 of The Fix

Their eyes met again, his lips quirking in that same disarmed way, but this time he didn’t laugh.

“What have you simplified lately?” They both stared.

God, the way he was looking at her, like he cared deeply about her answer, caused a small fluttering at the base of her throat.

She raised her hand and put her fingers there, her pulse beating steadily beneath her skin.

And she suddenly felt ... seen , as though she’d been living as a blurry shadow of herself, and she’d just now come into focus and by the most unexpected of people at the most unlikely of times.

It was like, for a moment, she’d stepped into an alternate world when she’d ducked behind this potted tree.

What do you see when you look at me?

How odd that she really, truly wanted to know.

Did he even know her name?

“I’m Cami, by the way. And you’re Rex, right?”

His eyes flared slightly like he was surprised that she knew who he was. And again, she saw herself from the outside. Someone who’d gone to school with others for many years and yet had never so much as said their names or met their eyes.

And as she watched him, it occurred to her that Rex was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and she was standing next to him all but naked in her hot-pink bikini.

She suddenly wished she had a towel or a cover-up or something to drape over her, which was weird, considering she felt confident in her skin and had never had much of a problem knowing eyes were on her.

In fact, she’d relished it because she knew it was a big part of why she’d been accepted into this popular crowd.

But Rex ... he confused her in some way she couldn’t quite define for herself.

He very suddenly seemed ... more than what she’d thought he was.

More what , she didn’t know. And here she was complicating her own thoughts after she’d just told him she had a habit of oversimplification.

But before Cami could even think about how to answer him, Rex’s gaze moved over her shoulder.

She turned to see Hollis approaching, his navy-and-white swim trunks sitting low on his narrow hips and clinging to his muscular thighs.

Water glistened on his six-pack and dripped from his tanned pecs, and he ran his hand through his dark hair as a gleaming smile lit up his handsome face.

He didn’t so much as acknowledge Rex before he wrapped an arm around Cami’s waist, pulling her into his body and grasping one ass cheek as he planted his lips on hers in a wet smack. “I almost didn’t see you back here. I’ve been looking for you,” he said when he pulled his head away from her.

“You found me.”

He grinned again. “Yes, I have.” He uncurled his arm, and she stepped back, feeling off kilter and embarrassed by what felt like an inappropriate public display of affection in front of Rex. But when she looked back at him, he was standing, his notebook held down at his side.

“Leaving so soon, Lowe?” Hollis asked.

“Yeah, uh, I’ve gotta get home. Thanks for having me. It’s a great ... pool.” He cleared his throat. “Cami. Take care.”

“You too, Rex.”

Rex turned and began walking toward the gate, his shoulders curled forward per usual, hands tucked into the pockets of his baggy jeans.

“That dude’s a little weird if you ask me,” Hollis said, running his index finger over the edge of her bikini top. “I hope he wasn’t bothering you.”

She had this urge to bat his hand away but smiled instead. “He wasn’t bothering me at all. He was just sitting there. And if you think he’s weird, why invite him to the team parties?” Rex wasn’t a football player, but he did something with the coach regarding stats and was at every practice.

“Out of the kindness of my heart. I didn’t really think he’d show up. He doesn’t even have a car.”

She looked over at Hollis. How was it kind if he was only inviting Rex as an empty gesture, believing the guy wouldn’t show? “Then how did he get here?” Hollis knew Rex didn’t have a car and hadn’t even offered him a ride?

“No idea. But don’t feel too bad for him. I was trying to give him the opportunity to make a play with the ladies. The dude’s probably never been laid in his life. But I guess an eyeful of my girlfriend in her bikini is enough for the spank bank, and now he’s headed home to take care of business.”

She pushed at him. “That’s rude. He was being perfectly respectful.”

Hollis raised a brow. “Well, I don’t plan to be.” He started walking her back in the direction of the pool house, and a wave of nausea overcame her.

She forced a laugh and pushed at him again as he lowered his head to nip at her ear. “Hollis. I have to go, remember? I promised my parents I’d be home. My dad’s leaving on that trip to New York, and we’re doing a family dinner.”

“I thought you had to leave at seven. We still have thirty minutes.”

“My mom texted and asked if I could stop by the store for something she forgot,” she lied.

Hollis lifted his head and sighed. “Can you come back over later? Meet me here at the pool house. My parents will be at a thing tonight.” He pulled her toward him again and kissed her neck. “I need you.” He ground his hips against her to show her how much.

She let out a small moan. Despite the nausea and not being in the mood at all, Hollis was good with his hands and his mouth. And maybe that’s why you’re nauseous.

Cami pulled away, then leaned forward and gave him one more kiss before running her thumb over his lips and smiling prettily. “I’ll text you later.”

She turned, and he gave her a soft swat on her behind as she walked away to collect her things from one of the loungers by the pool.

She quickly pulled on a sweatshirt and a pair of shorts and left the party. When she made it out to the street where her car was parked, she looked up and down the block for Rex, but he was nowhere to be seen.