Page 65 of Vicious Little Snakes

“Would that bother you? If they dated?”

He shakes his head. “Nah, Kai’s good for her.”

The toothpick in my mouth wiggles—it’s something I traded out so that I’d stop eating the inside of my mouth. All my nervous habits seem to worsen when I’m stressed, which appears to be all I feel lately.

A dripping wet Caroline walks up the planks, accepting the towel Kai holds out to her. She comes to stand over Grey and me, casting her shadow in between us, before laying her towel down and lowering onto her stomach.

Kai calls to Grey to race him to the buoy, so he stands, taking the challenge, leaving Caroline and me alone. Her head switches its position, bringing her eyes to mine as I relax down. We’re lying there, not saying anything, staring at each other.

“Hi,” she mouths.

“Hi,” I mouth back.

She moves to lay on her side, and the bottom of her bathing suit pulls, making it dip around her hip and drawing my eyes.

An almost indiscernible white scar shines on her skin, just above where it had been hidden.

“You still do that?”

Her finger hooks around the material, righting it.

“No. I do therapy now.”

My tongue presses against the back of my teeth, wishing I could kiss her.

“Good. Your skin’s too pretty to mark up. Unless it’s by my mouth.”

She releases the breath she’s been holding. “You’re insane.”

If she knew how fucking serious I am, it would scare the shit out of her. The more time I spend with Caroline, the more I wish I could hide her away and keep her to myself.

She sunbathes on her back, letting out a tiny moan. “My week was so shitty. I wish I could bottle this moment.”

I push up to sitting and flip over to stand, jogging off.

“Where are you going?” she calls, but I don’t answer.

Opening the door to the house, I run into my room and grab my sketch pad and a pencil, making my way back to her.

Her face is full of questions, but I offer no answers, sitting back down.

“Just lay there and be you. I’ll handle the rest.”

“The girls must swoon when they hear that.”

I laugh and jerk my chin at her. “Be still, and you’ll get your memory.”

She closes her eyes again, enjoying the sun as I start. My eyes caress every line and dip on her body. I take my time, making sure I commit every fucking inch of her to memory because I’m making a memory of my own.

“Still planning on Harvard?” Her voice is conversational even though that statement is accusatory. “Or have you grown a pair and started looking at art schools?”

Like I thought. My pencil stops moving as Caroline asks, but I start again, shushing her.

“Still a mute, I see.”

“And you’re still mean. Some things never change. Sit still.”

She rolls over, making me sigh and frown at her. “Look at me, Liam. Nobody will ever see you unless you step out from behind the crowd. Aren’t you tired of carrying everything?”