Page 54 of Return Policy
“Put me down.” I laugh as he spins me around. “You’re making me dizzy.”
My body slides down his front, and he scoops me cradle style in his arms. “You gave me a run for my money back there.” He grins down at me.
“What can I say? I have a pro soccer player for a brother. Hustling is in my genes.” His smile widens as the sound of water sloshes beneath his feet. “What are you—” I’m flying through the air and into the cool water of the gulf before I can finish my question. I emerge soaking wet and giggling wildly. “What the fuck was that for?”
“Being a sore loser.” He smirks, then grabs my ankle and pulls me toward him.
“Maybe you were a sore winner. I saw you twerking in the end zone.” An amused smile spreads across my lips at the image of Elijah dropping it low.
“Mind your manners, Ms. Summers.” He rests a hand on his muscular chest. “Iam a gentleman… Besides, it was acelebratorytwerk.”
“Mm-hmm.” He tugs me closer, and my legs wrap around his wet body instinctively.If we weren’t in the ocean I’d probably combust.His muscles are firm under my touch, and I’m losing the ability to think clearly. “There was a lot of celebratory ass grabbing going on too.”
“Oh, really?” He cocks a brow. “And did that bother you?”
“No,” I say defensively. “You can have your ass grabbed by every cheerleader at CBU. What can I say about it?”
“You’re entitled to say whatever you’d like.” His shoulders shake as he chuckles in amusement. “Are you jealous?”
“Excuse me?” I scoff.Of course, you dumb jock.
“That you didn’t get to join in on the celebratory ass slapping?” His hands inch lower on my waist, and I squirm against him. “I can make it up to you right now if you’d like.”
Yes, please.“No, thanks.”
Goddammit, Sophia.
“Too bad.” He pouts. “Your ass looks totally slappable in this.”
I throw my head back, laughing. “What a line. What a line.”
“It worked.”
“How? You're not touching my ass.”Unfortunately.
“I wasn’t trying to touch your ass. I was trying to hear that pretty laugh of yours.” He taps his forehead to mine. “It. Worked.”
“Hey!” Sage shouts from the beach, and our heads snap toward her. “We wanna go grab pizza. Y’all in?”
“Yeah!” I reply a little too quickly, and Elijah laughs as Sage walks away. “What?”
“Nothing,” Elijah replies. “It’s just amazing how someone so small can always be so damn hungry.”
“I’m not that small, Elijah. I’ve gained five pounds since the semester started. This sunflower is truly on her way to the freshman fifteen.”
“Five more reasons to wanna smack that ass.” He winks.
“God, you’re such a flirt.” I wiggle out of his grasp and swim toward shore. I glance over my shoulder, and he’s in the same place, watching me swim away. “Loser buys dinner!” I shout before sloshing as fast as I can to the beach. He loses by a landslide, and I wonder if he even tried as I watch him sporting a dopey grin, wading out of the ocean. The water beads down his rippled muscle and if I wasn’t already soaking wet, I definitely am now.
We all collect our stuff and walk towards the parking lot. Elijah’s in front of me, hauling a cooler while talking to Noah, and I find myself entranced with the way his arm muscles flex with each step.
“Hey,” Andi says, running up and startling me. “You’ve got a hell of a tackle.” She lets out a light warm laugh. “Any harder and I might have broken a rib.”
“Sorry,” I say sheepishly. “I have an older brother, and I guess I got a little carried away.”
Sure, that’s why, Soph.
“No worries.” She grins. “So… Charlie texted and said she had to head out.”
