He hesitates at first, then relents and hands it to me.
“I knew you wouldn’t fess up.” I stack his racquet against mine. “Game over.”
Graham joins us. “Then who won?”
I glance over my shoulder at him. “No one.”
He shakes his head. “But if he can’t play, doesn’t that mean they forfeit?”
I swear, sometimes my brother is a man-child. “Graham, let it go.”
“Whatever.” He hands me his racquet.
Liam smirks and does the same, his eyes drilling into Nick as he walks by. “Guess we’ll have to have a rematch.”
Once they go inside, I refocus on Nick. “How’s the shoulder?”
He rotates it backward while rubbing it with his left hand. “A little sore, but otherwise good.”
After I put the racquets down on the grass, I hold up my hands and wiggle my fingers. “Turn around.”
Nick pivots his back to me. “Sure you want to do that here?”
I start working my fingers into the muscles behind his shoulder blade and move up toward his neck. “Why?”
“Your brothers are watching.”
“So?” I’m glad he can’t see the smile spreading across my face right now. Maybe I’m enjoying his discomfort over my brothers a little too much.
When he tries to glance at me over his shoulder, I push his chin away. “Keep your face forward.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His words sound more like a teasing growl, which spikes my pulse.
I’m finding myself enjoying our playful banters, which surprises me. Not because we do that, but because he’s so easy to be around. I feel like I can truly be myself around him.
Nick’s muscles loosen as he takes a deep breath, signaling the relaxing effect over his body. Which is the complete opposite of what touching him is doing to me. These are the muscles that have propelled him into the water to save lives. That thought alone is kind of heady, if you ask me.
Graham steps back outside to chat with my mother, but I can tell he’s more interested in what’s going on between Nick and me because he keeps darting suspicious looks our way.
So, here’s the deal. Grahams, as I sometimes call him, and I have a unique way of showing each other love—we torment each other. Maybe it’s because we’re so much alike or that we’re closer in age than Liam is to us, but we have always operated this way.
I move my face closer to Nick’s head so it appears like I’m whispering in his ear. The red creeping up Graham’s neck is my signal that it’s succeeding.
“Hannah, what are you doing?” Nick keeps his voice to a low, gravelly whisper.
Suppressing a giggle, I pull my head back. “Just working on your shoulder. Why?”
“Because your brother looks as if he’s getting ready to charge over here.”
“He’ll get over it.” I’m glad Nick can’t see my face because I’m positive my smile is borderline maniacal.
Nick spins around but puts a little more distance between us. “You’re purposely trying to tick him off, aren’t you?”
I tuck my lips in for a moment. “Maybe.”
“Could you do it at someone else’s expense, please? Graham happens to be my best friend.”
I raise my brows and lean forward. “Really? How’d I miss that?”
