“You weren’t supposed to wake up for another fifteen minutes. I was going to wake you up with a kiss and breakfast in bed,” he says as he kisses my forehead. “So turn around and get your fine ass back in bed so I can spoil my girlfriend on our first official morning as a couple.”
Well, when he puts it like that . . .
“No need to twist my arm, I’ll be in our bed if you need me.”
“Good girl,” he says as he smacks my retreating ass.
Griff and I eat breakfast in bed, only coming out after we’ve both thoroughly riled one another up. Not that we tried to tease each other . . . we were just interrupted . . . again.
Now, we’re both in our swimsuits, grabbing Ranger’s leash and supplies before joining the others. We’ve got a boathouse down by the water where we dock our two boats and four jet skis. When we get down there, they’re all waiting for us on our pontoon to go to the beach across the lake.
Griffin gets Ranger on the boat, then gives me a hand as I hop on before helping push the boat off the dock. Carson is driving the boat, and with the nine of us plus Ranger, it’s a bit snug. Griff pulls me into his lap, draping my legs across his and gripping the side of my hip to hold me snugly against him.
He looks so gorgeously relaxed right now, like there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. Griff’s got his Ray-Ban sunglasses on, his snapback is turned backward, and his longer hair is fanning out the back. I wrap one arm around his shoulders and play with the hair on his nape.
Leaning into his ear so he can hear me over the boat engine, I say, “You know, you’re supposed to save the hockey flow for the season, right? I don’t think you’ve cut your hair yet this summer.”
“Do you like it better when it’s longer or shorter?” he asks.
“I like having something to grip onto, but when you don’t have a hat on right now, it’s getting a little unruly.”
“I’ll have Katie cut it tomorrow,” he replies instantly. “I didn’t want to take the time away from you this past month to get it cut. Shit, that makes me sound super clingy, doesn’t it?”
“That’s alright, baby. I love it when you’re clingy,” I say before giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
We’re pulled from our little bubble when we hear Bennett say, “Carse, I’m not going to drink much today. If you want, I can drive us back to the house.”
“Yeah, go for it, man. Much appreciated,” Carson replies.
“So, Carson, your best friend is dating your sister, and you’re dating his sister. Did I get that right?” our teammate, Alexa, asks Carson.
“For the most part, except I’m not dating Katie. What made you think that?” Carson questions, raising his voice to be heard over the roar of the engine . . . I think.
Alexa’s cheeks turn pink, which puzzles me. Alexa doesn’t seem like the type to blush. From what I’ve gathered about her so far, she’s more outgoing and blunt, whereas Brooke, our other teammate, is more shy and reserved.
“Oh, my bad. I was just getting couple-vibes from the two of you. Katie said she was casually seeing someone, I guess after last night, I just assumed it was you.”
I’m trying to sort through my memories of last night to see what would make Alexa think my brother and best friend were an item when Katie chimes in. “Carson is the world’s biggest flirt. After a full day at the beach, you’ll think he’s an item with a dozen different girls. He’s all bark and no bite, though.”
Carson flashes Alexa and Brooke his dazzling smile. “Don’t you worry, ladies. I’m single. Feel free to spread the word across campus come August. I wouldn’t want the girls in your dorm to think the world’s biggest flirt is taken.” He punctuates his sentence by winking at Katie.
I shake my head and laugh at Katie and Carson’s banter. These two are constantly giving the other shit when it comes to everything, and that’s how it’s always been.
Carson slows the boat to a trolling speed as we approach the no-wake zone that surrounds the beach. The Bayview beach is filled with white sand, and my personal favorite: beach volleyball courts.
We find a spot to dock the boat by the waterfront bar and grill that’s right next to the beach called The Watering Hole. It’s a place we’ve frequented since we were kids since it’s one of the few bars with docks on the lake.
Once we’ve found a spot on the beach and have our towels laid out, I take off my swim cover-up and then toss my bottle of sunscreen at Griff. “I’ll rub yours if you rub mine.”
He catches the bottle, then bites on his lower lip to try to stop a low groan from slipping out. It still slips out, and the noise makes my stomach clench in response. I walk up to Griff just as he squirts some sunscreen in his palm.
I turn around so he can rub the sunscreen over my shoulders. Just as he starts to massage it into my skin, he lowers his lips to my ears and asks, “Are you trying to make me hard in front of our friends and innocent beachgoers?”
In my most innocent voice, I respond, “I have no idea what you’re referring to.”
“Hmm,” he tsks in my ear. “Why do I get the feeling you’re lying to me?”
I back up a step, just enough to brush my ass against his growing erection. “Need me to take care of that for you? I was referring to rubbing your back with sunscreen, but now I think I need to rub something else . . . Walk with me to the showers?”
