"Sorry, no. I'm not sleeping much," althoughhe didn't tell Aiden that he couldn't sleep because he wasoverwhelmed thinking about Aiden's sister. He lied, "I'm justthinking about how to set up the new fishing tour."
Aiden shook his head in disbelief, laughingat his friend. "Man, you're just like Dad. Head always stuck on theboat." Man, his friend was dense.
They arrived at the beach party in time tosee the beach volleyball tournament coming to a close. A crowdsurrounding the winning team jumped and cheered. Families werepacking up their picnics, taking young children home for bed.Others were lighting bonfires to welcome the night.
The foursome joined some old friends at oneof the larger bonfires. They roasted hot dogs and marshmallows,reminiscing with people he hadn't seen in years. Chase rememberedmoments like these when he was younger. Days like these made up forso many lonely days at home. Chase sat at Aiden's side, burying histoes in the warm sand. Chase enjoyed the downtime with his oldfriend.
His eyes, however, were only for Maddy. Shelaughed and visited with others, introducing Payson to some oldfriends that were in town visiting. Aiden nudged his side. "Whatabout you?"
Chase realized he'd been watching Maddy againand hadn't been listening. He picked a response, "Sure."
"Earth to Chase. Come on, when was the lasttime you got laid? I know you haven't since you've been back. It'slike you've been in your own little celibate bubble," Aiden teased,"What'd they do to you on that rig? Some woman leave you brokenhearted?"
Wow, Aiden hadn't noticed Chase making themoves on his sister the past few weeks. Lucky. He knew Aiden wouldkick the shit out of him if he knew even half of the thoughts thatpassed through his head. Most of those thoughts involved Maddynaked and doing very erotic things to him. He coughed to hide hissmile. "I guess my mind has been… otherwise occupied."
"You've been watching Elena for the pasthour. Didn't you and she have a thing senior year?"
What? He looked around, finally spottingElena. He hadn't even noticed she was here. He realized Elena wasstanding and talking with Maddy. They'd had a very brief butmutually satisfying interlude in her parent’s basement senior year.She was still gorgeous, but he wasn't the least bit interested.
Aiden went on, "She's been checking you outall night, too. I think she lives in those apartments across thestreet."
Chase shrugged nonchalantly.
"Come on, Chase. You need to get out there,with Elena, or whoever might float your boat. I holed up when Ifirst got back too, but it's time to get back out there again.Promise me you'll make a move. Tonight's looking like a goodnight." Aiden's voice drifted, his gaze was elsewhere. Making plansfor himself.
He grinned and toasted his friend. "Aiden,you have my promise on that one. It has been way too long." Aidenwas going to kill him when he found out exactly what Chase waspromising.
Chase gulped down the last of his beer andhopped to his feet. Heading toward Maddy and her friends, he walkedaround the fire and approached the group. “Ladies. Enjoying yourevening?”
Payson nudged him in the arm. “You and Aidendone gazing into each other’s eyes over there?” Man, that woman waswicked, but she could put about anyone at ease with just a look anda joke. “Come on, Sean’s grabbing a football from his truck. Afriendly little round of touch football?”
He shook his head with a smile, “Aren’t weall getting too old for touch football?”
“Depends on who’s doing the touching,” Paysonteased again with a wink.
Damn, he couldn’t get away with anythingaround her. Elena jumped on board and recruited a number of theirold friends, Aiden included. She even managed to rope in newcomerNatalie, who was notoriously reserved.
Sean raced down onto the beach with a fewother guys and set up a few spotlights and cones for the game.Chase hadn’t ever played competitive football, but he’d alwaysenjoyed the game. He ran over to help them with set-up.
Elena and Payson got to pick teams. Elenanabbed Maddy first. Wait, what?
Shit. He forgot about Maddy’s footballskills. She had a mean spiral and an outrageously competitivespirit. It took a few more rounds before anyone picked him. Didn’tsurprise him; there were several guys from their high school teampresent. At least he wasn’t picked last.
Glad he kept in shape; the game wassurprisingly intense. He hadn’t laughed that much in a very longtime. Payson couldn’t throw worth crap, but she was surprisinglyfast in her delicate flowered sundress. No one had been able tocatch her so far. She made a great teammate and was somehow ascompetitive as Maddy. No wonder they were such good friends.
Sharply calling his name, Payson tossed alateral as Aiden came close to catching up to her. He smoothlycaught the clean toss and headed for the goal. Out of nowhere, heheard Maddy run at him from the side. With a battle cry worthy ofthe ancient highlanders, she threw her body against him withincredible force. Apparently, the game upgraded to tackle whenMaddy switched to defense.
As he flew to the ground, gripping the balltightly in his extended hand to make the TD, his other arm wrappedup Maddy and pulled her in close, protecting her from crashing intothe sand. She was fucking crazy. As they crashed into the sandtogether, she curled into him, allowing him to break her fall.Neither wanted to move at first, laughing and enjoying thecloseness. Until they realized where they were, with all of theirfriends watching.
“Woohoo!” Payson ran toward them, grabbingthe ball out of his hand. “6 points,” she hollered as she dancedaround with the ball.
Maddy jumped up and brushed off the sand.With a huge smile, she gave him a hand up. “Nicely done Anderson,but game’s not over yet,” she taunted. She caught the ball Paysonhad tossed to her to start the next play. With a wink back toChase, Maddy strutted back to the line of scrimmage. It was on.
Next play, he went in for the sack. Maddy dida smooth juke as he got closer, but foolishly moved closer to theincoming tide. She was only a few steps ahead, going for a runningplay.
Water splashed at their feet as he subtlydrove her closer to the water in her efforts to escape him. As sheneared the endzone, he caught up to her and grabbed her, throwingher over his shoulder.
Anticipating his move, she tossed a quickbackward pass to Aiden to finish the play. Chase didn’t give adamn; she had been the goal anyway. But he should have known betterthan to think he’d caught her. From over his shoulder, she rotatedher body around him and dragged him down with her, right into theoncoming wave.
