He gives me a slight chuckle. “Your hair makes me think of watercolor, so I thought Van Gogh.”
I touch my hair self-consciously. “I suppose that’s better than cupcake frosting.”
“Nah. It looks like that too. But you remind me more of a pixie than a cupcake,” he says as he pulls into the parking lot at my school.
“I get called fairy all the time,” I admit. “Even without the hair.”
“Fairy doesn’t quite fit you though. You’re much smaller than a fairy would be.” He’s teasing and it makes me smile. “Although, I wouldn’t mind taking a bite out of you.”
Again, my face flames.
I start to get out when he grabs my arm, causing chills to erupt yet again. “What are you doing this weekend?”
I think for a minute, trying to remember if I have to work. “Nothing specific, but I need to get some pictures taken for my photography class and I have a chemistry exam to study for.”
“Go with us. Maddox and me.”
I shift in my seat, not sure how to answer. My brain is screamingbad ideabecause even though I told Maddox I needed friends, I’m not sure that it should be the two objects of my obsession. But the bigger part of me, I am chalking up tohormones, is telling me to say yes, no questions asked. No questions asked isn’t really my style though, regardless of what my urges say. “Where are you going?” I ask, biting my lip.
“There’s a storm off the coast. It’s pushing in some great swells. We are heading to Montauk to try to get a final surf in before the season is over.”
I look at him, wondering if he’s serious. I always thought of surfing as a California thing. “Isn’t that a ways away?”
“About two hours. We’ll leave Friday and come back Sunday. Bring whatever you need to study or take photos. We can take care of anything else you need.”
My stomach flips. Two days with two guys I barely know? Alone? Two guys I am also attracted to? I hear Elvis singing loud and clear. “I – I –”
“We won’t bite,” he tells me. “We won’t even be suggestive. Just have fun. As friends.”
It’s the biggest sort of trouble. I know it. I feel it in my bones. But I say yesanyway and pray I don’t live to regret it.
Heaven
I’m a nervous wreck when we reach the cottage Friday afternoon. I talked myself out of coming twice a day since Ryder asked. When they showed up in Maddox’s SUV Friday after my last class, I was ready to puke.
My body and mind revolting against me had to be a sure sign this was an epically bad idea. But I’d said I would go, so here I am.
“Pick whatever room you want,” Maddox tells me. “We’ll take the other two.”
I nod as I move to the first room I see. I’m notfussy. Even if I were, I’m too nervous to care. I’ve never been alone with a guy overnight before. And these two aren’t justguys. Although they promise everything will be kept strictly platonic.
I set my bag on one of the two beds in the room, then begin pulling out my clothes to put away. I set my laptop on the desk across the room and make sure to charge the batteries to my camera. Not knowing what else to do, but too nervous to leave this room, I lay on one bed with a sigh.
“Such a freaking bad idea,” I grumble to myself. I’m going to be trapped right here all weekend. Although, I suppose that might not be a bad thing. I could get lots of studying done.
A knock on the door makes me jump. “Come on, cupcake,” Maddox calls. “We’re not letting you hide all weekend.”
Damn them and their damn intuitiveness.
With another, even longer sigh, I walk out of the room to see them both suited up in wetsuits. Ryder is holding another out with a slick grin. “Here you go, love.”
My eyes grow wide and unbelieving. “What do you think I’m doing with that?”
“You’re going surfing, cupcake,” Maddox tells me with a smirk.
I throw my hands up, palms facing out in warning. “Oh no. I’m not going out there to die.”
“Do you really think we would let you die, cupcake? Come on. We promise to take good care of you.”
