Before long, I’m right there with her, falling sideways to the sand with our arms clutched around our aching stomachs.
“Eloise… can’t… breathe… stomach hurts…”
“I… know… I can’t… stop…” She rolls to her back, the moonlight illuminating her delicate features as she arches into the sand.
Eventually, we get ourselves under control—but it takes several more minutes of ceaseless, inexplicable laughter. The night fills with a stillness once more, no sounds save for the ocean and the rhythmic whoosh of our labored breathing.
“I don’t know why that was so funny.” Eloise hiccups, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “But I think I needed that.”
“I think we both did.” I roll to my side, propping my head on my bent arm to get a better look at her profile. At the same time, Eloise turns her head, the movement causing some hair to fall over her face.
Before I can stop myself, I reach out, gently brushing the pink strands away from her forehead to reveal those wide blue pools I love so much. Her mouth parts slightly as I tuck her hair behind her ear.
I linger in that spot, tracing the gentle curve with the pad of my thumb, then bringing my palm lower to curl around the side of her fragile neck. Electricity crackles between us, the air growing heated with the charged intensity pouring from us both.
“Eloise, I?—”
“Hey! You’re not supposed to be out here!”
Eloise freezes, turning to me with eyes that screamoh shit. Before I can think, before we’re discovered, I jump to my feet, grabbing our clothes and Eloise’s hand.
We run off into the night, laughing so hard we can barely breathe.
15
Riot
Once we’rea safe distance away, I pull Eloise into a small clearing beneath a massive pine, careful to kick away any spiked fruit lying in wait for her delicate feet. Once I’m sure we’re safe, I pass Eloise her pants and bra, strategically keeping her shirt for myself.
“Um… you wouldn’t happen to have my underwear, would you?”
I shake my head, feigning an innocent expression. In reality, the lacy pink thong is stuffed deep in my pocket—but she doesn't need to know about that. “Sorry. Must have dropped them somewhere back there.”
She narrows her eyes but doesn’t question me further. Instead, she nods to her crop top still clutched in my hands. “Can I have that?”
“You already have a shirt.”
“Yeah.Yours.”
“I fail to see the problem.” I shrug. Then, with a smirk, I pull her crop top over my head. It only reaches the top of my nipples, and I’mdefinitelystretching out the fabric beyond repair, but Eloise doesn't seem to mind.
In fact, she’s losing her ever-loving shit.
“I think you pull it off better than me,” she says, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “That’s fucked up, Riot. So not cool.”
“I’m glad you approve. That means we can get going.”
“Going where?”
I just grab her hand, tugging her in the direction of my motorcycle. “Somewhere you’ll like.”
“Welcome to Rusty’s Anchor.” The teenager pauses briefly at the sight of me in Eloise’s ill-fitting crop top but doesn’t make any comment. “Just the two of you?”
“Just us two,” I say, looking down at Eloise with heated eyes.
“Alright.” He looks over his shoulder at the mostly empty diner before facing me again. “Sit anywhere you like. Someone will be with you in a minute.”
I squeeze Eloise’s hand, and she pulls me farther into the restaurant, eager to sit and peruse the menu. Apparently, she’s never had greasy diner food—beforeorafter midnight—and it’s something I have to rectify now that I’m privy to the information.
