Page 8 of Sure, Pal

4

Sienna

Fuck, Evan looked hot with his shirt off. My eyes hid behind my sunglasses and devoured his sexy abs, pecs, and shoulders. He was starting to look like a man instead of a kid. I glanced over at Ava, who was propped next to me on her oversized mandala beach towel. She slid her sunglasses down and watched Evan with the same thirsty look that I did.

Ava could quench her thirst. I never could. Goddamnit. Fucking hell.

I turned my gaze to Rob as he tossed the frisbee back to Evan. Rob was hot, too, with his dark, wavy hair and chocolate brown eyes. We’d kissed once, a few months ago, and both agreed that it felt like kissing a sibling. Sienna + Rob wasn’t going to happen, no matter how much Ava wanted it to happen.

“You ready to head back to camp, ladies? I’m starving!” Rob collapsed next to me on my plain white bath towel and rested his head in my lap. Evan sank down next to Ava, and she pulled him in for a kiss.

I stood up quickly, letting Rob’s head hit the sand. “Yep. Let’s get out of here before I turn into a lobster.” Rob and I both headed up the beach toward the wooded trail we took down from our campsite.

“Coming!” Evan called after us.

I didn’t turn around. I didn’t want to see Evan and Ava with their tongues down each other’s throats. Rob’s super long legs created an impossible stride to keep up with, so he was already way ahead of me. Suddenly, I stepped on something sharp and felt a searing, burning pain shoot through my entire foot. “FUCK!” I screamed and bent down to rip my sandal off. A little devil straight from hell still clung to my foot and had its stinger lodged in my big toe.

Shit. Shit. Shit. I was allergic to wasps! I swiped the insect off my foot and shuddered from the waves of pain. I had to get the stinger out now. I collapsed on the ground and tried to steady my hands so I could gently pull the stinger out.

“Whoa. Sienna, you okay?” Evan walked up behind me with Ava tucked under his arm.

My hands shook, and tears burned the corners of my eyes. “I stepped on a wasp,” I said through clenched teeth.

Ava gasped. “Do you have your EpiPen?” Fear filled her big blue eyes.

I shook my head and bit my lip. “It’s back at the camp.” We were about a mile and a half away.

Rob had stopped walking when he heard me scream. He jogged back over and asked, “Where is it?”

“In the front pocket of my green bag.” Tears streamed down my cheeks now.

“I’m on it!” Rob took off running.

“Can you walk?” Ava looked close to tears, too.

I glanced down at my foot. It was already starting to swell. Evan scooped me up in his arms and said, “I’ve got you. Let’s go meet Rob as fast as we can.” He hurried up the path, leaving Ava to try to jog after us. Her short legs were no match, and she quickly fell behind.

My heart was racing out of control. Was that an anaphylactic shock symptom, or just my reaction to being so close to Evan? I wasn’t getting dizzy yet, and I could still breathe. So far, this reaction wasn’t as severe as the one I’d had as a seven-year-old. I glanced at Evan’s face. It was so close — close enough to kiss.

Was delusion a new symptom of anaphylaxis?

Evan met my gaze for a second. I was hyper-aware of his arms and bare chest pressing against my body. “How are you holding up, pal?” He looked worried, but he kept his voice steady.

“I’m… okay.” I was starting to feel winded.

Evan glanced at my foot and winced. “Shit. Your foot is huge now.”

I let out a nervous laugh. “Thank you for noticing. It’s sexy, right?”

Evan grinned and then shook his head. “You’re making jokes right now? You’re crazy.” He shifted me in his arms, and I tried to ignore the way his muscles flexed when he did it. Okay, now I was feeling dizzy. Evan glanced at me again. “I bet Rob’s already on his way back. He’s the fastest one on the team. You’re going to be okay.” Evan quickened his pace, and I noticed a few drops of sweat beading on his forehead.

I slumped against him, knowing that I was making myself dead-weight in his arms, but feeling too dizzy and light-headed to do anything about it. “Ugh. I don’t feel good.” I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes against the dizziness. My throat felt tight as I swallowed. “Oh, shit,” I mumbled.

“Sienna?” All of the calm that was in Evan’s voice a few minutes ago was gone. “Sienna, can you breathe?”

“Yeah.” It was getting harder with each breath, though.

Evan let out a sigh of relief. “There’s Rob! Thank fucking God!” He ran the last few yards, with me in his arms.

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