Page 70 of Rebel Summer

“We can do it,” said Dax, standing up straight and startling me with his direct gaze. “We’re trying new things today.”

“Oh, thank you so much!” She turned and walked a few paces back to get in a better position.

“What?” I whispered to Dax, keeping light on my feet. “No.”

He nodded toward the girl. “She needs help.”

“But I’m…” I wasn’t sure how to express my intense desire to keep up with my constant movements and boxing stance. No, not desire. Need. I needed to be moving right now or else I might lose my nerve. But Dax was already making his way to where she was directing us. I couldn’t say no, especially when it became clear that she needed him to wrap his arms around me. The things we women have to do sometimes.

“This is going to cost you,” I whispered to Dax, my heart secretly thrilled as he pulled me to him so we were both facing the water, my back pressed against his stomach. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, so I rested them on his forearms.

“I should charge you for this,” Dax murmured, his lips somewhere close to my ear.

“Now both of you look off into the distance. Like you're thinking about how much you love each other,” Whitney called out, a few yards away, a long zoom lens covering her face.

Dax’s body tensed as though he were holding back a laugh. I elbowed him in the ribs.

“Um, can you stop moving your feet?” she asked me. “It might make the picture blurry.” My heart sank as I forced my feet to stand still.

“Now, lean in close so your face is touching her cheek.”

“Two hours,” I whispered to Dax as I felt the stubble of his cheeks press against mine while the fire of adrenaline coursing through my body began to burn in a different direction. The slow and easy, white smoke and ember kind of direction—which was unfortunate when my body definitely needed the adrenaline of raging bonfire right now.

“Shh. Think about how much you love me,” Dax murmured.

I opened my mouth to hurl a retort, something witty and sharp, but nothing came out. There were definitely things I could say that would shut him up or, at the very least, make him laugh, but then his arms tightened around my waist and my mind forgot all the words.

“Now, turn to face each other.”

Dax turned me to face him, meeting my gaze unabashed with those dark lashes framing his eyes.

“Can you put your foreheads together?” Whitney asked, the camera hiding her face. “And um…pretend like you’re laughing at something.”

“No problem,” Dax said, his fingers finding my belt loop and pulling me against his body. “She loves my jokes.”

A smile came unbidden, though I tried to hold it back.

“You are looking at him so cute,” Whitney said to me as Dax pressed his forehead against mine. “Stay just like that.”

I stared up at Dax, amusement etched across his face.

“Shut up,” I whispered.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Now, put your hands on his cheeks,” Whitney said.

I gave Whitney props for boldness as I placed my hands on his stubbled face.

“That’s good. And then lean in close like you’re almost going to kiss.”

“Would you like her to kiss me? She’d be happy to.” Dax blatantly ignored the stomp I gave his foot.

“No, that’s okay. I don’t want to make it too weird for you. I’ve got a few other poses to try, and we’re almost to the dock,” she said.

“Dry your eyes, Books,” he whispered.

“You sure bring up kissing a lot,” I said, giving him the side-eye.

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