Page 2 of Unraveled

TUCKER

“I can’t move. My legs are like mush. I’m just a puddle of sated goo here on the bed now. Leave me.”

I smirked down at my girl before grabbing her ankles and pulling her over to the edge of the bed. “That just means I’ve done my job fucking right.”

She looked at me, and her head fell back with an eye roll and a grin. “So dang cocky.”

“You know it.” I grabbed under her arms and pulled her up to sit, and Izzy groaned.

“You’re gonna make me get up, huh?” She rested her head against my bare hip.

“I don’t know about you, princess, but I’m starving. As many times as we’ve gone at it the past five hours–that time over the pool tablenotexcluded–I need to refuel if we’re gonna go any more rounds.”

Izzy sucked in a long breath and then lifted her head, holding her hands out to me to help her up. “You’re right,” she said as I pulled her to her feet. “But not just about more sex. Things are starting to get sore. And I am pretty hungry. Do we want to call something in or go out?!” She called the last bit over her shoulder as she padded to the bathroom.

“Let’s go out!” I called back as the shower turned on. I forced myself to resist joining her, knowing we’d never make it out of this room again if I did.

We ended up down a section of the boardwalk about a half hour later and grabbed a table outside one of the oceanfront restaurants. Quickly placing our orders, we were enjoying the fresh ocean breeze and talking over our meal as the wind picked up.

Izzy had just laid down her fork and sat back, her hand going to her stomach like she was stuffed, when one gust of wind blew my napkin off the table and sent her hairwhipping across her face. We exchanged looks as Izzy’s expression dropped in disappointment.

She glanced up at the sky, and my gaze followed hers to the darkening clouds. “Wewouldbe getting gross weather when I managed to rent the beach house.”

“Yeah…but it’s still okay. The house is amazing whether we get to spend time on the beach today or not.” I reached over to squeeze her hand. “Did you still want to invite our families?”

She perked up. “Yes. I really do. They need a chance to appreciate it, too. We could all stay there tonight, and since tomorrow’s senior ditch day, we can stay there a while longer with Annie and Jet before turning in the keys.” I nodded, bringing another bit of food to my mouth when she added, “Plus, I think the beach house would be a perfect place to tell everyone our news.”

“You want to tell everyonetoday?” My brow went up.

“I thought?” Her face fell, doubt crossing her features. “I mean, if you don’t want to…” She pulled her hand into her lap.

“No. No, it’s fine. I just hadn’t thought that far yet. I’d figured we’d tell Annie and Jet…”

“Definitely. I want to call them first, but with our families I just don’t want to have to hide our engagement. I’m so happy, and they’ll see the ring soon anyway because I’m not taking it off.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Good. Because I don’t want you to.” A couple of sprinkles hit my face, and I quickly shoveled the last few bites of my food down before tucking some money under the stand on our table. “Ready to go before we get wet?”

Izzy nodded, pushing back her chair, and then threaded her arm through mine. “Speaking of our families today…” she hedged, her tone flipping the subject. “There’s something I’ve been trying to figure out how to bring up with you.”

My brow furrowed as we hurried down the walkway that led from the restaurant, more and more sprinkles starting to fall. “Why am I nervous now?”

She made a face, hesitating for a second. “Because it’s about Micah…”

A crack of thunder sounded above us with his name, and like a dam had been opened, the rain was unleashed.

Chapter 2

JET

Work along the beach was slow today. I knew it was because of the dark clouds hovering overhead. Weather like this made the few early tourists nervous to venture out into the water, and most locals just put off going to the beach for another day. Glancing out the window, I could tell part of the storm had already started in the distance, making me wonder how much longer until it reached over here.

My thoughts fell back to last night, trying to figure out how the cops could have known to check the exact strip of beach Corey had chosen to set up for the prom afterparty. He had a few spots he rotated between, and we’d never been bothered down there before.Maybe it’s time to rotate another one into the mix…

A series of thuds sounded against the oak floorboards across the store, and I looked up from the stack of invoices I was going over to spot Megan’s sister Katy scrambling to pick up an assortment of sunscreen she’d knocked to the floor.

“Sorry, Jet. I was straightening the shelves, and when I dropped one, they ricocheted.”

“All good. It happens.” I headed around the front counter to go lend her a hand. “Why don’t you go ahead and head out before the rain hits? We’re practically dead.” I grabbed a handful of bottles to set them back on the shelf, and she passed me the last two.

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