Page 51 of The Most Perfect Wrong

I laugh. “Touché. May the best man win.”

Without hesitation, I scoop her up and hoist her over my shoulder, walking toward the pool.

“Ryan, don’t! I swear to God, if you throw me in, there will be hell to pay.”

“Oh, I’m already in hell with you, babe.” I toss her in, knowing she’ll make me pay—and I’m looking forward to it.

Chapter 16

COOPER

I break the water’s surface, zeroing in on him with a glare that could cut glass. “Oh, you’re going down!” My voice echoes across the pool. I know I’m not strong enough to physically drag him in, but I don’t need to. I’ll get him back in the way I know best—by toying with him, turning him on, and leaving him hanging.

Because, let's face it, Ryan’s just like every other man in my life. A liar, a hypocrite. He made me feel guilty as hell about Newport, but he never said a word about his wife. How’s that for double standards?

The worst part? Even with all of that, there’s still something about him that gets to me. I hate that I like him. But I do. I have from the start. So maybe that’s why I’m here, in this pool, ready to flirt and see just how far I can push him. Deep down, maybe I want him to break. Maybe I want him to finally admit what he’s been hiding. Or maybe I just want to punish him for making me feel like shit.

It’s messy. I’m messy—but so is this whole thing. I just have to keep my head straight. But with the edible I just took, that’s going to be a hell of a lot harder in about an hour because damn, the temptation is there, right in front of me. And Ryan is onehellof a temptation.

Ryan stands on the side of the pool, arms crossed, grinning. I splash a wave of water at him.

He just laughs, dipping his foot in before kicking some back at me. I retaliate, splashing more water his way, thankful the few people here are off in the hot tub. As he dips his foot in to splash me again, I seize the moment, diving under the water and swimming fast toward him. I pop up by the edge, grabbing his foot.

“Oh, shit!” he laughs, stumbling. “Stop!”

“No way in hell.” I tug harder, knowing he’ll either have to jump in or risk falling on the cement. He curses under his breath, and then, finally, he gives in, diving in with a splash.

When he surfaces, he shoots me a playful glare. “You’re so dead.” He tries to push me under, but I beat him to it, ducking beneath the surface and filling my mouth with water. Gross, I know. But as soon as I come up, I spit it right in his face.

“Ew. I haven’t seen anyone over the age of four do that.”

I laugh. “Clearly, you don’t hang out with fun people.”

Before I know it, he scoops me up and hurls me into the deep end. I resurface, swimming back toward him, fully expecting to be tossed again, but then something shifts. My pulse quickens, a flutter stirring in my stomach.Do I actually want Ryan to throw me again?

I glance at him from across the pool.Why am I so attracted to him?His stupid six-pack hovers above the waterline.Why does he have to be such a dick—and so great at the same time?

He grins at me, eyes glinting with mischief. “You coming back for more?”

Yeah.

I think I am.

* * * * * ?* * * * *

“Do you know what’s really weird?” I ask, leaning against the side of the pool, facing Ryan.

“What?”

“Pubic hair.”

Ryan bursts out laughing. “What?”

“It’s weird, right?”

“What the fuck?” he manages through his laughter, which only makes me laugh harder.

“I’m serious! Don’t you think it’s weird that we just naturally have this big ball of hair down there?”

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