Page 167 of Zero Chance

Glancing back at Xander as she followed directly behind us, she merely rolled her eyes before casting me a grin to let me know she was enjoying herself too.

At the Jeep, Keene loudly proclaimed that I was getting shotgun, so Alec and Xander had to pile into the cramped back seats, and then we were off.

“So where to?”Keene asked as he backed us onto the street and changed the song on the radio to something he liked.

While Imagine Dragons crooned in the background, Alec lifted the moscato, still holding it after Keene had thrust it at him.“We probably shouldn’t drive around with an open container.Let’s find somewhere to park before cracking this bad boy open.”

“So…the beach?”Keene guessed.

“Wouldn’t they all be closed at this time of night?”I asked uneasily, hoping they weren’t planning on trespassing.

“All the public ones, yeah,” Alec answered.“But Ohrley just bought a private one so he could build a beach house for my sister.We could go there.”

Blinking at him in confusion, Xander asked, “And he won’t mind if we just…crash for a few hours on his property?”

Keene snorted.“Why the hell would he mind?”

No one had an answer for that, so Xander shrugged.“Okay, I’m convinced.”She tapped my arm.“Frankie?”

I looked to Keene, who lifted his eyebrows in question, totally letting me make the call.Again.Feeling the thrill of the adventure and from everyone looking to me for input, I answered, “I just have to be home by one.”

“Yes!”they cheered as if they approved of my verdict.

38

WAVERLY

Parker hadn’t just bought some tiny lot squished between dozens of neighbors.The rich boy had gone all out, getting a very nice, private strip all to himself.

Keene pulled right up to the sand and left his lights on with the music playing loud.As he and Alec attempted to start a fire in the fancy fire pit that had already been built, Xander took care of opening my bottle of moscato.

“Don’t worry about drinking straight from the bottle,” she said, handing it to me.“I predict you’re going to drain this baby before the night’s over.”

I had my doubts but didn’t argue.When I took a sip, it was fizzy on my tongue but pleasantly sweet with a twang that made me hiss and shake my head.

Grinning, Xander watched me closely as I drank.“Good, right?”

I nodded.“Yeah.”

Pleased, she wrapped her blanket more snuggly around her shoulders and reached for me.“Let’s go wade in the surf.”

Snorting, Keene called after us.“Have fun freezing your toes off.”

“We will,” she called back saucily before hooking her arm through mine and leading me out toward the gulf.

It was dark and breezy by the water, but the lap of gentle waves had a soothing draw that filled me with peace and contentment.I lifted my face to the inky wind and breathed it in deeply.

“So?”Xander asked very leadingly when we paused to shed our shoes.“You seem happy.Having a good Valentine’s Day with Keene?”

I glanced at her as I took a sip of the wine.“I don’t even know how to explain how tonight’s been,” I admitted openly.“It’s been the best night of my life.”

She chuckled, hiking up her pants.“I kind of had a suspicion from the glow on your face.”She took her first step into the water and gasped.“Holy shit!Oh, holy shit.That’s cold.”

I danced in quickly to get the shock over with but still sucked in a surprised breath as freezing wetness instantly hugged my feet.“Oh my God, why are we doing this again?”

Xander laughed as she kicked water at my legs.“Because it’s fun as fuck.”

“Bitch,” I warned, laughing as I splashed her back.

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