Page 22 of Along Came Summer

“It’s okay, Lex. I share some of the blame here too. I could have taken the time to read the bottle—maybe we might have avoided…” Wyatt's voice drifts off, and when I look up, he is staring at me, his eyes narrowed and a frown on his handsome face. “Peach? Is that a love bite on your neck?” His eyes flick to my neck.

At his words, Lexi whirls around to look at me, and her blue eyes widen in surprise.

“Oh my God. Itis!” she squeals excitedly.

Startled, my hand flies up to my neck. “What?” I ask while both my friends stare at me inquisitively.

“Oh,” Wyatt smirks, “Lex, would you look at that, it seems you’re not the only one turning fifty shades of red…”

Lex grins, “Mira Evans, you have ‘splanin to do.”

Uh-oh.

Busted.

“Are you crazy?!” Lexi shrieks, twisting her head to look at me while I smother natural yoghurt all over her sunburnt skin. “You don’t get finger fucked by Levi effing King and then bail when he invites you to his studio to spend the nightworshippingyour body! Wy, will you tell her?”

“Lex is right, Peach.” Wyatt voices while gingerly rubbing yoghurt over his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. “If you don’t go, fuck it, I’ll gladly take your place. Heaven knows I have an itch I just would love that beefcake to scratch.”

My cheeks are burning hotter the longer this conversation drags on. I’m freaking out, and I don’t know why. It wasn’t even thirty minutes ago I’d made up my mind, but now I’m second-guessing myself, wondering if I’ve made the right decision. “It’s stupid, I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s Levi, for crying out loud—he's Devin’s brother. Besides, I can’t just leave you two like this. Seriously, I think we should go to the hospital because this yogurt is cooking on your skin and turning into cheese—”

“No!” They both shout simultaneously.

“Nah uh, Mira, stop that; you’re not going to use Wyatt and me as your excuse to bail on seeing him tonight. We’ll be fine, and as your best bitches, we’re demanding that you get yourself all sexy and go let that unlawfully gorgeous man do ineffable things to you.” Lexi claims steadfastly, and when I look over at Wyatt I find him nodding in agreement.

“Sorry, Peach, but I’m with Lex on this one. Yes, Levi is Devin’s older brother, butDevinisn’t even a factor here. So, why are you wasting your time worrying about him when he didn’t offer you the same courtesy after he slept with you and then fled the country?” Well, he has a point there. I don’t owe Devin anything, but sleeping with both brothers? Am I reallythatgirl?

“You know who has never cut ties with you;Levi. You should have listened to me back then when I was telling you that boy was into you, but no, you didn’t want to hear it. You told me he was just being nice to you because you were friends with his brother, and I was reading too much into it, remember?” I chew my lip mutely and scoop up another dollop of yogurt from the serving bowl to rub into Lexi’s back. “Well, here we are again, and this time, the boy himself has made it abundantly clear that he wants you, so what are you even standing here contemplating right now?”

I finish putting the last bit of yogurt on Lexi's back and go to wash my hands in the ensuite bathroom. “I’m scepticalbecauseit’s Levi. We’ve been friends for a very long time. Our parents are best friends, so the probability of us running into each other again is high. I don’t want to do something that might later make things awkward for us. Not to mention, he lives on the other side of the world… literally.” I explain washing the yoghurt off and pumping some hand soap into my hands.

“Chica, who cares where he lives? Who’s to say you’ll ever even see him again after this trip?” I hear Lexi reply. “The point is, he’s herenow—in Thailand, of all places. The universe is practically screaming at you to jump his damn bones.”

I scoff, shaking my head as I press two pumps of soap into my hands and lather it up. “Right, because the universe has nothing better to do than obsess over my sex life, Lex,” I mumble sardonically, drying my hands as I walk back into the bedroom and stop to take in the ridiculous appearance of my best friends covered in yogurt. “I honestly can’t take you both seriously right now.” I chuckle.

Wyatt moves away from the dresser and approaches me, placing his hands on my shoulders, lowering his eyes to meet mine as he asks, “Be real with me, Peach; have you enjoyed your time with Levi over the last couple of days?” I nod in response, and he continues, “Then forget all the other stuff. I can’t remember the last time I've seen that glimmer in your eye.” He brushes away a strand of hair from my face, smiling handsomely—well, as handsome as one could possibly look covered in dried yogurt.

“Levi isn't Scott or Devin. He's a good guy who’s always cared a great deal about you, and judging by the look in your eyes and the hickey on your neck, you clearly like him, too. So, stop hesitating and just go have fun. Set the limits yourself, and remember that this doesn't have to be anything more than a holiday romance between two old friends. But if you don't want to go out, then we can stay here; we'll order everything off the room service menu and get off our faces drunk.” As I contemplate my options while Wyatt watches me expectantly, I recall the excitement I felt fluttering around in my stomach at the prospect of spending the evening with Levi.

“Come on Mira, you know you want to go.” Lexi sings, grinning toothily. “The boy has gotten ten times hotter since the last time we saw him. Hell, if I didn’t have a boyfriend, I would have gladly gone in your place but I'm not the one he’s got his eye on.” She says with a lust-filled sigh and lifts her gaze heavenward. “Yeesh, I’m just picturing all the filthy things that gorgeous man can do with his tongue.”

Ugh, that makes two of us. I can feel my vagina practically slavering in suspense.

Groaning inwardly, I discreetly press my thighs together when I’m suddenly rushed with the memory of those long fingers dexterously stroking me to a slow yet intense orgasm.

“Okay,” I nod, unable to fight off the urge to smile while my two best friends watch me concede. “You’re right, I should go... I’m going to go. Fuck it. It's like you said, it doesn’t have to mean anything, and we may never even see each other again, right?”

Lexi lets out a shrill squeal, presses her hands to her lips and bounces animatedly up and down on my bed. “Right! Shove it in your fuck-it bucket, grab that hunk of beefcake by the man bun and ride his gorgeous face until you see God, Chica.”

I roll my eyes in amusement before glancing at my watch. “Oh crap, it's almost seven o'clock, and Levi said he wants me standing at his door by 7:59! I haven't even showered or had anything to eat yet!” Wy and Lex exchange a knowing look, their eyes twinkling.

“Oh, he’s very keen,” Wyatt chortles as he takes hold of my shoulders and guides me towards the shower in the ensuite. “Lucky for you, you have your fabulous fairy godmothers here to assist. You get yourself into the shower and don’t worry about a thing, Peach. We’ve got you.”

“And don’t forget to shave your coochie! Not everyone likes a vajungle!” I hear Lexi shout with a giggle as the door is pulled shut behind me.

“Lex, for goodness sake we got our coochies waxed together before we came out here, and you, of all people, know I can’t stand body hair.”

“Yeah, yeah, we know you like to be plucked like a chicken. Now get your kookie bum in that shower and get yourself fresh and clean, so Levi can make you nice and dirty.”

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