Page 63 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 2

I tighten my sweater around me. The bonfire surrounded by red Adirondack chairs nestled in the sand is a welcoming sight to behold. Next to me, Marlow holds two bottles of champagne.

“I brought reinforcements,” she says, her sleek black suit and sweeper sweater hanging open.

Jackson holds up two bottles of bourbon. “So did I.”

“Great minds.” She smiles at Jackson as she sits next to him.

After tossing another log on the fire, Rad finds me. His smile is set just like his gaze. “Where’s your suit?”

“In Manhattan.” I shrug. “I knew I forgot something.”

Marlow pops the champagne. “I offered her one of mine, but she refused.”

“There was no way in Hades I was going to wear that . . .body floss. Nope, no way. I didn’t want to scare the sharks.”

Rad furrows his brow, giving me a look like I’m crazy. Before I can read too much into it, Marlow shoves a red cup of champagne in my hand, and says, “Maybe you’ll change your mind if we get you drunk, and you can show off that great body of yours.”

“It will take more than a cup of champagne to get me naked.”

“Shots?” Jackson asks, already filling a line of cups.

“I’m good,” I reply, holding up my cup.

He hands Rad and Marlow a glass. “Here’s to spending time with my best friends on a Friday night,” Jackson says, holding his shot in the air. Liquid sloshes out the side. “Time with you is almost as good as a random swipe right.”

“That’s disgusting,” Marlow says right before downing hers.

Settling into the chairs, we sit around the fire, Rad plopping down next to me. The heat of the flames licks the air as we revel in tales of the past. Drinks are poured. And refilled. And topped off again. Laughs are shared and, in the case of Rad and me, too many glances and brushes of our hands when we reach to warm them by the fire are exchanged to be written off as accidental.

Heat builds between us. I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol that’s making me think he’s watching me with an intensity that’s usually reserved for work, or if it’s really happening.

Before I can make sense of it, Cade picks up a squealing Cammie and heads for the water.

Jackson pulls off his shirt and peers down at Marlow. “I’m going in. Wanna come?”

“God no,” she replies, waving him away. “It’s freezing.”

“Then why’d you wear your suit?”

“Because I look damn good in it.”

He laughs. “It will look better wet.”

She cocks an eyebrow. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t, Jackson.” But she starts laughing, kicking up sand with her feet. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” He shrugs.

Pointing at his face, she says, “Like that.”

“How about a five-second head start?”

“What? No.” She glances at me. “Save me, Tealey.”

“Don’t look at me. This is between the two of you.”

She pleads, “Rad?”

“Nope,” he says, hands in surrender. “But if I were you, I’d start running.”

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