Page 3 of Tan Lines & Trouble
“I see my reputation proceeds me.” I pat my boardshort covered thigh. “Why don’t you have a seat and?—”
“You’re joking,” she says. “Please, God, tell me you’re joking.”
“About a pretty little thing like you climbing onto my lap? Yeah, no. Definitely not joking.”
“Wow.” She huffs out breath. “Just…wow.”
“Cat’s got your tongue?” I ask, amping up the charm with my best bikini-bottom-dropping smile.
“Nope. I’m just…wow.”
“Yeah, babe, you’ve said that three times.” I can tell she’s annoyed with me and absolutely not picking up what I’m putting down. But I’m committed at this point—and I kind of want to see how far I can push her.
She shakes her head and drops her eyes to the floor for a minute before looking back to me. “You don’t have a clue of who I am, do you?”
Brooks and Anton are both dancing with some random girl sandwiched between the two of them as they try to act like they’re not paying attention to what’s happening with us over here; but I know they’re both tuned in and loving every minute of this.
“Should I?” I drag my eyes over again, taking in all the details up close and personal. That is, until my gaze snags on a little cluster of freckles in the shape of a star just beneath her collarbone. I know those fucking freckles. Why do I know those—holy shit Dots Davis is…well…she grew up.
“No. I guess not.” She slides her hands into her back pockets and rocks back on her heels. “It’s just that…we used to be neighbors and…”
“And what babe? You want an autograph or something?” I know I’m being a Grade-A dick, but seeing her has me off kilter, but damn if I’m going to show it.
“Wow.”
“Mmm.” I lift my drink to her in a mock-toast. “There’s that word again.”
Behind the lens of her glasses, her big, expressive brown eyes show every ounce of frustration, fear, and sadness she’s feeling because of my behavior.
I know it makes me a jackass, but I can’t seem to stop.
“You know what? You’re not…just forget it.”
She turns and my eyes drop to her plump ass. Seriously, where did these curves come from, because my Dots was as flatas a pancake. As she stalks back the way she came, something tells me I won’t be forgetting her anytime soon—not that I ever did to start with.
THREE
Thea
“Iswear to God, he’s the most pig-headed, narcissistic asshole who ever lived!”
“Uh-huh,” Blue murmurs, not even bothering to look up from her tablet. “Tell me more about how much you hate Dane. It’s not like you’ve been ranting about him for the last two days. Please, I’d love to hear more.”
We meet up at the library every Tuesday to study. Blue’s majoring in graphic design whereas I want to be a surf photographer, so it’s a journalism degree for me. However, we do have some overlap in our courses.
“I know, I know. I sound like a broken record at this point. But how do you just…forget…someone you spent nearly every day with for almost nine years? It’s not like I’ve changed that much.”
Now Blue looks up. “You’re joking right?” I quirk a brow; she shakes her head before continuing. “You literally glowed up. In eighth grade, you looked like a boy and now…you’re…” She waves her hands in the air, making the shape of an hourglass. “All curves and lip gloss and sex appeal.”
I snort out a loud laugh at her description of me, earning me looks of ire from nearby tables. Sure, I grew some D-cups and an ass and learned how to use a flatiron and apply makeup, but I’m still…me.
“Not recognizing me aside, who asks random women to sit on their lap? He-he’s a dog!”
“But you love puppies.” Blue grins, her eyes already back on her screen.
“Yeah, the kind with fur, not STD’s.”
“Judge much?” she asks, her soft tone not matching her hard words.
