Page 117 of Redemption
That grin grows wider. “You should know by now when you tell me not to do something. It just makes me want to do it more.”
Bending down, he scoops me up in his arms and starts walking to the water.
“No, Hayes. Don’t you dare,” I scream.
But Hayes ignores me and keeps on walking. When the water is up to his hips, he dunks down, taking me with him.
The water is cold against my heated skin, and Hayes plunges back up. I splutter, smacking at his bare chest.
“I hate you.”
His chuckle reverberates through his chest. Leaning forward so his lips are against my ear, he whispers, “Don’t lie. You love me, and I love you.”
Even the cool water can’t stop me from feeling the heat of those words.
“Come on, you guys,” Langston yells, interrupting the moment.
Hayes’s arms drop from around me, leaving those earlier worries flooding back into my stomach.
I hate this.
I hate not being able to love him out loud. I’m so tired of protecting Langston at the cost of my own life. It’s starting to feel like another box—only this one is different from the one myparents try to force me into. This one is unintentional, but it is a box all the same.
With the moment broken, we swim toward the other side of the pool, where Langston is waiting against the rocks. He’s relaxed—happy.
There are a few boys beside him, ones I have never met before. The guy to his left is staring at me, and I swim closer to Hayes, my feet skimming the bottom as we get closer to the edge.
The guy beside Langston smiles and gives me a wink like he knows I’m trying to run from him, and he thinks it’s a game.
I offer him a tight smile but nothing else.
“Thanks for joining us, MJ.” Langston smiles.
Rolling my eyes, I splash water towards Hayes. “It’s not like I had a choice.”
“You’ll survive,” Hayes deadpans.
Shrugging, I turn back to Langston. The guy beside him has moved, making his way closer to me. I keep my focus on my brother, though.
“We should play a game,” the guy says, dragging my attention to him.
“What kind of game?” I asked warily.
“There’s a football in my bag. We can play in the water. You can be on my team.” He says suggestively, and it makes me want to smack him.
I open my mouth to claim Hayes for my team, but Langston beats me to it.“You’re on. Hayes, you’re on my team.”
Stupid sport. There’s no escaping it.
“I don’t know, man. Maybe we should relax before tomorrow.”
Langston’s gaze shutters, leaving his face blank. “We’ve got all the time in the world to think about tomorrow and what comes after. Let’s have fun today.”
Hayes’s eyes jump to mine, and I shrug. At least Langston is not trying to party today. I can handle the pickup game of football if he can.
“Okay,” Hayes agrees reluctantly.
“Great,” the guy says, “I’m Aiden, by the way. Those are my friends, Hunter and Austin.”
