Page 29 of Hearts at Seaside
“You’re going,” Amy and Bella said in unison.
“Maybe this is all a coincidence,” Bella said with a softer tone. “Maybe Pete stormed out of the library because he forgot something.”
“Oh, that makes me feel better. So he’s not interested. I just imagined the whole, erotic, sensual whisper in my ear that made me practically unravel right on the spot. That must be it. I’m delirious.” Jenna covered her face with her hands and groaned.
“Okay, okay. This is fixable. First, change out of the yellow,” Bella directed. “If Pete’s on the boat, you want him to want you, and everyone knows the yellow one is not your fave suit. Even Pete. So wear something that says,I’m psyched to be here!”
“You’re insane,” Jenna snapped.
“You know I’m right. What do you think every time Amy wears her hair in one of those awful headbands pulled back like a twelve-year-old?” Bella arched a brow.
“Hey…” Amy wrinkled her brow.
“A very sexy, cute, beautiful twelve-year-old,” Jenna said to Amy. “Who doesn’t want to do whatever we’re doing that day.”
Amy rolled her eyes.
“Exactly. Now go change.” Bella pushed her to her feet.
“What about poor Charlie?” Amy asked.
“That’s the part I’m not sure about. If Jenna won’t break up with him beforehand, then I don’t think there’s any way around this. She’ll have to just pretend everything is normal.” Bella paced.
“Oh, Pete will love that!” Jenna called from the bedroom.
“She’s right. Holding a guy’s hand isn’t exactly a turn-on to another guy. Besides, it’s mean to use Charlie like that.” Amy crossed her arms and tapped her cheek with her index finger. “I’ve got it. You should tell Pete. Call him and say something like,Hey, just wanted you to know that Charlie’s definitely coming today, but I wish he wasn’t.”
“Then Pete won’t show up. She just needs to be herself and let whatever happens, happen. We’ll be there to save her from anything too traumatic.” Bella gasped as Jenna came out of the bedroom in her jade bikini. “Holy moly.I’ddo you in that bathing suit.”
Jenna pulled her shoulders back, put her hands on her hips, and turned sideways. “Good, right?”
“Barbie-doll good,” Amy said. “You make me look like an ironing board.”
“I think you have a great figure, Amy. These babies are not all that fun.” Jenna lifted her boobs. “There’s always a question in the back of my mind if a guy likes me for me or for my tatas.”
Bella rolled her eyes. “Both, of course. Theyaremen. Come on. We have to leave or we’ll all miss the boat.”
DANE BRADEN’S FISHING boat moved swiftly through the ocean. They’d been on the water for more than an hour, and Pete regretted being there for most of that time. The first few minutes were cool, when Dane explained to Evan that the chair secured to the deck of the boat was called a fighting chair, used when reeling in a big fish or a shark. He explained how he strapped himself into it when they had a shark on the line, giving them better control and more power. Constructed of wood and metal, with a foot plate that allowed for more stability, the chair rotated with the movement of the fish. Since they weren’t going to fish for sharks today, Evan was perched in the chair, soaking up the sun in a pair of dark sunglasses and listening to his iPod.
Pete shifted his eyes around the boat. Lacy, Leanna, Bella, Amy, and Jenna were sunning themselves on the front deck of the boat in their bikinis. Jenna’s hair whipped around her face. She looked beautiful with the sun beaming down on her flawless skin. Their laughter carried in the wind, and Pete got lost in the sound of Jenna’s joy. He debated joining them just to be near her, but thoughts of last night with his father held him back. When Charlie joined them and sat down beside Jenna, Pete turned his attention to Kurt, Caden, and Dane, hanging out by the helm. He glanced back at Jenna a minute later, trying to convince himself that he was lucky for their friendship and he should leave it at that. She had Charlie, and he had his father to contend with.
But he still wanted much, much more.
“Who’s ready to chum the water?” Dane called to the women and Evan.
“I’ll do it!” Evan climbed down from the chair.
“Lace?” Dane waved her over. He was Pete’s height, with a body sculpted by years of deep-sea diving. Lacy smiled as she came to his side and caressed his shoulder. Dane’s powerful physique dwarfed her feminine frame.
The others joined them, and when Charlie draped an arm over Jenna’s shoulder, Pete felt a spear of jealousy. Ever since his conversation with Matt, he’d been dwelling on what he’d said.You’ve got to have a life, too, and taking care of Pop is no life.He was so torn over the whole situation. He wanted Jenna—in every way, not just as a friend, and even though the thought brought enough guilt to drown him, he was pissed over his father’s drinking and how it was standing in his way.
Dane whispered something in Lacy’s ear, and she reached for his hand.
“I’m okay,” she said quietly before turning to the others and explaining. “I get a little quivery around sharks, but I can always go belowdecks if I get nervous.”
Dane squeezed her hand.
Bella went to Caden’s side. “I was asking Caden this morning what I should do if I get nervous. Now I know.”
