Page 82 of No Way Home
“Regret what?” Nova asked.
“Nothing,” I mumbled, just quietly dying inside while my cousin intercepted the girl I’d mentally picked out china patterns with.
Liam tipped his head toward the water, and Magnolia’s eyes turned bright. She nodded and peeled off her shirt and shorts, stepping into the sunlight to reveal amicroscopicblack bikini.
I felt my testosterone begin to weep.
“Holy…” Theo started. He took his glasses off and quickly cleaned them on his shirt before putting them back on. “Did she get even hotter in the last two years?”
“It’s the power of the bikini,” Charlie said with a wistful sigh. Charlie never wore bikinis anymore.
“That navel piercing isn’t hurting anything,” Cash said in a purely respectful way.
I gulped. Because he was right. That piercing—which hadbeen my idea in the first freaking place—was mocking me likeCongrats, jackass, you played yourself.
Always ten seconds behind, Nova finally realized who we were talking about. She scoffed like she was personally affronted that anyone would dare look as good as her in a two-piece. “What’sshedoing here?”
“I invited her,” Charlie said proudly.
When Liam and Magnolia walked past—like I was invisible, I might add—and grabbed asinglepaddleboard, I felt the hit straight to my chest. As I watched them launch into the water, laughing and holding onto each other, trying to stay upright, my entire body clenched, remembering exactly how good it felt to have her in my arms.
“Is paddleboarding in your contract?” Theo hollered.
Liam didn’t even look his way. Just flipped him the bird and kept paddling.
Charlie cleared her throat, and I realized I’d been staring at Magnolia, trapped between Liam’s arms. Charlie’s mouth tugged up in a self-satisfied smirk, as if my reaction told her everything she needed to know.
“This is good,” I said, trying to cover. “Liam and Magnolia would make a great couple. Happy for them,ifthis works out.” The if might’ve been a tad mocking.
“Maggie,” Charlie corrected smugly, as if my using her full name was proof enough that I was not okay with this.
“Whatever you say, bro.” Cash shook his head like I was pathetic. “I’m getting in the water. I need to cool off from all the hot air.”
“Same,” Theo said. “You coming, Nova?”
“I’m going to stay with Bowen,” she chirped, obliviously.
“No. I have…an ear infection, and can’t get my head wet,” I lied. “You go ahead.”
“Suit yourself.” She trailed her pointer finger down my arm, eyes flirty. “We’ll talk later.”
No, we definitely would not.
Charliestood next to me as we watched them walk to the lake. But really, I was only watching Magnolia and Liam.
Charlie linked her arm through mine. “You know, whether it’s Liam or someone else, Maggie is going to get a happily ever after. Why not let it be with you?” she asked, as if it were that easy. Then she skipped away.
It was anything but easy. We were Duprees. We didn’t ride off into the sunset with the girl we cheated with, especially if she was our brother’s girlfriend.
I strode back up the hill toward Uncle Ford and Aunt Peyton’s house, muttering swear words as I went. Silas, Holden, Ashton, and Blue huddled in a circle, talking football as I passed by. Specifically, they were discussing Liam’s stats and whether they thought the Fury had a chance at the playoffs. Normally, I would’ve joined in. But I had to get out of there before I did something I’d regret. Like shove Liam’s stupid face into the water and steal Magnolia away in front of everyone.
I checked Fletcher’s location and pinched the bridge of my nose.
Why are you at freaking Walmart in Honeyville?
Fletcher
I can’t show up without a gift! My mom would kill me!
