Page 81 of Bad Crush
“Because you guys went to all that effort to invite people over.” He waves her off. “I loved it. Really.”
Adam is the last one I expect to jump in and offer his support of the idea, but that’s exactly who speaks up first. “Yeah, okay. It’s the last weekend we’re going to have off until the end of the season. Sounds baller. I’m in.”
“You had me at private pool,” I say.
“You had me at drunk,” Heath adds, and Ginny elbows him.
“Kota?” Mav asks.
My roommate nods. “Yeah, fine, but I call shotgun, and I need to be back early Sunday afternoon to study for a test.”
We all look to Rhett.
“I don’t know,” he says when he realizes it’s down to him. “I need to check with Carrie.”
“Are you serious?” Adam asks.
“How would you feel if Reagan went on a road trip with three dudes?”
The vein that notoriously pops out on his forehead when Adam’s agitated starts to appear, but he nods.
“I already thought of this,” Maverick interjects. “And there’s enough rooms for us to all have our own when we get there.” He looks to Rhett. “I’m sorry our friends are hot, and they’re going to be in bikinis, but to be fair, that could happen here too.”
Rhett’s quiet. His leg bounces as he stares at the phone in his hand. “Okay. Fuck it. I’m in, but no giving me shit for calling her to check in every few hours.”
“No promises,” Heath says as he coughs into his hand.
23
Adam
We getto the rental house just after lunchtime. The place is nuts. The grounds are palatial! A phrase I never thought I’d use, but I saw it on the brochure when we walked in, and they really are. There are six bedrooms, a massive living room with a fireplace that takes up most of one wall, a huge kitchen inside, a bar outside by the pool, and covered patios—yes, plural. Everything in this place is ridiculously over the top.
Maverick is behind the outdoor bar playing bartender. Rhett and I sit in front of it, and the three of us watch Dakota and Reagan chicken fight with Heath and Ginny in the pool. Mav brought Charli, and she’s running around the yard investigating every inch.
“Five bucks says Reagan falls first,” Rhett says, tipping his drink toward them.
I jump to my girl’s defense. “No way. Reagan’s scrappy.”
“Guess we’re on.” He holds his beer out, and I clink mine against the side.
Mav hops onto the bar and sits, his legs dangling over the side. “Dakota won’t let her fall. Guarantee.”
Reagan’s blonde hair is slicked back, and she’s concentrating hard as she and Ginny both try to push the other over. They’re pretty evenly matched as far as size goes, but Heath’s height advantage over Dakota gives Ginny the upper hand.
Reagan’s looking unsteady as Ginny pushes hard. Dakota moves backward, and they readjust. This time when they come together, Reagan grabs Ginny’s hands and intertwines their fingers. Then, Dakota walks backward, and that pulls Ginny forward. She teeters and almost falls over Heath’s head, but he catches her in time.
Rhett chuckles. “This is quality entertainment.”
“Let’s go, Kota,” Mav yells.
Heath looks over to him. “What the hell, man? I thought we were friends.”
“He’s so sensitive,” Mav says quietly, then yells, “Sorry buddy, love you.”
Heath flips him off, and with one hand not protecting his partner, Reagan pushes my sister backward and off his shoulders.
Reagan raises her hands overhead and cheers as Ginny goes under. She shoots a grin over at me, and damn, she’s stunning. I’m totally gone for her.
