Page 120 of New Growth
They made sense together.
As Elliot’s friend, I should be pushing him toward someone who was interested in him. I should be okay with him dating someone else. Except I wasn’t okay with it.
And if I wasn’t okay with it, then I needed to admit to myself at least that I had feelings for El.
“No, I’m good. I can fix it.” I exhaled sharply, shutting my book.
Esther glanced over. “How?”
“I just need to clear my head.”
She raised a brow. “…And you’re gonna do that by?”
I stood, stripping off my cover-up to reveal my bikini. The second the fabric hit the deck, I felt the shift in the air.
El noticed immediately.
Esther whistled at the sight of me, “Okay, Houston hottie. Look at that big ole’ country ass.”
She slapped one of my butt cheeks, and I swatted her hand away playfully.
“Go get ‘em, girl!” She called out after me as I made my way to the shore.
I hadn’t even made it down the steps before El was jogging toward me, his game forgotten.
“El!” Hope called after him. “What about the game?”
Without looking back, he said, “Go on without me.”
Hope huffed, crossing her arms. “What the hell…”
I smirked to myself as I stepped into the water, the cool waves washing over my feet. I didn’t have to look to know El was following.
“Running away from me again?” he asked, voice low.
I kept my back to him, wading in deeper. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He snorted. “You always do this.”
“Do what?” I sang, acting oblivious.
“Play like nothing is bothering you.”
I turned, letting the water lap at my waist as I faced him. “Nothing is bothering me.”
He studied me for a long moment. “Liar.”
I held his gaze, something tense hanging between us. The words I wasn’t ready to say. The apology I wasn’t ready to offer, but he was ready to receive. It wasn’t fair how well he knew me. He knew I was dying to talk about that night; I was dying to clear the air between us. But unfortunately for him, I was still in the mood for mischievousness.
So, instead, I flicked water at him.
El grinned, stepping forward. “Oh, so that’s how it is?”
I flicked more water. “That’s how it is.”
Before I could react, he lunged, scooping me up and tossing me into the waves. I barely had time to suck in a breath before I went under, the saltwater stinging my eyes.
I came up gasping, wiping my face. “You got my hair wet!”
