Page 47 of Muse (Fighting Fate)

That’s what happens when you grow up with a twin brother. You’re coerced into playing things like football and cars and other boyish things every day. I had to learn quick just so I could keep up with him.

I’d hardly even comprehended that I’d caught the ball when I was suddenly being bombarded by a group of competitive guys. Again, I acted on instinct and tucked the ball against my chest and turned to take the hit with my back.

Arms went around me, and I prepared myself to go under, but they surprised me by holding me up instead.

“Do you want me to throw it, or do you want to throw it yourself?”

I looked up to see Corey grinning down at me. Without saying a word, I handed the ball over. He turned and threw it hard, sending it sailing high into the air, but he didn’t move away from me. Instead, he simply turned back so we were standing face to face with only a few inches between us.

Oh boy. Too close.

“That was a great catch by the way,” he said silkily.

“Ah, thanks. Aiden would disown me if I couldn’t catch and throw properly.”

He laughed, inching slightly closer, if that was even possible. I tried to counteract it by moving back a bit.

“Get the fuck away from my sister, douche bag,” Aiden yelled from a few yards away.

Corey grinned wider and quirked his brow at me. “Is he your personal bodyguard, or can I tell him to go away?”

“Ah…” I looked up and saw Aiden glaring at us, then my gaze went out to find Jace. It wasn’t hard to find him. The livid expression on his face stood out a bit. “Yeah, I guess he is…”

Corey looked a little disappointed, but he seemed to take the hint. He stepped back and put some distance between us. “You should come join the game,” he said before turning and heading back to join the others.

r /> I spun to see where Kaeli was and found her staring after Corey. “Holy shit. What the hell was that?”

I had no idea. Gossip around the school was that he and his girlfriend had broken up after he’d caught her kissing one of the football guys at a party. Last I heard she was desperate to get him back, but he wanted nothing to do with her, which was fair enough. I wouldn’t go back either.

I shook my head, feeling quite disorientated. “I have no idea, but I think I should get out.”

She nodded and we started heading for shore. When we got back to our spot, we spread our towels out and dried off in the sun. Away from everyone. It was absolutely beautiful.

Kaeli and I chatted while I snuck as many peeks as I could manage at Jace. Not long after the guys had all gotten out of the water, my phone dinged with a text message. When I saw it was from Jace, I smiled.

You have no idea how sexy you look right now. I want you in those bikinis tonight. I’ll be there at 9. Leave your balcony door unlocked.

“Jace?” Kaeli asked.

I nodded, still smiling.

“Don’t tell me. He’s saying you look hot right now, isn’t he?”

I laughed at how right she was. “Maybe.”

She giggled softly. “Are you seeing him tonight?”

“Mmm hmm…”

She kicked sand on my foot with mock anger. “You’re so lucky.”

Chapter 24

Jace

I silently moved around the back of the house and saw the soft light of Mia’s lamp illuminating her window through the crack in the curtains. Carefully, I slid her patio door open and slipped inside.

I paused when I peered over at the bed. Mia was lying on her stomach with an e-reader resting in her hands, looking up at me. I couldn’t stop the smile from coming as I took in those baby blue bikinis. I wasn’t sure if she’d taken my text seriously or not, but I was fucking happy she did.

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