Page 57 of Those Summer Nights (Sweet Cravings 2)

“Earth to Mila.”

“What? Oh…I’m not sure. We never talked about it.”

“Well, fingers crossed he is. Although I love this new energetic version of you, the last time I saw you really smile was after one of your many hang out sessions with him.”

“That’s not true. See?” I plastered a huge smile on my face.

She laughed. “Stop. That’s a terrible grimace.”

“It is not.” I took a huge gulp of air. “Fine, it is, but it’s only because I have a cramp the size of Mount Helena.”

“Fine, let’s head back. We need the rest of the day to get ready.” She started running backward, which she swore worked out different muscles.

I didn’t need to work out different muscles. The ones I was focusing on were sore enough. “It’s 8 a.m. at the latest right now. And the party doesn’t start until five.”

“Exactly, we gotta hurry. Race you!” She turned around and started sprinting.

“But it’s a beach party! We’re supposed to dress casually!”

She started running faster.

Kill me now. Who knew volleyball players were like machines? “Wait up!”

***

I knew it was getting close to when Reggie was supposed to pick me up, but I still wasn’t dressed. Mostly I had been procrastinating by brooding over whether or not to tell him that Kristen would be coming too. But there were only a few minutes left before he’d arrive. It was too late. I’d just spring it on him. It would be fine.

I pulled on the lacy red tank top that Kristen had helped me pick out earlier. Now that it was time to actually leave the apartment, I wasn’t sure how I felt about how low-cut it was and how it showed off my stomach. It was a little…over the top in a bad, slutty way. And this date was supposed to be anything but sexy.

But…maybe J.J. would be there. And maybe, just maybe, this shirt would be his wake-up call. I quickly pulled on a pair of low-rise jean shorts over my bikini bottoms and slid into a pair of flip flops.

My makeup had been done over an hour ago, thanks to Kristen. Which was good because she had been hogging the bathroom ever since.

The knock on the door made my stomach drop. I really should have told him about Kristen in advance. “He’s here!” I called toward the closed bathroom door.

“I’ll be out in one sec!” she called back.

I walked over to the door and opened it very slowly. Like horror movie slowly because I was hoping Kristen would pop out and face the awkwardness with me. No such luck. "Hey," I said when the door was finally open.

"Hey, Mila." Reggie smiled at me. "You look amazing."

I could feel my face flushing because I had a feeling he was just saying that because my tits were everywhere. "Thanks. You clean up well yourself." And he did. He was wearing khaki shorts and a blue polo. His face was freshly shaved. He looked really handsome. If I wasn’t hung up on the unattainable J.J., today would have been so much fun. As soon as I thought it, I realized how unfair that was. Today could still be really great. Maybe Reggie was secretly the man of my dreams. Or at the very least, the man of Kristen’s dreams. She had dated the wrong lifeguard before…Reggie could be the right one.

"You ready to go?" he asked.

"Mhm. But Kristen will just be another minute. She’s almost ready though.” Smooth. Don’t introduce her at all, just pretend she was always part of the plan.

“Kristen?”

“Yeah, my roommate. I thought we could all head down together.”

“Oh, okay. That makes sense.”

Does it? Great!

“Hey, sorry it took me so long!” Kristen practically ran out of the bathroom. I had at least attempted to hide my bikini under clothes. Kristen, on the other hand, was embracing the fact that she had great boobs. She was wearing a push-up bikini and a teensy tiny sarong coverup around her waist. I felt immediately inadequate. But also great, because my outfit that I thought was slutty was apparently not.

“Hi, I’m Kristen,” she put her hand out for Reggie.

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