Page 33 of Your Two Lips
“I’m going to make a fool of myself. All my boating experiences have been on boats with giant motors.” Plus, I wasn’t sure I could be this close to Finn without a bike between us to keep me from rubbing up against him. Lately, his hypnotic blue eyes were like tractor beams pulling me exactly where I wanted to go.
“It’ll be okay. Breathe.” ReeAnn smiled in her annoyingly calm and supportive way. “Jake calls instructions loud and clear, and we all help each other.”
“He gives instructions, huh? While flexing all those tatted muscles. Now I see why you like this so much.” ReeAnn gave me a nudge, but the truth was in her eyes as she visibly swallowed. She had it so bad. They both did, and I wondered how long it would take for her to let him back in.
I wondered if I would be the same. If Finn rejected me and my post-race seduction plan, I hoped I could still be around him. He was big and sexy, but he was also a good friend. I loved mountain biking with Finn like ReeAnn loved sailing with Jake. If I couldn’t have more, at least I’d have that.
Laughing, we approached the top of the gangway and met a group heading in our direction. The guys were all carbon copies, expensive haircuts, and various fifty-dollar T-shirts. Women in bikini tops and booty shorts were intermingled. One clone stood out as heat vibrated in my veins.
“Emily, hey.” Joel lowered his voice, and his beer-soaked breath blew against my face as his gaze crawled over my body, taking in my thin sweater and cargo pants. “You look great. What are you doing here?”
“I live here,” I gritted out as I straightened my shoulders. The opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s indifference. I wasn’t there yet. “Why are you here?” I didn’t even feign politeness.
“A little pre-wedding cruise for a friend from San José.” Joel gave a wave and head nod to someone moving past us with a bikini-babe suctioned to him. There was a girl or two for each guy, and I doubted the bride was one of them.
I ignored him. I didn’t care to acknowledge any of Joel’s tech-bro friends. My father had stories about the culture of misogyny and discrimination against women that permeated the tech industry. Joel, his father, and this crowd were walking examples of that entitlement.
I had money, but I tried to stay mindful of my privilege. Entitlement was an emotional trigger for me.
Joel leaned in without a glance at ReeAnn. “I hear you’re feeling better.” His eyes dropped to my mouth. I tried not to visibly recoil.He heard. My surgery wasn’t long after I moved out of the apartment I shared with Joel. I received cards and flowers from a few well-wishers who knew about it. Neither Joel nor his family ever sent a thing.
ReeAnn touched my arm as she moved past us on the gangway, giving us privacy. Her eyes telegraphed that look between women that says, “I see you and I've got your back.”
“We’re staying in the harbor tonight.” He nodded toward a large yacht moored below. “Having a little private party after dinner.” His eyes were sultry and highlighted the slimy smile. “Why don’t you join us? We can … catch up.” He skimmed a finger down my arm.
What. The. F? “Ah, no.” I pulled away from his touch, sparking a gleam in his eye. If he thought I was playing hard to get, he was drunk or high, or both. Was he always like this? I stepped aside to head toward ReeAnn at the bottom of the ramp.
Joel caught my wrist in a firm grip and turned to face me. “Em, I’ve missed you. Aren’t you curious how it would be between us, how good it could have been if …?”
If I hadn’t been sick? Or maybe if I hadn’t made a big deal about him cheating on me? Not curious. Not even a little.
I rolled my lips together to keep from screaming. “Go back to your friends, Joel. I’ve moved on.” I jerked my wrist from his grip.
He focused on my mouth, his face turning predatory. “Moved on? I don’t believe it, not you, so loyal.” He said it like an insult as he stepped closer. “I’ve thought about you, what we did together. Come on, one night.”
Disgust chilled my blood. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Finn and Jake approaching with serious expressions on their faces and serious tattoos peeking out from their sleeves. My breath caught with a sharp inhale. So much solid muscle with eyes trained on me, or rather, Joel.
He shifted to see who I was looking at. “Hey, guys, the boat’s in slip nine. You can grab the trash and restock the bar.”
Jake’s grin was dangerous, and a fire burned in Finn’s eyes as he slowed, taking us in.
“Are you okay, Emily?” Finn stepped closer, Joel’s eyes sharpening in surprise.
“I’m fine. Joel was just leaving,” I bit out through clenched teeth.
Joel’s lip curved in a knowing smile, and my stomach roiled. How did I ever love him? “She’s fine. We’re old friends, catching up.”
He didn’t know me. I wasn’t that girl anymore.
“No, Joel. We’re nothing.” I turned to Finn. So good and solid and sexy. Pleading with my eyes on his, I leaned in. “Hi, babe,” I said and wrapped my arms around his neck while pressing my lips to his.
22
FINN
Jakeand I had parked the truck and headed to the marina. We could see ReeAnn and Emily near the distant gangway. A man had his hand on Emily’s wrist. Jake caught my eye, and we approached with more purpose. Emily’s face was a storm as I heard her say his name. The shitbag touching her was Joel. At that moment, I knew two things. This guy hurt her, and I wanted to break off that hand.
She said she was fine, but she didn’t look fine.
