Page 15 of Ruse
Barely ten o’clock in the morning and the sun's rays are already shining brightly and warming the crisp summer air. It’s enchanting, gazing out into the turquoise ocean waves, watching seagulls perched along the sand, soaring into the clear blue, cloudless skies, and the smell. God, the smell is exhilarating, a salty scent so strong you can taste it on the tip of your tongue.
I hear high-pitched laughter echoing in the distance and spot Donovan and Olly walking along the sandy path down below. My two best friends are coming over to spend the first weekend since we returned to school, swimming in my expansive saltwater infinity pool.
Yes, the sea may be my front yard, but there are days I prefer to lie out and soak in the rays hidden away in the privacy of my secret oasis.
Though it’s no longer as sacred as I’d like.
I let my hair down to fall in long beach waves along my shoulders and slip on a pair of black flip-flops. The teal triangle bikini I’ve chosen today not only matches the exact color of my eyes, but emphasizes my natural sun-kissed tan, giving me an extra glow. The small triangles of fabric allow for the perfect tan and barely visible tan lines.
Walking down the steps that lead out into the adjacent beach, I find Donovan and Olly waving excitedly as they approach me. Donovan’s wearing a pair of denim cut-off shorts and a coral triangle bikini top, her blond hair matching the golden color of the sun in the sky, and even from this far I can see the almost crystal-clear color of her eyes. Beside her, Olly skips excitedly in nothing but a pair of lime green Hawaii themed board shorts.
With a wide smile on my face, I head over to join them, continuing to stare out into the expansive waters up ahead. “With a view like this, why wouldn’t travelers come from all over the world to our little nook of paradise?”
Donovan sighs in agreement, her gaze following where mine goes. “Yes, our perfect paradise.”
“Lucky for the two of you who live out here among the fishes,” Olly jokes, turning to admire our beachfront million-dollar mansions. The Kennedy’s, Donovan’s family, have lived next door to me since before we were even born. David Kennedy, Dee’s dad, has been best friends with my father since they were kids, and our grandfathers first purchased the adjacent properties.
It only made sense growing up that we also became best friends.
Oliver, however, lives further in town in a swanky six-bedroom house with his two dads. He may not be dipping his toes in the sand when he steps off his front porch, but that doesn't mean his mega mansion is any less impressive.
The two of them follow me through the gate and onto the deck, setting their stuff down on the lounge chairs lined up by the edge of the pool. Our newly renovated backyard deck, thanks to my new step-mommy, is complete with a fully stocked outdoor kitchen, two daybeds at the far end of the pool, and a large outdoor fire pit and furniture set all surrounding the sixteen by twenty-four-foot pool cascading out onto the beach.
This outdoor living space is the only thing keeping me sane.
As expected, my father has been absent since shortly after school started, when he and Daphne left for their honeymoon, leaving me with my annoying brother and irritating new house guest. Luckily, I’ve also avoided him at home, and have only had a few encounters at school, however, he’s still been a pain in my ass.
But what is most irritating is the fact that I haven't been able to get him, or those text messages he sent, or the altercation we had in the parking lot out of my mind. Ugh, why did he have to be so infuriatingly hot?
Dee removes her shorts and lies back on the lounge chair, ready to soak up the rays of the now blindingly scorching sun. “Don’t forget we have the bonfire tonight,” she says, covering her face with the sunhat she’s pulled out of her tote. “It’s the first of many, but the most important one of our senior year.”
Oh yes, the beloved bonfire. How could I forget?
Every summer, we spend a minimum of six hundred hours out on the beach, either at one of the many oceanfront tourist festivals or nightly bonfires. That doesn’t stop once school starts and the long, hot summer nights cool down.
“I heard Cole Sheppard supposedly ordered over fifty kegs for tonight,” Olly states, and I’m instantly reminded of my encounter with Cole at Cliffside. I’ve avoided him at school, not wanting him to ask why I was running out of there. Not that he would. He’s probably more embarrassed I saw him there than anything.
“Ugh, my head is already pounding from how badly I know I’ll be hungover tomorrow,” Dee scoffs, making an overly dramatic gagging sound.
Olly erupts in a fit of laughter, “You mean that’s what you’ll sound like when you’re choking on Brooklyn’s dick tonight?”
Dee is quick to chuck her bottle of tanning oil, barely missing Olly’s head. “You son of a bitch,” she cries out, only making Olly laugh harder.
I roll my eyes at the two of them and make a gagging gesture. “Eww, can you please never again mention anything about my brother’s dick, Oliver? Especially not my best friend doing anything with or to it.”
Now it’s Olly who chucks the bottle at me, “Oh lighten up P. It’s not like we don’t already know Dee would give up her left kidney for it.” I’m just about to throw the bottle back his way when suddenly a brand new, shiny, black Aston Martin convertible pulls up right outside the wrought-iron gates of my property. “Wow, that’s a hell of a car,” Olly yells out, straightening up on his lounge chair.
Donavan joins him, fanning herself with the gossip magazine in her hand. “And that’s a hell of a man,” she coos. She brings the mimosa I had laid out for her to her lips, taking a swift drink just as Maverick steps out of the car dressed in all black, donning a pair of dark Aviator sunglasses. I swallow back hard, nearly choking on my saliva.
Olly licks his lips as if savoring something delicious, “Now that’s a dick I’d like to talk about.”
“I wonder what he’s doing here?” Donovan asks, far too curious.
“Gee Dee, I don’t know, maybe because he obviously lives here,” Olly scoffs, proceeding to take a sip of his equally fruity cocktail.
I once again roll my eyes at their banter just as my stepbrother emerges from his car.
My palms start to sweat, and my mouth goes incredibly dry. Maverick is unfairly gorgeous, and surely melting panties away everywhere he goes. It’s just a natural reaction to be feeling this hot and flustered in his presence. That’s the lie I must make myself believe.
