Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 100612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Phoebe lets out an excited squeal, clinging to her brother’s back as they both inch closer to the tiled edge. Closer to me.
“You’re not safe there, Harper.” Easton wears a wolflike grin.
I scream when he lunges forward at the shallow end of the pool, one arm outstretched like he’s going to grab me. I’m laughing so hard I can’t get out of his reach fast enough.
“Get her, Easton!” Phoebe cheers from the water, loving every second of this. “Get her!”
Traitor!
I dance around the patio chairs to put some distance between us.
But it’s no use.
Easton’s faster. Bigger. Stronger, and he knows it.
He has me cornered, my back to the pool—and with one quick move, he grabs my wrist and pulls me toward the edge.
“No! No! Easton, stop!” I shout in protest, laughing as my bare feet lose purchase on the wet concrete.
“I gave you a chance,” he says, his voice low and gravelly. “You could’ve just come in willingly.”
“Easton Westermann, you put me down!”
He has me by the waist.
“You’re gonna regret this!” I threaten.
“I don’t think so, babe.” He kisses my nose. “You’re so cute when you’re pissed off.”
And before I can protest again, he lifts me off my feet in one smooth motion, scooping me up.
I let out a high-pitched squeal as he hoists me into the air, carrying me like I weigh nothing.
“Put me down this instant!” I demand, half laughing, half serious as I flail in his arms, trying to hold on to my dignity—or at least my dry swimsuit.
“You’re going in.”
I let out one last scream as he jumps into the water.
The cool splash hits me instantly, soaking my skin as I go under. For a split second, the world is nothing but bubbles and swirling water, and when I resurface, I gasp for air. Wipe the water from my face.
Easton is laughing beside me, his wet hair slicked back, while Phoebe claps her hands, pleased with herself and her part in having me tossed into the pool. Little sneak!
I push the hair off my face, glaring at them half-heartedly.
“You are both in so much trouble.”
“Are we?” He grins, reaching for me beneath the water. “It was worth it.”
He always says that!
Phoebe splashes us, laughing as she swims circles around her brother.
“Told you you’d get wet!”
“I can’t believe you let him drag me in,” I say to her, playing the part of being affronted. She is eating it up!
Easton shrugs his big shoulders, slipping his hand around my waist as we float.
“It’s not like you had a choice.”
“I always have a choice.” I tilt my chin defiantly.
Despite the surprise dunking, I am having the best time. There’s something about being here with Easton and Phoebe and the playful teasing that makes me so…
So…
Happy.
Is it normal to feel this way? Ugh.
I wonder if he feels it, too.
My newly proclaimed boyfriend gives me a sidelong glance. “You mad?”
I pretend to consider it for a moment, then shake my head.
“Nah. I’ll get you back, though. Just wait.”
Phoebe splashes nearby, oblivious to the moment that’s building between us. I know he’s going to kiss me, and I know that when he does, she’s going to throw a fit.
She’s circling like a “shark,” giggling and shooting us little glances every now and then, but doesn’t seem to notice how close we’ve drifted toward one another.
“You know,” Easton says softly, his voice lower now, “there’s a way I could make it up to you.”
“Oh yeah?” I whisper. “How?”
His face is inches from mine.
My heart pounds in my chest as he closes the last baby bit of distance, his lips brushing against mine in a soft, tentative kiss.
One peck is all it takes for his sister to shout, “Ew! Gross!” and begin splashing us with cold water—as if we weren’t wet enough already!
“Are you guys seriously kissing in the pool? Don’t embarrass me!” she shrieks. “That’s so gross!”
Easton grins, unfazed. “What? You’ve seen us kiss before.”
“Not in the pool! Not. In. The. Pool,” Phoebe protests, scrunching her nose. “Do it again and I’ll tell Mom.”
She is too cute.
“Sorry, Phoebs. He couldn’t help himself. I’m irresistible.”
Phoebe crosses her arms, bobbing in the water. “Well, stop it. You’re ruining the pool for me.”
Easton ruffles his sister’s wet hair.
“All right, all right. We’ll stop—just for you.”
“Good,” Phoebe says with a satisfied nod, though she’s still eyeing us suspiciously.
But before she can swim away from him, Easton flashes me a look over her head, mischief written all over his face. Without saying a word, he grabs Phoebe by the waist, lifting her slightly out of the water.
“What are you doing?” she yelps.
“Oh, just this.” I swim over and plant a loud, exaggerated kiss on her cheek. “Mwah!”
“Noooo!” she screams, half laughing, half trying to escape. “Ew!”
Easton leans in on the other side and kisses her other cheek.
“Aww, we love you, little Phoebe,” he teases.