We tread water and he grins. “My plan is working.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I’ve never seen Isla so grouchy.”
I laugh. “You’re playing with fire, you know. There’s an equal chance she’ll hate you for this.”
“Maybe,” he says with a cocky grin before he swims closer and our legs brush underwater. His hand touches my chin and he lifts it gently. My breath catches. He’s going to kiss me! My body tries to get me to flee. I don’t want Tanner to kiss me and yet I’d feel so bad if I ruined his plan. I squash my panic and brace myself, but then he grins, glances over my shoulder, and backs away quickly.
“She turned away.”
“What?”
His smile spreads from ear to ear. “She turned away. She didn’t want to see us kiss. C’mon, let’s go dry off.”
I feel exhausted by the time we make it back to shore.
I can’t keep up with all the games. Even without them, my head is a swirling mess of restrained desire and confusing feelings. I don’t want Ethan. And yet I do. I should flirt with Tanner, but I’d rather not. Camille shouldn’t inspire jealousy, and yet when I look at her it feels like fire blazing through my veins.
The afternoon drags on and I go through the motions, swimming and sunbathing and sitting with the group while they all laugh and talk and I sit perfectly quiet. Tanner dotes on me with drinks and snacks, but the food goes untouched and the drinks get downed too quickly.
The day takes on a dreamlike state. My skin is so warm and flushed, especially around Ethan. We don’t say a word to each other, and yet I know where he is at all times. I’m aware of his every movement. We brush shoulders accidentally on the shore of the lake. His hand catches my waist when we’re at the drink table and we step back to walk away at the same time. His eyes catch mine when Tanner is leaning close, whispering something in my ear. I force a smile, but it’s tight across my cheeks as Ethan’s gaze smolders.
“You want another drink?” Tanner asks.
I shake my head tightly and then bolt right back to the safety of my chair.
I want Ethan to talk to me. I want his eyes to meet mine so I can see if he’s feeling what I’m feeling. Maybe I’ve had one too many drinks or maybe I should take another dip in the water. Or maybe the ache I feel can’t be washed away with a quick swim.
After they fire up the grill to start dinner, Jace and Brody start a small campfire in the center of our circle. As the sun starts to set, everyone carries their drinks over, and I’m so desperate for Ethan to claim the seat beside mine. My body is practically humming with nervous energy at the idea that he might, but he sits directly across from me instead. Camille is quick to snatch the chair next to him. They’ve been thick as thieves all day, and I overheard Liv betting Brody they’d make things official before the weekend was up.
“I’ve never seen him act like this around anyone,” Liv whispered, not realizing I could hear her.
Now, I wonder if she was right, if Ethan will soon be off the market.
It’s no surprise my stomach protests every sip of my drink.
“You okay?” Tanner asks from the chair on my left—the one he dragged from camp so we’d each have one.
I smile. “Yeah, just tired.”
He frowns, not quite buying it. Then he slings his arm across the back of my chair and I feel everyone’s eyes on us, Isla’s most of all. I hate that Tanner dragged me into this game of his and suddenly, I’m done playing. I set down my drink and shoot to my feet. Everyone looks up, waiting for me to say something, and I nod toward the lake’s edge.
“Going to cool off.”
Tanner doesn’t follow me, which is for the best. I’ve been pretending all day and it feels nice to just stand here, looking out at the dark water and wondering where the hell I go from here.
“You know, it’s interesting seeing it firsthand,” a deep voice says behind me.
I’m so shocked by the sound of it that it takes me a moment to realize I’m supposed to respond.
“Seeing what?”
“The way men fall at your feet,” Ethan replies, stepping up until his shoulder brushes mine. I go perfectly still, scared