most girls—as tall as Ever and Vaughn—so he had no reason to be suspicious.
Jamie’s eyes narrowed as if hearing my thoughts.
When he began studying my face, I fought the urge to turn my cap around. I’d worn it backward, giving him full access to my face. I cursed my overly long eyelashes that made my blue eyes seem brighter and rounder and my face softer, more feminine.
“He’s out back by the pool,” he finally offered.
I guess that explains the swimming trunks.
“Thanks,” I mumbled. I started for the family room that led out into the backyard and the massive pool the McNamaras owned when I stopped in the threshold. Spinning around, I found Jamie with his back turned, rifling through the refrigerator with one hand and the last of the cookies in the other. “I’m Bee, by the way.”
He didn’t bother facing me when he said, “Figured that out while you were staring, man.”
My cheeks heated, and I knew my face had turned beet red. I suddenly felt shy. Like I’d been caught red-handed crushing. I didn’t even know this kid and wasn’t so sure I’d like him once I did. My embarrassment morphed into confusion, however, when I realized Jamie knew who I was but had still mistaken me for a boy. How could that be if Ever had clearly mentioned me?
Kicking the fridge closed, he started toward me with an arm full of waters. I counted at least seven.
“And you’re Ever’s cousin, Jamie?”
“Maybe,” he cheekily replied as he brushed past me.
I followed him out, the voices and sound of water splashing growing louder with each step. The moment the pool came into view, I stopped while Jamie kept going. Horsing around in the pool was Ever, Vaughn, and Jason, but they weren’t alone. Olivia and two of her friends were there, as well, and they all seemed to be having the time of their life.
I’m not sure why the scene rubbed me the wrong way, but my unease only heightened when Jamie set his load down on one of the patio tables near the edge of the pool, lifted his T-shirt over his head, and backed away. My brows furrowed, but then seconds later, my confusion cleared when he sprinted full speed for the pool.
The girls squealed and rushed to get out of the way while Ever, Vaughn, and Jason cheered at the huge splash he made when he hit the water. The girls were now giggling and batting their eyelashes, and I fought an eye roll. None of them seemed too concerned with the fact the pool was shallow and that Jamie could have been hurt.
I moved to the top of the steps, but I went unnoticed and forgotten as I stood there, watching the scene unfold. I didn’t like what I was seeing as two of Olivia’s friends immediately gravitated toward Jamie. They circled him, but with the way he grinned at them, I was positive he was the predator, and they were the prey. They’d fallen right into his trap.
Not liking the feelings stirring from watching him, I forced my gaze away, and it landed on Olivia. Shyly, she peeked at Ever from under her eyelashes, waiting for him to notice her. Completely unaware of her attention, Ever pounced on Vaughn, putting him in a headlock. Ever was faster, but Vaughn was stronger and broke free in no time before tackling Ever and driving him underwater.
My heart thundered in my chest when Ever’s head came within an inch of hitting the bottom. Breaking free of the panic seizing my body, I quickly descended the stairs.
I’d seen enough.
Before I could speak and tell them to quit being so stupid, a gentle but authoritative voice beat me to the punch. “What did I tell you boys about roughhousing in the pool?”
I spun around and found Ever’s mom standing at the top of the steps with her hands on her hips, wearing a no-nonsense expression. Her dark-brown hair was cut short, curling around her ears and nape and covering her forehead, but unlike mine, there was nothing boyish about it. Paired with her olive skin and brown eyes that almost seemed gold under the sun, Mrs. McNamara could knock the breath out of any man.
“Sorry, Mom.” Ever immediately left the pool but stopped short when he spotted me. “Bee?” I balked at the question in his tone. It had only been less than a week. Had he forgotten me already? “What are you doing here?” he asked when I