with Alana? She’s been watching you two like a hawk since the moment you showed up with her.”
I shake my head. “Nope. That’s why I’m going to have to break his little rule.”
“You do realize he’s going to kick the shit out of you once this trip is over, right? I’ve seen that fucker pissed off and it’s not a good thing to witness.”
“What the fuck else can I do, Jake?” I pull my attention from Natalie to face him. “I need this to end. I can’t do it anymore. I won’t.”
“Damn, man,” he whispers. “Just don’t take things too far. Don’t do anything you’ll regret later.”
“Thanks for the tip. Can we stop having girl talk now?”
“All right. I’m done.” He nods to Jess when she calls him over with her finger. “We’ll talk later.”
Releasing a frustrated breath, I set my drink down and swim my way over to Natalie, who is floating around on a flamingo with her eyes closed.
She sits up and opens her eyes when I grab the flamingo and pull her to me. “Crap, you scared me.”
“How are things going with Jess? You two seem to be getting along well.”
“I like her a lot.” She smiles. “It’s been a while since I’ve been able to talk to someone so easily other than Kayla and Carla. I wish your broth…” Her words trails off. “It would’ve been nice to come here and meet everyone sooner. Except your ex who is staring right as us. Is that ever going to stop?”
“Nope. I’m afraid not.” I grab her arm and pull her into the water with me, moving in close until our bodies are touching. “She’ll be watching every move we make, Nat.”
“I kind of figured that,” she mutters. “I was hoping she’d give up by now.”
“That won’t happen, because she’s still in love with me. Like you’re supposed to be.” I grab the back of her head and move my lips along her ear. “Do you know what girls do when they’re in love with me, Nat?” I grip her hip and breathe into her ear. “They touch and kiss me every chance they get. They can’t keep their hands off me. You can. And she sees that.”
“I think I’m going to need another drink first. Maybe even two if I’m going to pull that off. This isn’t as easy for me as you expected. But I’m here and I’ll do what I can.”
She places her hands on my chest and pushes off so she can swim away to make another drink. I’m still watching her when I hear someone swim up beside me. I immediately stiffen up at the familiar scent of Alana.
“Did you do that on purpose too?”
I clamp my teeth together when I feel Alana’s breath hit the back of my neck. “Do what?” I grind out.
“Have her buy the same bikini that you told me you loved so much on me last year. That’s really low.”
“What the fuck, Alana.” I turn around to face her, my eyes meeting her hurt ones. I hate that it has me feeling bad. She’s the one who did this. It’s because of her that I have to lie. “I’m not that much of an asshole. That was just a coincidence. Whether you choose to believe it or not is on you.”
She shakes her head, before focusing her attention over my shoulder. “You haven’t done shit to prove to me that you’re in love with her. You haven’t even kissed her, and I know what that means… Kissing means something to you, and don’t think I didn’t do my research about your little kiss on stage the other night, which apparently Natalie has “forgiven” you for. I saw the video of you sticking up for that girl. I also saw the look of regret on your face after you kissed her.” She pauses for a moment, and I’m thankful for it to stop. “I’m not giving you up so easily, Madden. You might’ve brought a girl with you this year in hopes of hurting me—and it did—but my plans haven’t changed. You will realize how much you still miss me before this trip is over.” She moves in closer until her mouth brushes my ear, sprouting goose bumps across my skin. I hate that my body reacts to her. “That’s a promise.”
Her words leave me on edge and my muscles tight as she swims away to join the others. Fuck! I run my hands down my face, before settling