Surrender (Seaside Pictures #4) - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,14

a saint.

Plus, hadn’t giving up drugs been enough?

Amelia cleared her throat.

I jerked my head away. “What? I was just appreciating your mother’s beauty.”

“Uh-huh.” She narrowed her eyes. “Maybe I should be the one cleaning guns.”

I scoffed and put a hand over my heart. “I’m genuinely wounded.”

“You’re genuinely full of it.”

“Also true.” I nodded my head. “I’m serious though, no guys. Guys are bad — all guys. They lie, they cheat, they steal—”

“Mom can hear you.”

“I’m a man, though, so I don’t count. I already sowed those oats, made all the mistakes and asked God for forgiveness. He granted it, by the way, just in case you were wondering.”

“Did He, though?” Amelia tapped her chin with her iPhone, and I grinned at the new case, yesterday was a bunny, but not today. Today it was Adrenaline, and there my face stared back at me, and for some reason, that made me feel uncomfortable.

A first.

I cleared my throat. “Did you, uh, draw a heart around Will’s face?”

Her face lit up red. “Jealous?”

“Depends. Is there an X on mine?” I laughed.

She rolled her eyes. “If you don’t treat her right, then I’ll do more than that.”

“Amelia!” Bronte scolded in that perfect mom tone that had even me jerking back and holding up my hands as if I was being arrested.

Swear, my heart even picked up speed a bit while my mouth went dry, and then I noticed the fear in Bronte’s eyes.

Was she scared of me?

Of what we could have?

Of the one-week deal to help her experience what she should have all those years ago?

“Mommmmmmm.” Amelia drew out the word. “We’re verbally sparring. He’s fine. Look at him,” She pointed at me with a helpless expression. “He’s Drew Amhurst. He’s made of solid steel.”

“Are we talking about my six-pack? Just curious,” I voiced. “Because if we are, things just got weird.”

“No.” Amelia pulled a pink scrunchie from her wrist and put her hair into a ponytail. “I mean like, you’re a celebrity. You’re used to everyone talking about you, making fun of you, worshipping you. You’d need nerves of steel to survive.”

Or a very serious cocaine addiction, I wanted to add. Instead, I just nodded my head. “You’re right. I’m basically Superman, just better looking.”

“My psych teacher would have a field day with you, wouldn’t she?” Amelia smirked.

“Scouts’ honor, I should probably be institutionalized.” I turned toward Bronte. “And on that romantic note, you ready?”

She licked her lips nervously, pulling the gloss away with her tongue, making me curious about what it tasted like. “I think so? I didn’t really know where we were going, so I packed light.”

“Perfect.” I got up and grabbed both our bags. “And it’s not like we can’t buy something if we need it — and by we, I mean me.”

Her face flushed.

“Mom…” Amelia hopped up. “…real quick. The guys, Sarah, and Min are headed to the beach for a bonfire in a few. Can I go? PLEASE? Pretty pretty please?”

“Is your room clean?” I interrupted with my arms crossed, earning a glare that made me so uncomfortable I backed up and questioned my desire to father children.

Bronte sighed. “I got this, Drew.”

“What guys?” I just had to ask, earning another glare.

“Do you mind?” Amelia said through clenched teeth and closed fists.

I had to laugh at her exasperation. I liked her spirit. Bronte may have been a young mom, but she did a good job with her kids.

“Is your room clean?” she repeated with a smirk.

“Define clean?” Amelia winced and held her breath.

Bronte tilted her head down and raised her eyebrows. If she had been wearing glasses, she would have been peering over the top. She didn’t say one word.

Amelia released a blustery sigh. “Okay fine. If I clean it, can I go to the bonfire, then have Sarah and Min over tonight? I swear, no boys, plus Ryan started hooking up with Brooke, and we hate Brooke.”

I made a mental note.

We hate Brooke.

Brooke, such a typical popular girl name.

I didn’t want Amelia hanging out with any Brookes, or Britneys for that matter!

Or Ryans. I shuddered.

“Okay.” Bronte took a few steps toward Amelia and pulled her in for a hug. “Just promise you guys don’t stay up too late watching Adrenaline videos and pausing on abs.”

I choked on my laugh, earning a glare from both women, so I raised my hands in surrender and said, “No worries. I do it too.”

I mean, what else could I say?

“That’s weird.” Amelia shook her head. “All right, you two have fun.