Page 19 of Bad Boy Neighbor

“So, you and Gabbie…” Seb teases with a grin. “You hooked up yet?”

Shrugging it off, I stare out the window. “Nah, mate. She looks too high maintenance for me. Besides, I have a few appointments with specialists this week, so I think it’s best I focus on that.”

“Good idea.” Seb nods in agreement. “You’ve always been determined. Don’t let no pussy get in the way.”

Lana and Gabriella are standing outside the car. Lana is making a checklist, going over everything Ace needs while Gabriella checks inside the large striped beach bag. I have no clue what they’re called, but the sheer white dress she’s wearing over her bikini looks like a muumuu. Lana’s wearing something similar. They must have done the girl thing and coordinated.

“Towels,” Lana asks.

“Check.”

“Binky?”

“Check.”

“Sunscreen?”

“Check.”

“Am I forgetting anything?”

“Yeah, you forgot to get into the car. Hurry up, woman, we’re gonna struggle for parking if we don’t leave right now.”

I turn to watch Gabriella, enjoying the fact she still chooses to ignore me.

Oh, this shall be fun. You’ve already crawled under her skin and caused damage. Let’s make it ten times worse.

Seb suggests I sit in the front seat with him. As I get into the minivan, I see Bubbles watching me from the window. We had an almost altercation in the bathroom this week. Bubbles was inside, and I needed to pee. He didn’t move. I asked him kindly for privacy, then got the death stare with his red eyes.

Fucking rabbit.

We packed into Seb and Lana’s red minivan, driving over to Newport Beach. Seb was right, parking is a goddamn nightmare, but we manage to score a spot without having to walk too far.

I exit the car, stretching my arms and legs from the drive over. On one side, there are oceanfront mansions and a yacht-lined harbor. On the other side, there are a bunch of historic cottages, dive bars, and a string of eateries.

The day is nice with blue sky and a warm summer ocean breeze. It feels a lot like back home in Sydney. Bondi Beach is one of my usual hangouts, and something about this place reminds me of home.

“Remind you of home?” Seb asks, resting his arm on my shoulder.

I take it all in, ignoring the homesick feeling threatening to consume me. “Sure does.”

We begin to unload the van. Seb is carrying Ace plus a bunch of stuff, which I grab off him. Lana is carrying a bag of toys for Ace and beach towels. Given how busy it is already, we manage to find a suitable spot that isn’t overcrowded just yet.

There is a stage a few feet away holding some entertainment as well as the trophies for the upcoming surf competition.

People arrive in droves, all settling around us. The music is blaring, and girls are stripping down to barely nothing. These girls are relentless, all laughing and chugging beer and dancing around with their tits bobbing in their tiny bikinis. Wherever I look, there’s arse in a G-banger or as the Americans love to call them, thongs.

Gabriella had sat as far away from me as possible, behind the bags and stuff Lana packed. Still dressed in her muumuu and shorts, the heat proves too much for her, forcing her to remove them. Resting on my elbows with only my swim shorts and sunglasses on to protect myself from the harsh rays, I pretend not to notice she has taken off the muumuu. Beneath it, she’s wearing a rather modest one-piece khaki swimsuit with this zig-zag thing happening near her tits.

Don’t fucking look. These shorts are the worst for displaying your hard-on.

The sand is softly golden with just the right comforting warmth. I’m enjoying myself and the views until a hoard of girls stop in our section.

With Ace attracting all the attention because, according to girls, he is literally the cutest kid ever, Lana took the opportunity to introduce me as the Aussie thunder from Down Under in her godawful Aussie accent. I motion for Seb to control his woman.

“Babe, let’s take Ace for ice cream.”

Lana sighs, slightly annoyed. “Fine! Will you guys be okay?”

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