Page 77 of The Bridges I've Burned

Me

Nothing….much. Okay, fine. We almost kissed. But it was a total mistake. Definitely won’t happen again.

Marin

OMG. No. Do it!!! Marry Zander, and then we can be sisters-in-law again!

Me

Wait, I thought you didn’t want me to hook up with Macon’s brother?

Marin

Eh. I’m over it. I mean, who could blame you? Did you see all those tattoos?

Me

I’m so gonna tell on you.

Also, who else saw us…doing absolutely nothing in the water?

Marin

No one. They were all busy talking about Macon’s super-secret bachelor party. Which reminds me…

Me

Yeah, yeah. I’m on it.

Itried not to think about that moment in the water with Zander.

I definitely tried.

But I couldn’t say I succeeded.

We’d almost kissed. I hadn’t imagined it.

If we hadn’t been interrupted by those very nosy college girls, I was nearly positive I would now know what it was like to be kissed by Zander Green.

Kinda hate those bitches, if I am being honest….

Because now, all I could think about was that almost kiss and the man who was responsible for it. The memory of his piercing green eyes seemed to follow me all the way back to the rental, through the door, and to the bedroom. I couldn’t help but remember the way his hands had felt on my hips as I stepped into the shower, and it took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to reach down and soothe the ache between my legs, thanks to those stolen moments in the water.

After I rinsed away all the sand and washed my hair, I wrapped myself up in a towel. I took my time getting dressed, choosing leggings and a cropped hoodie again. When I resurfaced an hour later, I found Zander and Hendrix in the living room, both freshly showered, surrounded by guitars.

“Hey,” Zander said as he moved about the room with ease. “We ordered pizza. Hope that’s all right?”

“Perfect,” I answered.

We’d all decided to give Macon and Marin some alone time tonight, and I was thankful for the night in. The sun had been draining, and I needed some time to recharge.

I watched as Zander plugged cords into an amp and sat down on one of the couches, positioning a foot pedal. He’d dressed down in a pair of black sweatpants and a gray T-shirt that said I’m with the band.

“We were gonna play for a bit. Do you mind?” he asked as his eyes met mine, waiting for an answer.

“Um, no,” I answered, suddenly unsure of what I was supposed to do. Turn around? Sit down? God, I hoped he didn’t expect me to join in.

If he thought those singers at karaoke night were bad…

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