Page 66 of Lie for a Lie

I dig through my bag to find the demigod series I had recently started reading. I want to do anything I can to drown Graham out.

Once the truck Tahoe stops I tuck my stuff away to make sure it doesn’t get damaged and hop out, needing to adjust my cut-off shorts and bikini top. Before grabbing my bag and taking out my favorite sunglasses and baseball cap.

Throwing my bag over my shoulder, I head towards Graham’s truck and help launch the boat. Noticing Katherine looking pissed and stomping towards Chris’s Tahoe. Not even bothering to acknowledge me, and I just ignore it.

“Morning.”

I hear Graham say as my eyes meet his. Both of us linger for a moment before I smile and suddenly feel someone standing behind me.

“Morning. Ready to launch.”

Seth says over my shoulder, and it’s clear I am startled. I feel Seth’s arms wrap around me a moment later as he leans towards my ear.

“Sorry, gorgeous. I thought you knew I was behind you.”

I let my attention fall on Seth, noticing Katherine eyeing us over his shoulder.

“No worries.”

I push up and kiss his cheek softly before turning back towards Graham. I don’t meet his stare as I toss my bag into the boat. Losing myself in my head while we make it into the water.

We plan on being out here most of the day, and there is even talk of staying overnight at a nearby campsite and fishing early tomorrow. Once we finally have everything loaded and the boat in the water, it takes no time for the morning sun to creep up over the nearby mountains, warming our skin. I can’t help but smile as the air swirls around me.

Graham is driving and has turned on an alternative playlist that blasts over the speakers. I lean into Seth, who has kept his arm wrapped around me but has only talked to Katherine since we got onto the water. Chris and Bre have been making out off and on most of the morning. I love them, but they need to relax with the PDA.

Eventually, I get tired of being lost in my own thoughts and decide I am ready to drink. Grabbing a few beers from the cooler and offering one to Seth before pulling Chris off of Bre’s face. Both girls decline beer, but they drink some of the mimosa Katherine has brought in a huge cooler.

Finally, I grab two more beers and head toward Graham, steering the boat. Taking the empty seat next to him, I open one of the beers and place it in the cup holder beside him.

I can see the slight smile as he nods to me. I lean back into the seat, crack open my beer, and can’t help but smile when one of my favorite songs comes onto the speakers. I begin singing “Blurry” by Puddle of Mud. I can’t help but move my body with the words and not hold back anything. I look over to Graham, who is smiling, as I laugh between lyrics. As the song breaks down, I can feel Seth’s hand gripping my shoulder, and I look back and smile. He lifts my chin to reach my lips and kisses me possessively before pulling away.

I have no doubt I look like a lovesick puppy as he scoops me up and sits me in his lap in the chair. We have been almost inseparable since he came over the other morning. Our breakfast turned into three overnights.

I lean back against him and take another sip of my beer. Seth’s fingers playfully touch every piece of my exposed skin. He kisses my shoulder lightly, and I can see Graham notice every touch. I finally pull myself off Seth, but not before he stops me with another possessive kiss, this time a little rougher.

I pull away and can feel his hesitation before letting me go. I ignore my body’s reaction and return to the cooler for some of Katherine’s mimosas. One turns into three, and before I know it, I am asleep in the boat docked near a private lagoon area where Graham and Chris like to camp. Bre ends up waking me, and I have a slight headache.

What the fuck did she put in those drinks?

I grab my bag and take a sip of my water. Shuffling through my stuff, I don’t notice when Katherine sits beside me and hands me a bottle of ibuprofen.

“Now we’re even,” she says snarky before heading off the boat toward Seth and the others floating in the water.

I just stare at her, slightly insulted yet impressed all at once, before noticing they have put together a few inflatable tubes and tied some coolers up in the middle. I just let out a small laugh and took the ibuprofen before standing up, quickly taking off my shorts, and gently stepping down into the water.

It is still pretty cold, and I sober up way too quickly. I can feel eyes looking over every inch of my body. And I may have purposefully suggestively adjusted my purple ruffle bikini.

I know the chill of the late morning has my nipples hard, and the thin fabric can’t hide it. When I finally reach the inner tubes, I end up between Seth and Graham. I start to stress, looking towards Chris.

“I need some sister time. Can we trade?”

I try not to let the panic show in my voice. He studies me momentarily before smiling and letting out a dramatic fake sigh. Deciding in that moment, I could love him as a brother forever—no hesitation to help me. Bre also notices and pulls him in for a rather passionate kiss. Chris doesn’t bother hiding the need to adjust himself afterward. I let out a fake noise of disgust before taking his old spot between the girls.

Over the next few hours, we float in the water anchored to the shore. I end up falling asleep and only wake up when Graham and Chris decide to swim in the water.

Not caring who they splash along the way. The cold water instantly wakes me and the two of them play like brothers, tossing each other into the water. I can’t help but laugh and am grateful because I need to put on some more sunscreen, so I don’t burn too much.

I get up and notice Seth and Katherine on the beach talking, and keeping focused on each other. I can’t tell what they are saying but Seth looks fucking pissed.

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