Page 77 of No Summer Hotter than You

After she closed the door, Anthony let out an agitated chuckle. “Why is Julie acting as if she just walked in on us doing the deed when she was the one getting railed by Andy this morning?”

I laughed. “Give her a break, Anthony. She’s shy.”

Julie wouldn’t even look at Anthony and me in the eyes at breakfast. I, for sure, wouldn’t be able to look at her either if she had walked in on Anthony pounding me relentlessly from behind?—

Never mind. Scratch that.

Regardless, we wouldn’t be doing anything anyways to start off with.

I quickly grabbed the sunscreen bottle and squeezed out a handful of it into my palm. “You know what? I’ll finish putting sunscreen on myself. I’ll be there once I’m ready.”

I pushed his hands away from me and started to slather it all over my chest and waist.

“You sure?” He seemed apprehensive to leave.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just go back.”

Once Anthony was gone, I was able to recollect myself with a shaky breath as my heart continued to pound in my chest. I ignored the intrusive thoughts swirling in my head and forced myself to go out to the lake. I had barely arrived when Jonathan and Andy sneakily came up behind me and pushed me into the lake.

“What the hell?” I yelled as I came up to the surface. “I’m going to get back at you for that, Jonathan Lo and Andy Hughes!”

“Sure, su—” Jonathan laughed before letting out the loudest shrill scream I had ever heard from him. Anthony had slipped up behind him and pushed him into the lake.

Andy was immediately on guard as he tried to fight off Anthony before being thrown into the water as well. I laughed as Jonathan and Andy came to the surface.

“Thanks, Anthony!” I yelled.

He catapulted himself off the long private deck that extended out of the backyard of the lake house we were staying at and deep into the lake. A wave of water from his cannonball splashed in all our faces before he came up for a gasp of air with a wide grin. He swam toward me but was intercepted by Jonathan’s foam football.

Sai and Evelyn were bobbing on a shared floatie in the distance, to my surprise. They seemed to be hitting it off. Meanwhile, Kelvin hung out under the gazebo sipping smoothies with our parents.

Julie was swimming toward me with an apologetic smile. “Sorry for earlier!” she said.

“For what? For this morning or for—” I laughed before her face became bright red.

“Both!” She flashed a flustered look at me. Sweet Julie was always the most considerate of everyone.

“Let’s go grab a cup of smoothie and we’ll call it even,” I said, swimming toward the ladder to get back up on the deck.

I helped Julie up once I was on stable ground. I heard Anthony let out a disappointed groan. “You’re leaving already?” he asked.

“Only to have some smoothie,” I said and then laughed.

Julie smirked at him. “Someone sure is needy.”

“Nope, your boyfriend is!” Anthony retorted.

Andy let out an echoing laugh. “And what about it?”

Julie shook her head with a smile tugging at her lips. We walked over to the gazebo, where Auntie Yee handed us a smoothie. The icy, refreshing drink was a welcoming contrast to the rising temperatures and blazing sun. We shared a giggle as we started sipping our fruity concoctions.

Before I could ask Julie anything, a loud splash from the lake grabbed our attention. Anthony was emerging from the water and grinning mischievously. Rivulets of water cascaded down his well-earned muscles, making my throat catch as I sipped my smoothie.

“I missed you,” he said as he jogged over to us. He quickly grabbed one of the lounge chairs next to me and pushed it up against my side.

“Missed me? I didn’t even go anywhere.” I laughed as he dried himself off with a towel. “How can you possibly miss me?”

“You’re refusing to be in the water with me,” he claimed, taking his seat.

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