Page 78 of No Summer Hotter than You

“I’m not!” I handed him my drink and he easily downed half of it. “I just wanted something cold and fruity to drink.”

There was another loud splash. “Tink!” Andy was getting out of the water and smirking playfully. His eyes twinkled as they landed on my cousin.

Julie bit her bottom lip as he sprinted over to us in three long strides, flexing his muscles. Andy quickly toweled himself dry and slipped into the lounge chair she sat on. He easily pulled her into his lap as she laughed. Meanwhile, Anthony and I shared a glance. When did we become the third and fourth wheels?

“Hey! Why did you all leave me hanging?” Jonathan asked as he came up from the lake. He groaned loudly at the sight of the four of us sitting on the lounge chairs cozied up to each other. “When the hell did I become the fifth wheel? Where are the others?”

He looked around baffled as we laughed. Kelvin wasn’t at the gazebo when we arrived, and Sai and Evelyn were floating peacefully not far from the deck.

Jonathan took a seat on one of the remaining lounge chairs with a dramatic sigh. “Is this how it’s going to be from now on? All four of you are together while I’m stuck fifth wheeling?”

“What do you mean? We’re all literally just side characters in Andy and Julie’s world,” Anthony said with a snicker.

Andy nearly choked on Julie’s smoothie as he playfully glared at his brother. His cheeks quickly bloomed fiery red.

“I’m begging you all. I don’t need to know how you two are sleeping with my two older sisters.” Jonathan’s neck dusted pink as he sheepishly looked out to the lake.

I quickly looked around to make sure Aunt Sue, Kelvin, nor Evelyn were in sight. “But Anthony and I aren’t . . . we aren’t . . .”

Jonathan flashed me an amused look. “I’m not stupid, Shoua. I know you and Anthony went home early last Saturday night to—well, have sex. It was pretty obvious.”

My jaw hung open as Anthony laughed. I nudged him in the side as I could feel my face bloom beet red.

“Look! I don’t need to know my two best friends are boning my older sisters. All right?” Jonathan mumbled, his cheeks just as red as mine now.

“We’re your best friends?” Anthony and Andy asked in perfect unison. They immediately got up from their seats and pulled him into bear hugs as he tried to fight them off.

“Yeah! And what about it?” Jonathan screamed helplessly.

Anthony flashed Andy a mischievous grin and Andy nodded. They grabbed Jonathan and threw him off the deck and then jumped in as well.

“The three of them truly are the epitome of ‘boys will be boys,’ aren’t they?” Kelvin asked, startling Julie and me. He took a seat on a lounge chair by Julie’s side.

“Are you going to jump in the water with us?” I asked.

He smiled softly at me. “I’d love to, but I get sunburned easily.”

“Just make sure you put on a lot of sunscreen,” Julie said. She quickly grabbed a spray bottle of sunscreen from the small side table. “Yeah, come here. I’ll help put some on your back.”

“Thanks,” Kelvin said as he smiled.

“I can help with your front,” I suggested, grabbing the sunscreen can off Anthony’s seat.

Julie and I started to spray him down with a generous amount of sunscreen, when he tapped me on my shoulder. He motioned toward the lake and then glanced back at me with a smile. “Shoua, your boyfriend is quite possessive. Isn’t he?”

I looked out to see Anthony quietly treading in the water, watching us. His expression was taut, his lips pursed and nostrils flared. He looked as if he was ready to fight. I quickly glanced back to Kelvin to defend Anthony, but his previously warm smile now sent a chill down my spine. Up close, I could finally see how plastered and strained his snarl was starting to look.

“He’s always watching you as if you belong to him,” Kelvin said quietly. His voice was so low and grating, only I could hear him over the yells and water splashing between Andy and Jonathan.

Kelvin suddenly reached out to put his hand on my shoulder, and I took a quick step back. I gave him a sliver of a smile. “You’re all good now, Kelvin! Just wait fifteen minutes before you get in the water with us.”

He let out a chuckle. “Okay, sounds like a plan.”

I tried not to glance at him as he strode back to the gazebo, where I could hear my aunts let out a shrill laugh along with Uncle Gary’s booming one. I wasn’t sure what I witnessed, but I quickly brushed it off. Julie flashed me a wide smile and grabbed my hand, pulling me back to the water. We jumped in, holding hands. When we came to the surface, I couldn’t help but notice the way Kelvin’s gaze stuck to me.

Another chill ran down my spine.

CHAPTER 31

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