Page 43 of Old Acquaintances

“No,” I answer, glancing pointedly at his hand. “How you shouldn’t make bets you can’t win.”

Serena sits beside Callie and pulls her crinkled hair to the top of her head. “What bet are we talking about?”

“It’s between me and Tucker,” I say.

I see the twinge of amusement in his mouth, the mirror of mine, and I wish I knew if he thought it was funny or if he was just trying not to smile just because I was.

“Ella thinks she’s irresistible.” His cold beer lands in between my boobs.

“Ow!” I hiss.

“She assumes I’m so in love with her that I must have her name tattooed somewhere.”

My raft glides back and forth. Tucker’s hand has slid down to my ankle, moving me absently.

I say, “Please. Like you’re brave enough to put a blemish on that Greek god of a body.”

He pauses. “Greek god?”

“Shut up.” I splash water at his smirk.

Tucker takes my drink from my hand before I can speak. All of a sudden, the raft is flipped and I’m in the water.

“Elijah!” I bark when I pop out of the water.

“I’ve just never been into water rats,” he jokes.

Our friends laugh as I swim toward his head, grabbing it and trying to push him under. He leans away, this is very easy for him to escape from, before disappearing into the water. I feel his hands on my thighs. His head between my legs.

He hooks me onto his shoulders and stands.

“Put me down!” I demand.

He holds my legs tight against his torso. “Get yourself down.”

Johnny laughs and some beer spurts out of his mouth. “I forgot about your game of chicken. God, they used to do this as kids. Look at Ella - she’s having a nervous breakdown.”

“I am not,” I deny, clutching the sides of Tucker’s head.

Tucker holds me tight and explains, “The goal of the game is for Ella to free herself. But she’s afraid of heights and scared she’s going to fall backward and crack her head open. She’s also a maniac who is prone to panic attacks - ow! Don’t pinch me!”

“Well, I don’t like having tall strangers holding me hostage.”

“If I was a stranger, I wouldn’t know this bothers you.” Hebegins to move his hands up to tickle my sides, but I smack his fingers.

I lean my face over to stare upside down into his. “I’m not a little girl anymore. You can’t control me as easily.” I try to tip over into the water and he pulls back as much as possible to keep me glued to his shoulders.

He snickers, “Wow you’re not as top-heavy as I’d thought you’d be.”

I grab his face and kick my feet.

“Get your fingers out of my eye sockets!”

“I know you’re only doing this because you want my vagina on your neck,” I provoke.

“Yeah.That’swhere men want vaginas.”

“I don’t trust you, Tucker,” I spit.

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