Page 46 of Seeds of Malice

She obeys, and my gut drops when it points at me.

Marcey challenges, "If you're not a homophobe, then prove it."

"Okay, game over," Dax says.

Cindy smirks. "See, she's not like us."

I reply, "I didn't claim I was like you."

"Right. You're a homophobe," Marcey repeats.

"I'm not a homophobe," I adamantly state.

Avery pushes, "Then what are you scared of?"

"Okay, this has gone too far," Dax claims.

"No, it's fine," I offer, and I realize that the alcohol really is leading me. There's no way I'd ever agree to this. Not because I'm homophobic, but I'm just not into women.

Cindy doesn't hesitate. Before I know it, she's in front of me. Her alcohol-laced breath mixes with mine. She takes her finger and moves it from my shoulder, down over my boob so it grazes my nipple.

I jerk back so hard I fall off the raft and into the water. When I come up, everyone's laughing.

Dax is the only one with concern on his face. He jumps in and tugs me close to him. "We've had enough. Let's go, Ivy."

"Yep. Let the homophobe go," Marcey calls out.

"Ignore them," he orders.

My insides quiver.

What was I doing?

That's not me.

Why was I even going to let her do that?

My head's suddenly spinning.

Dax swims me over to the boat ladder. "Get up, gorgeous."

"I'm not a homophobe," I tell him.

He nods. "I know. It's okay. Just don't listen to them. They're idiots."

"Homophobe!" Marcey calls out, and my bottom lip quivers.

Dax slides his hand behind my head and puts his lips next to mine, declaring, "You're going to have to get a bit tougher. You can't let them get to you, gorgeous. I've told you this once. I'll keep telling you, but you need to understand. Just block them out."

I stare at him for a moment and lean closer for him to kiss me, but he pushes my butt up. "Time to get up. Let's get out of here."

Disappointment fills me, but he's right.

I put my foot on the ladder and climb out, but I'm too drunk. He pushes me up as the others laugh.

He follows and leads me to the captain's chair. He helps me sit, pulls up the anchor, and puts down the sails.

I avoid looking at anyone and try to get my head to stop swirling and drown out the insults.

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