Page 86 of Vengeful Secret

They’re delicious, as usual. Marisol is the world’s best cook, I’m convinced.

“Sutton was a shy little thing,” Rose says. “And of course, me and Sarah wanted to corrupt her.”

Sarah giggles. “Sutton did some of the corrupting herself. Remember that time those cheerleaders embarrassed you and Sutton put fish in their lockers?”

“It stunk for weeks before they figured it out,” Rose says, laughing.

I flush, but I’m smiling. “I protect my friends.”

“Something else you and Gray have in common,” Paige says.

I grab another plate of spareribs, planning to eat my fill.

The dinner goes by in what seems like a flash, with everyone talking and laughing and having a great time.

By the time Rose and Sarah get ready to leave, I’m a little tipsy from champagne as I hug them goodbye, and I have tears in my eyes.

“Don’t be a stranger,” Rose pleads. “I thought they rushed you away and kidnapped you or something.”

I chuckle and look behind me to see if Lara and Paige and their friends are anywhere to be found. They’ve all trailed out onto the terrace and are leaving one by one.

I grab Rose’s hands and give a wink to Sarah. “How about I do some more corrupting?”

Sarah snorts. “I don’t think we can be any more corrupted.”

“Let’s go skinny dipping,” I whisper, and pull them inside, taking them to the back door of the house that leads out to the pool.

“That’s the best idea you’ve ever had,” Sarah breathes, and starts to remove her clothes as soon as she catches sight of the pool.

I follow, getting down to my underwear and doing a cannonball into the pool.

Rose slips in the shallow end, sitting on one of the steps and laughing at us. She’s kept on her tank top.

I swim toward Sarah, pretending to be a shark, and she squeals and giggles.

It’s like we're teenagers again, out at the creek near Rose’s house.

I feel free and young and unencumbered, and it’s a wonderful feeling.

We spend hours out at the pool, and no one bothers us. It’s probably near midnight or even later when the floodlights come on and someone steps out of the house.

Rose and Sarah cower, but I’m just sitting on the edge of the pool, and I smile up at Gray as he crosses his arms.

“What are you ladies up to?”

“You going to ground us, Daddy?” I tease in a sing-song voice, and Gray freezes before barking out a laugh.

“That’s her man?” Rose hisses at Sarah, and I look back at them.

Sarah nods, and Rose whistles low in her throat.

I giggle. I’m proud of how handsome and strong Gray is.

He steps closer to me, smirking down at me.

“Nice swimsuit,” he drawls, and I grin up at him.

“Thought you’d like it.”

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