Page 25 of Rival Summer

"Sorry, just exhausted from the game," I lied, trying my best to be polite and not let the disinterest take over. Caroline was beautiful, anyone would be lucky to get her attention. If I was being honest, I had no idea why something hadn’t clicked between us. We had hooked up a few times last summer, and it was fun but I’d made it clear how I felt about her.

"Okay, Boston," she said, skepticism written all over her face. “I’ll come find you later.”I breathed out a sigh of relief, scanning the room for the familiar brunette that was consuming my thoughts.

I made my way around, exchanging brief nods and words with a few teammates, and eventually made my way back toward Parker.

"Really?" he asked the girl beside him, his voice filled with genuine surprise. "You don't think I have a shitty haircut?"

He was leaning against the kitchen counter. A girl whose name I didn’t know was standing extremely close to him.

"No, I think it's a little douchey, but it suits you," she flirted back, her hand boldly skimming over Parker's arm.

Parker chuckled. "I really need to get a new haircut," he replied, ruffling his hair.

Then I noticed Willow. She was standing nearby, eyes narrowed, the grip on her red plastic cup tightening—the liquid inside sloshed dangerously close to spilling over the rim.

I stepped closer to her and blocked the view of Parker.

"Want to see what's going on outside?" I asked, hoping I could relieve her from the show.

"Yeah," she sighed, slumping her shoulders. "That girl's desperation is appalling."

"Lead the way," I said, gesturing toward the back door.

When we got outside, I spotted Chandler with a crowd near the patio sectional. Some people were sitting, others were standing, playing one of my least favorite games. Willow sat down next to Chandler.

"Chandler, truth or dare?" Caroline asked.

"Dare," Chandler responded, her hazel eyes gleaming with defiance.

Caroline considered her options before glancing at me. A tight grin spread across her lips. "Okay, I dare you to give Bailey a lap dance," she declared. A chorus of cheers and hollers erupted from the group.

Fuck. My heart stuttered in my chest.I swallowed, irritated but curious to see what she’d do. I knew her, and I knew she’d never back down from a dare.

She shook her head and laughed as she approached Bailey. Her confidence both impressed and unnerved me. I took a casual sip of my drink, the burn of the liquid barely registering as I fixed my gaze on Chandler. With every one of her deliberate steps towards Bailey, my hand tightened around my cup, knuckles whitening. A laugh escaped her lips as she settled onto his lap. It was the same sweet sound I'd heard a thousand times before, but tonight it grated against my nerves.

"Let’s go girl," Bailey egged on. But his smile started to crumble when he bit his lip—a clear sign that he was more into this dare than he was letting on.

Something twisted in my stomach as I watched and, without thinking, I set my cup down with more force than necessary and walked over to them, placing a firm hand on Bailey's shoulder. "How about we not do this with Parker's little sister?" My voice was calm, but there was an edge to it I couldn't hide.

Bailey looked up, annoyance flickering across his features. "It's just a game, come on," he said dismissively, but he knew better than to argue. With a gentle tug, I helped Chandler off his lap.

Her eyes flared with indignation as she pulled me to a hidden area of the backyard, away from the prying eyes and laughter of the crowd. "Boston, what are you doing?" she demanded, hands on hips, the fire in her stance betraying how annoyed she really was.

"Me?" I echoed, unable to keep the frustration from seeping into my voice. "I'm looking out for you." She let out a scoff and turned to walk away, but not before firing back.

"Looking out for me? Fucking great. There you go, treating me like I'm just Parker’s little sister. I'm not a child anymore, Boston. When are you going to realize that?"

I watched her turn to storm away. Her accusation was highly irritating because deep down I knew she was right, she wasn’t a child anymore—I saw her as so much more. But admitting that felt like stepping off a cliff with no idea where the fuck I’d land.

“Fuck it.” I snapped. I reached out and grabbed her wrist, halting her mid-step. She spun around, hazel eyes wide with surprise as she stumbled into my embrace. My grip tightened and I wrapped one hand around her waist—just enough to let her know I wasn't going anywhere. Not without resolving the tension that had been building between us. The world seemed toshrink and fade away, leaving only the small space between us, charged with years of unspoken truth and desire.

I lifted her chin gently, tilting her face up to mine. "If I thought of you as a child, would I kiss you like this?"

When my lips crashed against Chandler's, it wasn't just a kiss—it was a fucking declaration, a statement, everything I'd ever wanted it to be. I poured into it everything I'd kept locked away—every stolen glance, every lingering touch, every moment I'd spent picturing this. Her lips were like velvet against mine. There was no more holding back. Our tongues moved together seamlessly, our hearts pounding. There was no room for uncertainty or doubt—she needed to fucking know my desire. My hips pressed against hers as we backed against the ivy-covered fence.

A soft moan escaped her as she melted against me. Her hands found their way into my hair, pulling me closer and deeper into her. It was a revelation of desire and emotion that consumed us both, leaving us breathless. I wanted her to feel the way every inch of my body responded to her. I needed her to know that I could never see her like a little sister. After this moment she’d know exactly where I stood.

We broke apart, lips parted with reluctance. I rested my forehead against hers and looked down at her lips, ones I’d so often thought about, now slightly swollen and flushed a deeper shade of pink. I leaned back but lingered close enough to feel the heat radiating from her skin, to see her eyes flutter open, burning fiercely with desire.

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