Page 26 of Catch the Sun

“Taking a bath.”

My mouth snaps shut when his answer sinks in.

That’s…

That was my line.

Max looks blasé as he sips from his red cup and stares into the blaze of firelight. He’s managed to render me speechless, which is rare and unprecedented. I don’t think I like it. Swallowing, I fumble for something smart and witty to say but come up as empty as my cold, black heart.

I pop open the tab on my can of Dr Pepper and start to chug. It fizzes on my tongue, bringing it back to life. “So, are you actually friends with these guys?” I flick my hand up and wave it around, referencing Andy and his cringey followers.

Before Max can respond, Andy interrupts with a roar of laughter as he slaps a buddy on the back with athwap. “Dude. You’re so hard up for a lay, you were playing Bloody Mary in the bathroom, hoping that bitch would show up so you could get some.”

“Shut the fuck up,” some blond guy says while putting my scowling abilities to shame.

I groan inwardly. If Max says yes, any friendship potential will shrivel on the spot.

“Nope,” Max mutters, shifting on the bench until his denim-clad thigh kisses mine. “I only have one friend and she’s still in the preliminary stage.”

“Preliminary?”

“Mm-hmm.” He nods, squinting into the fire. “I need to make up for my knee-jerk rejection that had nothing to do with her and had everything to do with my own isolated tendencies.”

Something tells me he’s serious. He wants to be friends.

I have no idea what to say, so I say nothing. I see Max staring at me in my periphery, waiting for a response. For a confirmation or a handshake. A friendship bracelet.

Maybe a binding blood oath.

All I offer is a weird noise. “Ohm.”

Awesome.My brain couldn’t decide betweenohandum. I fill my cheeks with air and blow out a slow breath, tapping my feet in opposite time andbecoming supremely interested in a tiny insect crawling along the toe of my faux-suede boot.

He’s still staring and it’s making me fidgety.

I spare him a glance and watch as a smile stretches on his lips, his eyes twinkling against the flames.

Why is he smiling at me? Why is he twinkling?

I’m feeling hot all of a sudden. From the fire.

I curl my fingers around the hem of my hoodie and pull it over my head with both arms. I smooth my hair back down and readjust the straps of my navy tank top, catching the way Max’s eyes flick to my chest for half a second before he looks away and takes another sip from his cup.

When I peer across the firepit, I spot Andy leering at me. His gaze rolls down my body and hovers on my cleavage. He doesn’t break away like Max did and instead licks a dollop of beer—or drool—off his bottom lip before capturing it with his teeth and making a hissing sound.

Then he makes a derogatory comment, to nobody’s surprise. “I didn’t think you had any redeeming qualities, Sunbury, but you’re making quite the case for yourself with those titties.”

Max flies up from the bench and hurls his drink in Andy’s face.

“The fuck, Manning!”

“Have some respect, you piece of shit.” Max returns to his place beside me, tossing the empty cup in the fire as the plastic curls and chars.

My cheeks burn. My heart teeters.

I sit there stunned, my hands raised, palms forward, as my chest heaves with a quick burst of adrenaline.

That was…unexpected.

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