Page 22 of Fake Coral and Keys

“I’ve got the perfect dress for you, Daisy!” Lily calls as she drags Kane and Erin towards the pool and bar area. “It’ll look perfect on that smoking little body of yours.”

Blake quirks a brow. “So you’re one of Lily’s models now?”

“Seems so.” I tug at the bathing suit. “I wonder if she’s really going to post any of the pictures of me.”

Blake makes a sound in his throat. “I would put money on it.” He pulls me close, sliding a finger under the string at my collarbone. “You’re unbelievably beautiful.”

I press into him, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him down for a kiss. He presses his lips lightly to mine, then his gaze slides back down to my breasts.

I give him a satisfied smirk. “Eyes up here, buddy.”

He chuckles and presses another kiss to my mouth. “What did that guy say to you?”

Like someone splashes cold water on me, my entire body freezes. “What?”

“Do I need to have a talk with him?” Blake glances back to where the man went.

I pull back, almost pushing him away. “No.”

Blake lets out a huff of air and runs his fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends. “I didn’t like the look on your face when he was talking to you.”

I step back. “Well, he’s gone now.”

Blake sighs and reaches for my hand. “Okay.”

I shoot him a wary look and let him pull me towards the row of bungalows. We’re halfway to our private quarters when Blake speaks. “Tell me about Jim.”

I stop in my tracks, dropping his hand. “No.”

“Was he mean to you?” Blake asks. “Is that why you looked so scared when that guy was talking to you?”

His intense stare makes me step back. “That’s none of your business.”

“Did this Jim hurt you?”

I turn away and take a few steps towards the bar and pool. “Again, none of your business.”

Blake grips my arm and spins me around. Something in my face makes him let me go immediately. “I’m trying to be your friend.”

“We aren’t friends, remember?” I snap. “We are pretending to be in a relationship to make these fucking Gatherings more tolerable for me.”

Blake crosses his arms, leaning back on his heals. “Yes. I forgot. We can’t be human with one another.”

“This is pretend.” I motion between us. “We agreed to this.”

“Pretend,” Blake says. “I remember clearly.”

“Good,” I say as I walk away. “Don’t ask me again.”

“Justine seems hellbent on bringing this Jim guy up at every opportunity,” Blake calls. “It would be helpful if I knew why.”

“Because she’s a bitch,” I say over my shoulder.

There is no way I’m talking to Blake about Jim. That is a piece of my life I would rather not live through again. I hadn’t told my family about him because by the time I should have been ready to introduce him to my family, what I thought was the sweetest man I’d ever met, already turned into Mr. Hyde. Then, I knew deep down there was no way I was going to let my family see me with someone like that. And, just when I was trying to figure out how to escape the situation in one piece, Justine happened, and my entire life exploded in my face.

***

I stumble slightly as I walk through the door to the bungalow. Lily squeals behind me and I turn to wave.

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