Page 23 of Something to Someone

Without a definitive plan, I braced my hands on the edge of the pool and jumped out.

“Caroline, wait.”

She stopped abruptly and turned, holding up a hand, her swimsuit swinging from her fingers. “No,” she said. “You’re not coming in.”

I swallowed and closed my eyes for a moment, willing the blood to migrate anywhere else besides below my waist. Bracing my hands on my hips, water dripped and pooled underneath me.

“Okay, not exactly what I expected. I feel like that was some pretty good begging, convincing…”

“It was,” she agreed. “But you said you were willing to take whatever I give you…” she said, and although they were truthful, I knew those words would live to haunt me.

“I did,” I agreed and smiled, but Caroline raised one eyebrow and gave me her most withering stare that did little to make me waver. She turned, opened the door, and took a step past the threshold. But before she disappeared inside, she glanced over her shoulder and said, “Good night, Trouble.”

I swiped a hand through my hair and readjusted on my feet, imagining all the dirty things we could have gotten up to if she’d invited me inside. “Good night, pretty girl.”

Caroline slipped inside, and everything inside me was telling me to go after her. But I figured space was more important. She’d been denying any feelings, sexual or otherwise, for me for years, so I was sure she was overwhelmed.

Me, on the other hand, I think I was in shock. Especially since I couldn’t manage a single coherent thought. She’d walked away from me, but I still felt like I was walking on a cloud when I gathered my clothes and retrieved the spare towel from the chair.

Call it overconfidence or cockiness, but I knew that wouldn’t be the last time we’d be together. We both wanted,needed, more.

THIRTEEN

IN OVER YOUR HEAD

Ryder

“Okay,you’ll let us know how it goes, right?” Stephen asked as I pulled the door open to the library.

I rolled my eyes and juggled my phone to the other ear as I crossed the crowded lobby toward the back staircase. Finals were upon us, and the entire place was buzzing with stress and anxiety. Luckily, I was headed up to the third floor where it was always less crowded.

“Stephen, you can trust me,” I argued, taking the stairs two at a time and dodging people left and right.

“I know, I know. That’s why we chose you as our best man.”

“Really? I thought it was because of my charm and eye for design.”

“That, too!” Miles chimed in somewhere in the background. I could hear waves breaking on the other end of the line along with faint voices and laughter. It sounded amazing and nothing like the terrifying silence of the library.

“Are you at the beach? I’m in the library about to study for finals while you’re at the beach?”

Stephen laughed as I tugged the third-floor door open. “That was us last year, man. Let us know if you need anything.”

“Caroline and I have it covered. Seriously, you have nothing to worry about.”

Stephen scoffed. “You’re on a first-name basis with our wedding planner now?”

I stepped into the much quieter third floor and scanned the tables closest to me for Theo. “She’s my mom’s best friend, Stephen. And I’m the one who sent you her way.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. I guess I just didn’t think you knew her all that well, too.”

I cleared my throat and headed farther into the library, checking each table for my scary, tattooed best friend. Dropping my voice, I said just above a whisper, “Yeah, I know her well.”I know her so well in fact, I can tell you exactly how sweet and heavenly her pussy tastes and how decadent her moans are when she’s coming on my tongue.

But that wasn’t something Stephen needed to know. Although he would likely be intrigued to hear about my recent sexual experiences with his wedding planner and my mom’s best friend, he didn’t need the details.

In the very back corner, I spotted Theo with his head bent over a book and a pen in his hand tapping quickly against the pages.

I said my goodbyes to Stephen and promised to let him know how the food and cake tasting went the following day. Caroline’s assistant, Addison, had already texted me to confirm the time. Caroline had pointedly been ignoring me since the weekend before. I was unsurprised that she’d stopped responding, so I hadn’t taken it personally.

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