Page 47 of Playing with Fire

Hazel moved into the water shortly after, but I remained stationary. My stomach was in terrible pain, and I sensed that someone was watching me closely.

"Are you going in?" Kylie asked as she stood up. "In a minute. My stomach's hurting a little bit." I admit.

"Well, you can't stay in the sun!" she panics. She gestures toward the vacant seats and directs me to sit in the shade.

I acknowledge with a nod before rising to approach the shaded seats. Not long after I settled into my seat, I hear another splash.

I felt reassured that Jaxon was nearby, but I couldn't ignore the noise from the trash can area where someone was standing.

And my stomach dropped.

Jaxon tossed his drink away before he turned to look at me. Again, I looked away.

God. Suck it up, Em.

You're fine.

"Em."

You're fine.

"Emerson."

You're fine.

"Hey! Ugly!"

I emerge from my thoughts to take in my surroundings.

"What?" I respond.

Do you plan to go inside the building or just stay here on the boat? Jaxon tries to compel me to give him a response.

But I didn’t give him one. I turn away with a scowl and an eye roll while wishing for him to stop bothering me. I want him to understand that I have no interest in speaking with him.

He doesn't get the memo. Do you really need to stay here just because you have a minor stomachache? His voice now reaches me more directly than before.

"Yep." I gave him a short response.

"No, you're not," he says.

Before I can finish my sentence, he pulls me out of my seat. "Jaxon!" He chuckles as he keeps pulling me toward the rear of the boat. I attempt to resist strongly yet find myself doing nothing effective.

He's stronger than I thought.

The outcome is obvious to me. I need to stop this before I become completely drenched.

I pull my arm back and spin him around so we both come to a halt. I slap him before he can say anything. Hard.

I already made it clear I won't go in at this time.

I sternly get my point across.

I turned around and went back to the shade while his head remained turned aside.

God, if he could be any worse–

A deep breath escapes me when I detect his hands moving across my stomach. His pull brings me backward, taking my feet off the ground. "Put me down!" I fight his grip.

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