Page 2 of Only One Beach House

My cock tingles and swells. He likes what he sees. Of course he does, I “grew up good.” I laugh around another bite of my sandwich, then set it down on the counter. I suppose I could put him out of his misery and find some clothes.

“Yeah, sorry. Didn’t expect anyone else to be here.”

He’s still standing in the doorway, so the only way out of the kitchen is to skirt past him. He doesn’t look all that different than I remember. He’s not rocking the thick-rimmed glasses anymore, but his big, chocolate-colored eyes mesmerize me all the same. He always looked petite next to Slater, but I was a late bloomer and hadn’t even hit puberty the last time he saw me, which means I’ve got a whole new perspective now, towering over him by a good six inches. He tilts his head up to keep his eyes trained on mine as I pass, and his throat bobs with a heavy swallow.

I bite back a groan, everything inside of me tingling and heating at once. Do first loves ever really die? Maybe the cliché, unrequited kind don’t. I shoot him a cocky smirk and keep moving.

“Whatareyou doing here, by the way?” I call over my shoulder as I head down the hallway to the one bedroom on the first floor.

It takes a second, but I hear the pad of his footsteps behind me, and I swear I can feel the heat of his gaze on my bare ass.

“Slater said I could stay for the summer. I’ve uh… well, I’ve had a bad couple of months, so I kind of needed the pick-me-up.”

I frown and look back at him.

“Aw shit, I’m sorry.” I step into the bedroom, leaving the door swinging open behind me. Again, it takes a minute before Nolan appears again, hovering in the doorway, his eyes carefully fixed on the wall while I pick up my discarded clothes and slip them on.

“He didn’t tell me you were going to be here either. And hedefinitelydidn’t tell me you’d be naked.” His lips quirk in a smile, and his face flushes red again before he clears his throat.

Fuck, he’s still that nerdy-cute guy I used to swoon over when I was a kid.

I pull my phone out of the pocket of my shorts once I have them on and see a missed text.

SLATER: Hey, forgot that you’re spending the summer at the beach. FYI, I told No he could crash there. Hope you don’t mind!

I chuckle and turn my phone towards Nolan.

“He texted me, like, ten minutes ago.”

He laughs too, rolling his eyes. “That’s so Slater.”

“Yup.” I stuff my phone back into my pocket. “You’re welcome to stay, obviously. I’m just planning to work and enjoy the change of scenery a bit.” I shrug.

Nolan finally turns to look at me again now that I’m dressed. “Work? What do you do?”

I grin, and my heart beats a little faster as everything slowly sinks in. It’s just going to be the two of us here all summer. No interruptions. No family. Just me and the object of my adolescent daydreams. I’m not sure what god or goddess I pleased, but I’ll take it.

“Tell you what, let’s walk down to the Tiki Hut and I’ll tell you over a drink. My treat.”

He hesitates for just a beat before smiling back at me.

“Sure. Why the hell not?”

Chapter 2

NOLAN

“You’re fucking with me.” I bark out a laugh, my hand bumping against Caspian’s as we head down the boardwalk towards the bustling tourist strip and the tiki bar. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye for the millionth time, and my body flushes hot all over again.

It’s impossible to wrap my head around how the squishy little marshmallow kid I remember grew into…this. If they gave out awards for glow ups, Caspian would be an Olympic gold medal winner.

He looks over at me with a grin, marking an X over his chest with his index finger. “Swear to god. If I were going to make up a career, why would I pick gay romance author?”

“Um, because it’s cool as fuck.” I bump my arm against his, purposefully this time, and I don’t think I’m imagining the flicker of heat that passes through his eyes. Or maybe I am. Either way, butterflies dance through my stomach and an alarm blares in my head, reminding me that this isn’t just some hot dude I ran into, it’s my best friend’s little brother.

I drag my gaze over his full bodyagainand bite back a sigh. More like my best friend’s not-so-littlebrother. But fuck, there are rules against this kind of thing, right? Family members and exes are off limits between friends.

“Good point,” he says shamelessly. “It’s a really fucking cool job.”

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