Page 57 of I Blame the Alcohol

“That’s before I knew you would cheat.”

I open my mouth to list all the ways this aggravating girl is wrong when she gives me a devilish grin.

“Just kidding.”

I move instinctively, yanking my legs out of the water, and sweeping Stella off the ground. She squeals, kicking her legs like an unhappy bride to be.

“I was just kidding! Put me down, stupid.”

I smirk, tightening my grip, “I don’t appreciate all the name calling, O’Brien. First, you insult my character by calling me a cheater and now you’re attacking my intelligence.”

Stella giggles and the sound fills my chest with warmth.

“I am so sorry kind sir, would you please put me down so I can stay dry and warm?”

I look at the big blue eyes shining back at me. The smile on her face is sugary sweet but the glint in her eyes is anything but.

“No.”

Stella doesn’t get another word in before I jump, taking us both into the pool.

Stella

“Son of a…”

My explicit gets cut off when Cody breaks through the surface. Crystal droplets cling to his blonde hair, the spiky ends pointing up in every direction. The glow from the underwater pod lights make his brown eyes look devasting, the molten colour swirling with mischief as he darts towards me.

“Get away!” I shriek and try to swim in the opposite direction, but Cody’s powerful arms cut through the water, grabbing my ankle before I can make my escape.

He tugs me backwards, making my shirt billow around me. Kicking against his hold, I manage to get one foot free and use it to push against his chest, launching me forward while he goes splashing backwards.

I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe as I dash to the closest ladder, grabbing a hold of the rungs and pulling myself out of the water. Just as I’m about to reach land, a pair of callused hands grab my waist and the next thing I know, I’m somersaulting back into the water.

I break the surface with a gasp, sucking down a lungful of oxygen before diving back under. Chemicals burn my eyes as I blink them open, the blurry outline of Cody’s jeans making it easy to spot his location.

Using my arms to swim in that direction, I cut a wide path around him, keeping the element of surprise when I push off the tiled floor and fling myself onto Cody’s broad back.

“Shit!” Cody stumbles backwards, the momentum from my unexpected koala attack sending him crashing into the water.

“I win!” Clapping my hands with glee, I twirl through the water like a mermaid taking a victory lap.

“Terror.”

I laugh, flopping onto my back and kicking my way over to the defeated captain. Cody watches me drift closer, his eyes darkening as they take in the t-shirt plastered to my bare chest.

My nipples were already hard from the cold water, but the heat in his eyes has them aching.

He reaches for me at the same time I reach for him, our bodies coming together as if that’s where they were always meant to be. My legs wrap loosely around his waist while my arms drift to his shoulders.

Cody’s hands lightly graze my ass before coming to a rest on my lower back. Droplets fall from his eyelashes as he blinks at me.

“Should we talk about that kiss now?”

“Depends on what you have to say.” I whisper my answer, scared anything louder might trigger the same reaction as last time.

When I had to watch him walk away.

“I lied.”

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