Page 32 of Make Me Stay

“Okay, wait. Firstly, I need all the details.”

“We are not swapping details, especially since you’re sleeping with my brother.”

She snickered. “Fair. I’ll keep mine to a minimum, but there’s no reason I should be denied all the delicious details. That mouth alone should be illegal.”

“You have no idea.”

“Let’s go, you two!” My brother’s voice came from the kitchen. “The traffic is going to be murder.”

I stood and grabbed my coverup and towel off the end of my bed. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Nicole grabbed my arm. “We don’t have to go.”

“We do. I’ll get used to being around him. Not like he’ll be here forever.”

“Okay.” She picked up her bag full to bursting with towels, sunscreen, and snacks.

I followed her outside where Wyatt was loading a cooler into the flatbed. His face softened as soon as he spotted Nicole. She rushed ahead and I had to look away when they kissed.

I was happy for my friend, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how easy and yet somehow thrilling it was with Kai. Knowing exactly how good we could be was worse than when I’d been oblivious.

I climbed into the back of my brother’s extended cab. Thankfully, the music was blaring, and Nicole was singing along to an old Journey song with my brother’s indulgent smile. By the time we got to the lake, I’d lightened up enough to sing along to Bon Jovi.

I climbed out after them and spotted the Murdock spread. As per usual, there were tons of folding tables full of food under canopies. The lake was nearly still, which was odd for Saratoga, and the sun was blasting. Even before we got out of the parking lot, Fleetwood Mac drifted up to greet us.

Joe and Anna were ordering the Murdock boys around. Sully and Nora were uncovering food and putting out utensils, and all the while they were drifting close together, then remembering they had a job to do. Secret smiles turned to endearing grins when Sully’s son Danny flew through to con them out of a slice of watermelon.

Cash and Ripley were staking down other tents for some shade against the sun on the beach.

I followed Wyatt down who had hurried forward to help.

Nicole linked her arm around mine. “We can go off and sit on the beach. You don’t even have to be around him.”

“I don’t see him, anyway.”

I made small talk with Anna and Joe then I jumped in to help cook hot dogs and hamburgers. There were enough people around from town that I could hide in plain sight.

“Lexi.”

I stiffened at his voice.

“Lexi, turn around, please.”

“No, that’s okay. I’m good.” I started down toward the beach and he grabbed my hand.

“Lexi, can we talk?”

“Nope. I think your silence for the last few days has said it all. When are you heading out of town?” I braced for the answer. It had to be the reason he’d pulled away.

“I’m not.”

At that, I turned around. “What?”

“I’m not leaving. In fact, I was apartment hunting until I can find a house that I like.”

“Apartment?” Hope hummed under my skin. “House?”

He laughed. “Yeah, house. Maybe you want to help me with that.”

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