Page 64 of Bound By Alphas 1: Bound

“Worth it.” Jake grinned. “I’ve never seen someone get so thoroughly distracted during a race as you did against Keir. That last-minute crash was epic.”

“He cheated,” I insisted, feeling heat rise to my cheeks at the memory of Keir’s hand on my thigh. “No one wins fairly with psychological warfare tactics.”

“Is that what we’re calling it now?” Drew called, swimming back to the boat. “Pretty sure that was just you being completely flustered by?—”

“Finish that sentence and you’re swimming back to shore,” I threatened, tossing a water bottle in his direction.

Drew caught it with a laugh, and Jake and Tyler exchanged knowing glances that I chose to ignore. For a moment, it felt like old times—before I knew I was supposedly destined to be mated to my adoptive brothers. Just hanging out with friends, giving each other crap, and enjoying the day.

“So what’s the deal with the Blackwood cousins?” Tyler asked, nodding toward where Sophia and Mia were now swimming suspiciously close to Cade and Logan. “They seem… intense.”

“They’re Blackwoods,” Jake said, as if that explained everything. “Old money, old blood, old attitudes.”

“And apparently very interested in your brothers,” Tyler said to Drew and me. “They’ve barely looked at anyone else since they arrived.”

I tried to keep my expression neutral as I watched Sophia laugh at something Cade said, placing her hand on his bare shoulder. “They can have them,” I muttered, opening a soda with more force than necessary.

Drew shot me a knowing look but didn’t comment. Instead, he pulled out a waterproof speaker from one of the storage compartments. “Who’s ready for some music?”

The next hour passed pleasantly enough. Drew, Jake, Tyler, and I set up an impromptu card game on the deck, eating Elena’s famous fried chicken and trading stories about our most embarrassing moments in high school. I relaxed, almost forgetting about the brothers and their admirers.

Almost.

It was impossible not to notice how Sophia and Mia had maneuvered Cade and Logan to the far side of the swimming area, or how they took every opportunity to touch them—a hand on an arm here, a playful splash there. Keir had joined our card game for a while but kept getting distracted, his eyes drifting to where his brothers were surrounded by the Blackwood cousins.

“Your deal,” Drew said, nudging me and breaking my concentration.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, gathering the cards.

“Don’t worry about it,” Jake said, following my gaze. “If I had those two circling my brothers like sharks, I’d be distracted too.”

“I’m not worried,” I lied, shuffling the cards with more focus than necessary. “They’re all adults. They can flirt with whoever they want.”

“Sure.” Tyler nodded, his tone making it clear he didn’t believe me for a second. “That’s why you’ve been death-gripping that soda can for the last ten minutes.”

I looked down to find I had indeed crushed the empty can in my hand without realizing it. “Just thinking about recycling,” I said lamely.

Drew snorted. “Right. And I’m just thinking about world peace when I check out that lifeguard at the public beach.”

The conversation shifted to safer topics, but I couldn’t help noticing when Cade, Logan, and the Blackwood cousins finally swam back toward the boat. Sophia and Mia were laughing at something, looking impossibly gorgeous even with wet hair.

“I’m going to get some sun,” I announced, abandoning our card game to move to the front of the boat. I needed some space before I said something I’d regret.

I carefully made my way to the bow, stepping up onto the raised platform with its curved seating area. The low safety railing provided minimal protection from the water below but offered an unobstructed view of the lake stretching before us. I settled on the cushioned sun pad, letting my fingers trail along the polished metal railing as the boat cut through the water.

I’d been enjoying the relative solitude for maybe fifteen minutes when a shadow fell across my face. Looking up, I was surprised to find Sophia and Mia standing over me. Great. Just what I needed to ruin my moment of peace.

“He’s something, isn’t he?” Sophia said.

“What?” I asked, though I knew exactly who she was referring to.

“Your brother,” she clarified, her eyes following Cade as he pulled himself back onto the boat. “The way he commands attention without even trying.”

I shrugged, uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. “I guess.”

Mia settled beside me, while Sophia positioned herself on my other side. Their casual movements somehow managed to box me in against the railing.

“It must be difficult sometimes,” Mia said. “Living in their shadow.”

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