Page 80 of Knockin' Boats
Judging by the slow, sinful curve of his smile, he got the message crystal clear.
CHAPTER 18
Ash
“I’m so stuffed.” Brooks lifted his T-shirt and rubbed his belly in his lounger outside Sawyer’s camper.
I’d grilled up hot dogs, stuffing them with jalapenos, and sliced up some potatoes and onions to throw on the grill. Sawyer didn’t have many ingredients to work with, but it’d all turned out damn good if I did say so myself.
But I didn’t have to pat myself on the back. Sawyer’s friends had shown their appreciation by wolfing it down.
“Damn,son, Ash gave you a food baby!” Cash exclaimed right before taking another huge and rather obscene bite of his third hot dog and moaning theatrically. “Sawyer will be so jealous!”
I glanced sidelong at Sawyer to see how he’d take the teasing. He was probably regretting telling anyone we’d messed around. Cash was relentless.
But Sawyer only smirked and said, “Or maybe you’re jealous, Cash. Since you obviously want to have his baby next.”
“Okay, you’re all weird,” Shua said, popping up from their seat at the picnic table. “And Raphael is tired, so I’m gonna go.”
After eating, the kid had dragged a turtle out from under Sawyer’s camper and fed it some lettuce.
“Can Raph stay here? Our camper is all blocked out underneath, and I want them to feel cozy.”
“Uh, sure,” Sawyer said. “But they’re not a pet.”
I wasn’t so sure about that. The turtle seemed to be accepting its fate as Shua petted its shell and told it goodnight.
Sawyer’s other friends started standing one by one, gathering trash and thanking me for the food.
I shrugged. “No big. They were just dogs and potatoes.”
Cash laid a finger over my lips. “Hush your lying mouth. They were jalapeno-infused heaven.”
Sawyer shoved his hand down. “Go, already. Before you make this weirder.”
Cash laughed and headed off after Brooks and Skylar.
Leaving just me and Sawyer.
“Alone at last,” I said quietly.
“Yeah.” He hesitated. “Uh, so…”
I stepped closer to him and hooked one finger into the waistband of his board shorts. “So?”
“How do we do this when we’re not…”
“Mad at each other?” I asked with a laugh.
“Yeah.” He nodded seriously, and his gaze kept darting around, taking in everything but me.
I cocked my head. “Aw, is Saw shy?”
“Shut up,” he grumbled.
“I mean, I can piss you off if that’s what it takes,” I said. “I can talk about how I absolutely kicked your ass on the wake today.”
He scoffed. “You wish.”
