Page 68 of Britta & the Beach Boy
“When is it my turn?” I take a few steps closer to the bed, even though it’s clearlynotmy turn.
Dex sits up enough to see me. I can’t actually see his abs through his T-shirt, and that doesn’t stop me from picturing what they look like, all activated in the crunch position he’s holding.
“Whenever you want, Britta.” His tone is neutral, but his eyes dance the same way he did across the waves.
I’m so tempted to lie down next to him, engulfed in the down bedding, pillows, and his arms. I’m exhausted. I can’t remember anymore when I wasn’t. I bet I could rest pretty well with Dex holding me.
Which is why I back away from the bed. “I’ll take my turn tonight.”
Dex nods and lies back down, closing his eyes. I study his profile but stay where I am.
If this arrangement is going to work, I can’t give into any physical or emotional attraction. Of course, I’m longing for both,but love is not part of my plan for the next few years. I’m not ready yet. I have too many things I want to do first.
Dex and I have to stay in this room together. There’s no way around it. If it were just the staff I was worried would ask questions about why Dex and I didn’t sleep together—in the strictest sense of the word—I wouldn’t care. I imagine that people in hotels like this are trained to keep their mouths shut.
My family, on the other hand, is not.
They would have all kinds of questions about why I was sharing a room with Stella instead of the man I’m marrying in a few hours. I’d get a long lecture from my brothers, Dad, aunt, and cousin about how marriage isn’t a short-term business arrangement, it’s a lifetime commitment built on love.
I don’t disagree. That’s been their experience, and it’s worked out great. But that doesn’t mean my experience should be the same.
Noise from the hallway draws my attention away from Dex. I have an idea of what—or who—it is even before the knock at the door.
Dex turns his head and looks at me.
“My family,” I say to answer the question on his face.
He scrambles off the bed and drags a hand through his hair while I answer the door. I barely have it open before they swarm in—all thirteen of them. I expected seven with my brothers, their partners, and Dad. But Stella’s mom, her brother Sebastian, sister-in-law, and niece are also in tow. The last two in, though, are the most unexpected.
Grandma and Grandpa Sparks, my mom’s parents.
Dex shakes my dad’s hand, looking more intimidated than he did when he paddled out for the World Title.
I don’t blame him; I guess. Dad is a big guy, but his perpetual smile makes him look more like a big teddy bear than a grizzly.He’s not smiling now, though. And neither is my brother Bear, who looks even scarier than Dad.
Fortunately, Georgia’s smile makes up for everyone else’s death stares.
“Dex!” She throws her arms around him, then waves me over so she can pull me in, too. She’s half a foot shorter than I am, so Dex and I are both forced to curl into her neck.
“I predicted you’d fall for each other the minute I saw you together this summer!” Georgia exclaims. “I never dreamed you’d get married so fast, but when you know, you know.”
Dex and I give each other a look across her shoulders that I hope no one else catches. Apparently, Georgia knows more about us than we do.
“Better than living together,” Grandpa says in his gruff voice.
That’s as close to approval as we’ll get from him, and I’ll take it. Grandpa’s old school. If Dex and I were really in love, Grandpa would be more upset if we moved in together than he is about us getting married, even if we barely know each other.
So, I’ll just keep letting him think that’s what’s happening here. The guilt I feel will get easier after a while—probably.
“These are some digs, Britt.” My brother Zach scans the entire room, letting his eyes linger on the rumpled bed.
“What’s the plan for this… event?” Dad’s question hovers uncomfortably in the air, and he won’t make eye contact with Dex or me.
I look at Dex. He and Archie said they’d take care of everything, so I don’t have an answer for Dad, even though now he’s looking at me, expecting one.
“Archie has it all planned, but we wanted it to be a surprise for Britta.” Dex takes a couple of tentative steps toward Dad, who does his best not to encourage him.
Dex bites his lip and shoots me a glance, then pulls his shoulders back and puts on a confident smile. He moves closeenough to Dad to swing an arm over his shoulder. “Before we do anything, we should talk. This is all fast—you have to be worried—and I want to marry your daughter, but not without your permission, sir.”
