Page 56 of Barefoot Dreams

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I suck in a sharp breath, sinking into the couch to hide in hopes he simply passes by and that will be the end of it. But no, Griffin stops dead in front of us, his eyes immediately locking with mine.

I have no idea how long we just stay like that, watching each other.

I have no idea why either, but eventually, as if sensing four sets of curious inquisitive eyes on him, he clears his throat. “Ladies,” he says, nodding at them for a moment before finding me again, “Jules.” Another nod, and with that he speed walks on the sand toward the ocean and the guys.

If he was going for nonchalant, then speed walking on the sand was the worst idea he had because it looks comical and a dead giveaway that something is off.

I almost yell after him, almost demand to know just what in the whole universeis off? Whatisgoing on?

“Um, Julie?” Hope says. “Is there something we don’t know?” Her voice cuts me off, and I realize I’ve been staring after Griffin’s retreating form this whole time.

“What?” All eyes are on me and if I wasn’t already flushed, I sure would turn bright red right about now. “Nope. Nothing at all,” I tell her, rolling my lips nervously.

With all the craziness that was their life these past three months, my strange situation with Griffin never came up. Andwe mostly stayed away from each other, so no one felt the tension that was so palpable now.

I just had to see him half naked earlier…ugh.

“Sureeeee,” Gracie draws out. Case in point. “Because we all just got a special greeting.”

“He’s just friends with my brother. That’s all.”

“Keep telling yourself that, sister,” Joy snorts. “That man did not look at you like his friend’s little sister.”

Don’t…I almost scream.Don’t say that.

“Bar, you said? I’d love to come along,” I squeak out, jumping from the couch and grabbing onto Zoe’s arm like it’s my new lifeline.

“I have so many questions right now,” Hope says with concern and more than a healthy dose of curiosity. She, more than others, can tell how off this whole situation felt.

But that’s a worry for another day. After I spend the rest of today weeding in my garden.

“Do not drink any of the local cocktails! Not that you can anyway, but still. Don't,” Joy calls out to Zoe.

“What’s wrong with those?” Zoe shoots back.

“They lead to bad decisions,” Joy answers but her lips also curl up wickedly on the sides.

Grace laughs in answer, clearly remembering exactly which decisions the Eros Spell cocktail brought her sister to when she first arrived here. Aka, my best friend, Jacob.

Zoe furrows her forehead but then just waves Joy comment off and we disappear out of sight.

“Want to talk about it?” she asks me gently.

“Nope, not particularly. You?”

“I’d rather drink,” Zoe adds dryly. “And I wish it could be something a hell of lot stronger than lemonade.”

“Don’t underestimate the power of water in this town,” I warn her, and a second later a body collides with mine from the back.

“Jeez, you two are fast. I barely caught up with you guys,” Hope says, panting from running as she intertwines her hand on my other side.

“Um, what are doing here? Don’t you have the sexy surfer boyfriend show to watch?”

“Eh.” She shrugs. “I get that show every night in bed. I’d rather keep you company. You don’t mind, do you?” Hope asks sweetly, batting her eyelashes. Too sweetly, and I stop, halting all of us.

“Uh, I’m getting a distinct impression this is some sort of intervention.” Zoe glances from me to Hope.

“It absolutely is,” Hope adds in that same sweet tone, and I fight a squirm and a groan all at the same time.