Page 55 of Barefoot Dreams
“Um, could you…” Griffin turns around, pointing at his back. “Could you zip me up, please?” he adds quietly, and I’m glad he can’t see me. Can’t see the shuddering breath I take as I lift my fingers up, clasp the zipper, and pull it.
I’m not touching him, but the heat of his body still sears right through my fingertips.
“There.” I swallow, plastering a smile on my face.
“Thanks.” Griffin turns around.
“Have fun,” I say and hightail it before he can add anything else.
This was already too much. Too close. Too warm.
Hurriedly, I speed walk toward the last, bright yellow cottage on the beach, trying to put the feelings he made me feel back into that box.
Girls put in so much work into making these inhabitable again. From simple painting to replacing entire parts of the rooms. But alas, all three stand proudly at the edge of the beach, marram grass surrounding them from all sides. At the backs, there are car ports, and in the front, a huge bonfire pit we light up at least once a week.
“Hi.” I smile brightly—a definite ten—when I see them and Zoe sitting on the couch already.
All three of the Levine sisters shared a few similar features like variations of brown hair, tall frames, and penchant for dramatics. Although each one shows it differently.
But that’s where the similarities end both physically and internally. Where Hope has almost identical body size to mine, Joy has curves for days, the kind that makes men go feral. My best friend, point in case.
And Grace is so small and fragile, I’m surprised the wind doesn’t get her every time. She’s also the only of the sisters to inherit blue eyes from their father.
As for the other aspects…well, again, Hope and I could pass for sisters, maybe that’s why we bonded so fast. But Joy is one of the grumpiest people I’ve ever known and that’s saying something, seeing as I grew up with Luke Colson who is the king of grumpy. And ironically, Grace is the sweetest sunshine ever known. The girl curse in Harry Potter terms, for Pete’s sake. It’s adorable.
Zoe is different looks-wise with her long blonde hair, but the bombshell body and prickly personality matches her friends.
“Hey, you,” Hope greets me first, getting up from the couch for a hug. “How was the shop this morning?”
“Its usual, busy self.” I walk around, giving hugs to all the rest.
“Lily there to take care of business for you?” Joy asks, and I nod.
Recently, my mom decided she was too bored with the million hobbies she already has and asked if she could help at the shop from time to time. I was reluctant to give my baby to someone else, but Sip of Love is safe in her hands. Plus, it gives me a few free mornings to myself.
“This is amazing,” Zoe says, breathing in the fresh, salty air as she slouches back against the cozy cushions. I don’t know much about her story but what little I do know sounds like a part of soap opera, not real life.
I mean…to not only find out your boyfriend is sleeping with your boss—aka Joy—as well and hiding it from both women, but also to get pregnant from the bastard who wants nothing to do with you or the baby? Yeah…she needs Loverly Cave like no one else.
“Tell me about it,” Joy says wistfully, and I chuckle softly when Zoe ping-pongs her gaze from Joy to Hope to Grace who all watch the ocean with those heart eyes.
I’m used to it, it’s nothing new for me, but not Zoe.
“Jesus, you guys are insufferable,” she grumbles and gets up from the couch.
“Where are you going?” Joy manages to take her eyes from Jacob’s ass to her. “The show just started.” She points at the men like they are literal eye candy.
To be fair, they are, but I can’t seem to notice them. Not when I’m strung up as tight as a wire, waiting forhimto join in as well.
“And I bet it’s a good one, but even the sight of men makes me want to puke right now.” Zoe makes a gagging noise, and I’m pretty sure she’s not faking it. “I’m going to the bar.”
“It’s ten a.m.,” Joy deadpans in that no-nonsense tone of hers.
“Better late than never.” She shrugs and looks over at me. “Want to come along?” she asks, clearly seeing my own internalstruggles but I’m not sure I want to be surrounded by Willa and the rest of Love Hive right now.
They’ve been trying to pair anything that moves since their great success with the Levine sisters.
I’m about to decline when the air shifts, and Griffin rounds the corner, his body clad in that wetsuit, sticking to every inch of him like second skin with a board under his arm. It hasn’t been nearly long enough for me to get my emotions—and other things—under control for him to show up so soon again.
