Page 121 of Knot Your Sunshine
"That base needs more water!" James shouts.
"It needs less of your opinions!" Cole shoots back.
Josh turns back to them. "Actually, the moisture content should be approximately fifteen percent for optimal binding," he says matter-of-factly, pouring some water on their new creation.
Keanu abandons his lunges and runs over to help, but his enthusiasm sends his foot directly onto the castle's outer wall, making the entire structure tilt dangerously.
"KEANU!"
"Oops, sorry guys! But hey, destruction breeds innovation?" He grins sheepishly, then spots something behind us and suddenly looks even more excited.
Noa appears, dangling a handful of keys. "Ready for some real fun? Got us some really fast jets."
* * *
The jet ski bucks beneath me, and I scream half terror, half in exhilaration.
"Open it up, Sunshine!" Keanu shouts from the jet ski running parallel to mine, his hair streaming behind him like a black flag. "You've got this!"
I twist the throttle. The machine leaps forward, water exploding around me in diamond drops.
Josh appears on my other side, taking waves at perfect angles. Behind us, Noa follows like a protective shadow, ready to help if I fall.
Elena zooms past with controlled grace, her three alphas flanking her in perfect formation. She executes a turn so sharp it sends a wall of water over James.
"Show off!" James calls out, drenched and laughing.
We circle back toward calmer waters, engines purring as we bob on the gentle swells. My thighs burn from gripping the seat, and my hair whips around my face in salt-crusted ropes. I'll probably need an hour with deep conditioner to salvage it.
But right now, I don't care.
Josh pulls alongside, close enough that I can see his rare, full smile. "Want to race?"
"You're on!"
* * *
The beach towel stretches beneath us like a small continent. We needed the extra-large one because the concept of personal space doesn't seem to apply to us anymore. Not that I'm complaining.
Keanu's arm drapes across my shoulders, his lips pressing against my temple as he inhales deeply, a soft groan escaping. Josh lies with his head in my lap, my fingers threading through his hair while he traces invisible patterns on my thigh. Noa stretches along my other side, one hand possessively spanning my hip, thumb stroking lazy circles.
The sun hangs low now, painting everything in honey and amber tones that make the beach feel magical.
"Remember when you first revealed yourselves as my scent matches?" The words drift out lazy as the tide.
"You mean when we ambushed you in the conference room?" Keanu laughs. "And we thought we were being smooth…"
"Yeah, I thought I was under olfactory attack." I admit, laughing. "Three alphas I'd just met claiming to be my scent matches? I was confused and terrified." I watch the sun sink lower. "Every previous relationship had basically been an ultimatum, choose career or choose love. And somewhere along the way, I think I'd convinced myself getting both was impossible… that evenwantingboth was asking too much."
Josh turns in my lap, looking up at me, his voice low. "And to think we almost ruined this..."
I cup his face, looking him in the eyes. "Good thing we figured it out."
Noa shifts, propping himself on an elbow to look at me properly. "Our badass omega, being the best partnerandconquering the hair world one franchise at a time."
He pulls me down for a kiss, and when we part, breathing harder, Josh rises for his turn, his kiss precise and sweet. Then Keanu, all sunshine and laughter against my lips.
"I love you," I tell them, tell the ocean, tell the universe that gave me everything I never knew I could have.
