Page 115 of Most Valuable Players
“Anyone seen Payne? He’s supposed to be bringing reinforcements.” Maverick reaches for the nearly empty bottle and gives it a shake.
“No clue,” Adam says. “Thought he was with you.”
When Taryn shows up with her friends, that feels like my cue to leave.
“Mingle?” I ask Dakota and Reagan.
We make a circle around the party and head inside to check out the drink selection. “This is not what I thought of when you guys said pool party.”
“It’s more bikini party unless you’re brave enough to get in the pool,” Reagan says.
“What’s wrong with the pool?”
“Going into the pool is the equivalent of posting anI’m here to get laidsign on your forehead,” Dakota says. “Which if you’re into that, it’s totally fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She holds up the vodka in invitation. “Drink?”
After we swap out our beer for vodka and tonic, we head back outside.
We sit on lounge chairs on the patio near a mister and watch the people in the pool. Some love matches (or rather, hookups) are being made while other people are being hilariously blown off.
Dakota drills me with twenty questions while we people watch. Now that we’ve spent a little time together, she holds nothing back, but somehow the way she pries is endearing.
“So, no boyfriend?” Reagan asks, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees.
“No,” I say with a scowl.
Dakota laughs. “Oooh, there’s a story.”
“Not a good one.”
Water drips onto my toes and I look up to see Maverick leaning over and shaking his head on us.
“Bad dog,” Dakota scolds him.
I’m laughing as I dodge him continuing to get us wet when my gaze falls to a guy approaching from behind him.
“Ah, there he is,” Maverick says, taking a seat next to me. “Payne, where the hell have you been?”
“Been around.” His dark blue eyes land on me. He’s got a twelve-pack of hard seltzer under one arm and my stomach flips. He pulls a bottle of Mad Dog out of his pocket and hands it to Maverick.
“Trade you.” He motions with his head and Maverick stands, giving up his seat and taking the bottle.
He smells like soap and sun and wild dreams. Dreams you shouldn’t allow because they’re so out of reach, but you can’t help but want. Dreams you don’t speak of, but that live in the darkest corner of your mind.
“Swim anyone?” Maverick asks.
I shake my head as does Reagan.
“Oh, why not.” Dakota stands, looks to me and shrugs with a smirk
“I’m going to find the bathroom. Do you want to come?” Reagan asks me, then glances between me and Heath.
“I’m good.”
Heath opens the case and holds out a can. “Drink?”
As I wrap my hands around the cold can, he holds tight and leans in. “You look good. Do you want to skip this party and go make out?”
I laugh, but heat rushes to my core at the thought. “Pass.”
