Page 139 of The Perfect Spiral
I had no response to that, and Ben knew it.
“You know I’m right, sweetheart,” he added after a moment, watching me come to the realization that he was, in fact, correct.
“You’re wrong about him... liking me. He doesn’t, he—” I was interrupted by the sliding open of the back door, revealing Miss USA herself in all her blonde glory. Why hadn’t she left yet?
I rolled my eyes as she strutted in, commanding attention in her hot pink bikini and wedges, her blonde hair perfectly curled and makeup flawlessly applied.
Ben glanced at her, then back at me. “So... he’s back with her?” he questioned, his voice rising slightly with each word.
I shook my head. “I don’t know? I don’t think so!”
Delilah chimed in, “He’s not, he was never with her. That girl is so spoiled,” she commented, cleaning the plates on the table with a look of distaste.
“Good morning, everyone!” Lauren greeted, her smile sweeping the room. She set her bag down and approached Ben, extending her hand for him to shake. Being Ben, he was polite, but I knew he wouldn’t be charmed by her.
“Well, hello there, handsome! I’m Lauren, and you are?”
“Ben,” he replied, standing to shake her hand and offering a tight smile.
She leaned in closer to whisper in his ear, “You’re cute. Have we met before, Ben?” He stepped back and reclaimed his seat.
She gave him a puzzled look, clearly not used to being ignored.
He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. Maybe we did, but I can’t remember.” I struggled to hide my surprise and the smile threatening to spread across my face.
“Maybe not. You definitely would’ve remembered me,” she recovered from his subtle dig. Ben wasn’t usually so blunt with people.
“Knox, darling, could you set up a bed for me down at the beach? I hate sitting in the sand.”
He sighed audibly, locking eyes with me. “No, do it yourself or ask Ben to do it.” Ben’s head snapped towards Knox, and they locked gazes.
“Nah, I’m good, man. She’s your girlfriend. You should help her.”
“She’s not my girlfriend... man. She’s single, knock yourself out.” Ben frowned, but broke eye contact.
Lauren stood there, grinning widely, clearly enjoying the tension she was causing.
“Good to know, but I’m not interested,” Ben stated plainly. Her smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
“You’re not interested?” The surprise in her voice was evident, but Ben simply shook his head, his gaze fixed on the ocean.
He patted my leg and asked, “Ready to go surfing?” making me smile. “Ready when you are, darling,” I replied in the most teasing tone I could muster.
Chapter 46
The waves were small today, but Ben checked the forecast and assured me they would pick up later. We stood at the edge of the shore, splashing each other and laughing.
I kept an eye on Eden in the water with Adam. I had asked himto look after her, and he was holding her hand, making sure she was safe.
“Such a cute couple,” Ben commented in his best valley girl voice, referring to Adam and Eden. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing, clutching my stomach, but I had to agree with him.
“Well, Adam’s actually my boyfriend, so we make quite the pair! I’m his first kiss, just so you know,” I tease, splashing water at him. He flinches and grabs my hand, pulling me closer with a playful glint in his eyes.
“I’ll dunk you if you keep that up, sweet cheeks. I can’t have you messing up this masterpiece of a hairdo. You might have Carter wrapped around your little finger, but not me. Well, not in the same way, so I won’t hesitate to dunk you.”
“If you do, Hendrix, I’ll take you down with me! And I don’t have him wrapped around anything of mine,” I retort, breaking away from his touch with a smile.
“You’re smiling a lot more, Thompson. It suits you. Maybe you should share some of that cheer with sour puss over there,” he suggests, nodding towards Knox who is glaring at him once again.
