Page 26 of Raine Out (Grand Slam 2)

Alex

After I checked in at the resort, I headed over to Seb and Sophie’s villa. It’s the only house in a small, private bay on the south side of the island—about a twenty-minute drive from where everyone else is staying.

The villa sits so close to the beach that it almost looks like the infinity pool is connected to the ocean. The patio’s surrounded by a lush forest of palm and mangrove trees with dots of white frangipani flowers jumping out at their bases. The rich, ginger smell reminds me of my childhood home.

Seb’s three friends from Michigan were already here when I arrived. Stone and Ricky are sitting on the edge of the pool. Paul’s floating on a raft. Sophie’s sitting between Seb’s legs on the steps, leaning back against his chest. His arms are firmly wrapped around her, as usual.

We’ve been hanging out for about an hour, but I can tell by the way Seb’s started kissing Sophie’s neck that he’d like to have some alone time with her.

“Okay,” Sophie says, standing up. “I’m jumping in the shower. I’ll leave you guys so you can have some male-bonding time.”

Seb pulls Sophie back down on his lap. “Baby, you don’t have to leave.”

“I know,” she says, kissing him, “but I need to clean up if I’m going to be ready to go to the airport to get Raine. Maisie’s picking me up in an hour.”

“I’ll drive you to the airport.” His hand slides down until it rests on her butt cheek that’s just barely covered by her bikini. “I don’t want you two going on the ferry alone.”

“If you want to,” she says, hugging him, “but we can handle it.”

He nuzzles his face into her hair. “I know, but isn’t Raine bringing her boyfriend? He might like having another guy there.”

Sophie laughs. “She’s bringing a guy who she says is her boyfriend, but he’s probably not.”

“What?” I say. “Why would she lie about having a boyfriend?”

“So I won’t try to play matchmaker. She hates it when I try to set her up.”

“Oh look at that,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I have something in common with her already. Maybe you should set me up with her.”

Sophie spins her head around and looks at me. “Maybe I should. You have a lot in common. She’s wicked smart just like you. You might like her if you can get her nose out of whatever book she’s reading.”

“She likes to read?” I say and then realize I said it out loud. I point at Sophie. “No setups! Promise me.”

“Yes, she likes to read. I’ve never seen her without a book.” She taps her lips with her fingers. “Hmm. Who else have I never seen without a book?”

“Seb,” I say, slapping some water his way. “You promised to talk to her about this.”

“I can’t help you if you’re going to encourage her.”

“I was joking.” They’re both smiling at me—their faces pressed together. “Sophie, stop setting me up—with her or anyone else.”

She looks back at Seb. “Do I have to stop?” she coos.

He starts kissing her neck again. “You don’t have to stop anything, ever.”

“Are you just saying that to make me feel good?”

His hands start moving up and down her back. “No, baby, I have other ways to make you feel good—”

“Oh my God. Enough!” I say, splashing them again. “There are other people right next to you. Get a room.”

Sophie laughs as she wriggles out of his grip and stands up again. “Sorry, Alex. It’s still new.”

“It’s not that new,” Ricky snarls. “Start getting sick of each other already. It’s annoying.”

“What he said,” I say, nodding at Ricky.

She pats the top of my head as she walks by. “I’m setting you up with Raine.”

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