Page 15 of Bad Behavior

4

Emma

Iglance at my phone for probably about the five thousandth time, though I don’t really expect anything new to come across the screen. Everything exciting has already happened. I got a much anticipated text from Jameson, roughing out the details of this afternoon.

Surf lessons today?

Totally! Where and when?

Then there is a lapse, with just those three dots, indicating that he’s texting. I friggin’ hate those dots. Then, he finally texts me back.

Meet at Joe’s Surf? Let’s shoot for 2.

Definitely!I immediately text back.

That was at noon. Now it’s one fifteen, and I am squeezing into my teeniest tiniest bikini. I look in the mirror in my messy bedroom, scoping out the pale pink triangle top against my suntanned skin.

I turn and check out my ass, indecisive. I glance at the pile of other swimsuits I own, sucking my bottom lip in between my teeth. I might be wearing the smallest one, but it’s kind of impractical for anything other than sunbathing. One wave gone awry, and the top will be nothing but a memory.

I heave a sigh just as Evie knocks on the open doorway of my bedroom. She is dressed up like she’s going to work, in a little black dress and heels. Her coffee creamer skin is all but glowing, and her dark hair is medium length, done in natural waves. She looks like a million bucks, which is good since knowing Evie her dress and shoes probably cost as much as a car.

She gives me a once over. “Who are you planning to seduce? Is it Jameson?”

I wince. “Is it that obvious?”

“Yeah. I mean, if that bathing suit top were any smaller, it would cease to exist.” She looks faintly amused. “He is really ridiculously hot though.”

I collapse onto my bed. “I know. But Asher has declared me off limits to him, for whatever reason. I’m like… who cares though, really?”

Evie scrunches her nose. “Are you really into Jameson? I thought you just thought he was hot.”

“I do,” I reassure her. “I would just like the option to bang Jameson, if that’s what I want to do.”

“So wear a slightly more normal bikini to the beach with him then,” Evie says. Then she frowns, putting her hand in front of her mouth. “Man, I must’ve eaten something that didn’t agree with my stomach.”

“Are you okay?” I ask, sitting up.

“Yeah. I’m just nauseated. Anyway, I have to get going. I have to take my car in to the shop.” She smiles at me. “Good luck with the seduction, I think?”

I blow out a breath and nod. “Thanks. See you later.”

She nods, her mind obviously elsewhere. I poke through the pile of bikinis, and end up with a white bikini with a hint more coverage. Then I pull on a pair of flattering denim shorts and a strappy black tank top.

After a minute of dithering, I decide on Converse as my footwear. I grab a gray striped beach tote with my wallet, phone, and sunglasses inside, and head out the door. Jameson is waiting for me outside the weathered looking shop, propped by the front door in his dark jeans and a black t-shirt.

When he sees me, he looks a little irritated. Uh oh… what did I do?

“I thought you were going to bail,” he says flatly, crossing his arms.

“It’s only… 2:10,” I say, checking my phone. “You said we were going to shoot for two.”

He frowns down at me, squinting into the bright sunlight. “I like people who are punctual.”

“Take a chill pill,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“You know, maybe this was a bad idea.” He pushes himself off the building, moving toward the parking lot. He seems pretty serious.

“Wait!” I say, rushing forward to catch his arm in my hands. His arm feels so muscular under my touch, I almost squeeze it to make sure I’m not crazy. The contact seems to stop him in his tracks. He looks me right in the eyes, his gaze pinning me in place. “I… I’m sorry, okay?”

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