Page 43 of Savored Sins
Zeke: It’s alright. Be there in 10.
The shore is already crowded with people when Jenny and I show up to the clambake on Sunday evening. I’m not very thrilled about having driven together, but I wasn’t sure how to say no when she asked—given that I was the one who’d askedherif she was planning to go.
Which I realize now made it sound like a date. And it isnot. At all. I need to figure out a way to convey that without being a total dick. Like, we fucked a couple of times. And I’d probably be down to do it again if she wanted—what do you want from me?She’s cute, okay?—but I’mreallynot trying to start something with Jenny. I just needed to… I don’t know. Distract myself. Things have been weird since I started spending more time with Autumn. I need to get back on my normal game.
“So,” Jenny asks, sidling up next to me as we walk, our flip-flops sinking into the soft sand. “Is your family gonna be here?”
Dude, what the heck kind of question is that? So I stuck my dick in her. I’m not trying to introduce this chick to myfamily. I’m hit with the sudden urge to turn and hightail it out of there, but when Jenny continues her train of thought, I relax a bit. I think I’m being paranoid. Or something.
“I heard you guys canallsee ghosts, and I wonder if there’ll be a bunch around tonight. Like, maybe you’ll each see different ones. That’d be freakingcool.”
I clear my throat, laughing to shake off my paranoia. Jenny’s not trying to start something with me or weasel her way into my family’s good graces. She’s just stoked about the ghosts.
“Uh, yeah. They’ll all be here, which doesn’t happen very much these days. We can say hey if you want—just don’t mention anything about ghosts to Will. He’s kind of a grouch.”
Jenny laughs, tossing her pink and blonde hair. “He seems that way. I’ve seen him around town. He’s engaged to Lydia Chandler, right? The librarian?”
“Yep. They’re getting married next May, I think.”
“What about the others? Do they live close by?”
“Nah. They’re up in Boston. Although Will keeps trying to convince Benji to move here and open a yoga studio. I think Phoebe?—”
I’m cut off by a sharp whistle. “Yo! Little asshole!”
Well, speak of the devil. There’s my sister, standing up at a picnic table and waving her arms at me, a devious grin on her face. I grin back, making my way over to her. I don’t bother explaining who she is to Jenny—she’ll figure it out.
Phoebe jumps up from the picnic table to strangle me in a hug. Benji, who’s been sitting next to her, gets up too, holding out his fist for me to bump. On the other side of the table are Will and Lydia, and next to them, in sandy, sun-faded lawn chairs, sit Autumn and two other guys, one of whom I think was at her house the night I forgot my keys. They’ve all got plates of food and are chowing down on coleslaw and corn on the cob.
Autumn catches my eye, and I flash her a grin. But dang—she’s got on a pair of super short jean shorts and a low-cut tank top that shows off her amazing tits, the pendant I gave her dangling between them. That shit should be straight up illegal, because I can already feel my dick stirring, and home girl hasn’t even uncrossed her legs yet.
Ugh. I need to look at Will or something. He’s a boner kill for sure.
“I’m Phoebe.” My sister holds out a hand to Jenny, introducing herself in the straightforward, no bullshit way she does everything. “Who’re you?”
I bite my cheek to stifle a laugh. My siblings are used to seeing me with random chicks, and I can tell Jenny’s presence doesn’t faze them. Autumn, on the other hand… I’m not letting myself look at her. There’s nothing between us except a few orgasms. I don’t need to explain myself.
“This is Jenny,” I say before Jenny can answer. I’m nervous she’s going to act like we’re some kind of item. “She’s a friend from the paranormal meet-ups. Fan of the podcast.”
Jenny nods, smiling that dimpled smile. If she’s offended, she sure doesn’t show it. “Yeah. I’mtotallyinto the ghost stuff. Zeke’s show is amazing.”
Will grunts and stuffs a forkful of baked beans into his mouth. I see Lydia elbow him in the ribs, while Autumn just looks out coolly from behind her Prada sunglasses, a gentle smile on her full, pink lips. The guy next to her is sizing me up,his amber eyes looking me up and down like he thinks I’m going to pull a gun on them or something.
Jesus. Tough crowd.
“So, uh. Yeah.” I run a lazy hand through my hair, already feeling the salt of the sea breeze stinging my face. It’s been a couple days since I last went for a run, and my muscles are aching to move, to stretch. I glance over at the volleyball nets set up across the sand. “Anybody up for some beach volleyball?”
“I’d be game,” Benji says. He looks at Phoebe, and she shrugs. “Will? Lydia?”
Neither Will nor Lydia has a chance to answer before Autumn’s on her feet. She stretches her arms high above her head, her shirt hiking up to reveal smooth, white skin. Skin I just ran my mouth over less than forty-eight hours ago. Fuck.
“Oh, I amdown,” she declares, grabbing her guy friend’s hand and pulling him to his feet. The dude next to him rises too, and Autumn high fives him. She turns to me, grinning. “You’re on, kid. Me. Will. Trey and Dustin. We’ll show you guys what’s up.”
Kid?Oh, hell no. Ain’t nokidgiving this woman multiple orgasms, that’s for damn sure.
But I keep my cool, shake it off. “Perfect. What about Lydia?”
Lydia waves a hand. “Trust me. It’s better for everyone if I sit this one out. Autumn knows. She was there in that team sports class we had to take in college.”
