Page 7 of The Time It Takes
Dean grumbled something under his breath when I made no move to leave.
Ben still didn’t look completely satisfied, but he said calmly, “I don’t think I need to lecture you, especially if you know it was stupid.”
“Really?” I didn’t hide the surprise in my voice. Usually, he would have made me list at least three reasons.
“Just don’t do it again. I’d rather not have to deal with search and rescue,” is all he said before lifting his beer to take a sip. I pursed my lips and nodded, but let’s be honest, I had no plan of stopping. He just didn’t usually find out because Oliver and I went farther down the beach to do it.
I could feel Oliver’s forest-green eyes on me. Nowhewas the one person who could make me squirm. He might be my best friend, but that didn’t mean I was blind to his looks. I was just as aware as every other girl in our class.
When I looked at him, he was grinning, and I wanted to smack it right off his face. “What?” I blurted.
Ben, Oliver, and I grew up together. I’d known him literally since the day I was born. Our mothers had been best friends since high school, so we’ve spent our lives surrounded by each other. His mom might as well be our surrogate mother. From birthdays to formals to holidays—I think I’ve spent more time with her than my actual mother.
He shook his head like he wasn’t going to say anything, but his eyes roamed down my body and back up. I blinked at him impatiently.
He shrugged. “Just trying to figure out what I’m looking at.”
My eyes browsed his face. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I heard the front door open and then shut. “You look like a wet dog,” Taylor added cheerfully, walking into the living room with Phoebe right behind him. I was going to ask what took them so long, but they were wrapped in towels that I assumed they grabbed from the porch, which I probably should have done.
“I was going to say rat,” Oliver said.
My jaw dropped slightly as a laugh bubbled out of me. I dropped my bag on the floor and lunged toward him. He let out a startled laugh as he jumped over the back of the couch. I ran around the side to catch him, but he was already on the opposite side again.
I went for him again, but his long legs were faster. I was also very wet and trying to avoid slipping and wiping myself out.
“A very cute rat,” he said innocently. A growl left my lips and I lunged for him.
“For fuck’s sake.” The words came from Ben.
We were running in circles around the couch and gasping out laughs while our lungs simultaneously wheezed for oxygen.
“There is no such thing as a cute rat,” Phoebe interjected unhelpfully. She wasn’t wrong though.
When his attention went to her, I took my chance and tackled him onto the couch. He grunted from the impact, and I was thankful we landed on plush cushions, or else that would have hurt.
“Will!” my brother yelled. “You’re getting the couch wet!”
I was wrapped like a koala around Oliver when his hand reached out behind him and jabbed into my side. I let out a hysterical laugh, releasing him immediately. I flopped down onto my back as Oliver turned over. He went to tickle me again and I grabbed his hand to stop him. Someone must have hit a home run because Dean jumped up startlingly fast and started yelling the same words over and over.
“Let’s go!”
Oliver broke out of my hold and my laughter felt never-ending. “Ok!” I yelled roughly as all the air forcefully left my lungs. I was tempted to kick him.
I felt the couch shift and from above, Taylor said, “If you two are done flirting with each other, I’d like to order some pizza.”
Ben grumbled something about Taylor’s junk on the couch and that he’d get him sweatpants before sauntering into his room. I hadn’t realized he undressed and was only wearing the towel.
Oliver let me go and I finally caught my breath. I pushed him off me and grinned at a face full of denial, but only for a second, and then it was gone.
“Yeah Ollie, stop flirting with me.” My eyes widened with hilarity.
He ran a hand through his hair and winked. I sat up and mimicked a gagging expression with my finger.
“Go shower,” Ben said, walking back into the living room without so much as looking at me. He tossed a pair of black sweatpants at Taylor, but his attention was on his phone.
“Fine,” I groaned, standing up on my feet. I looked at the couch and Ben was right—I had in fact, gotten it wet. My eyes found Oliver’s and I dipped my head toward the stairs. “Coming?”
