Down for Her by Melissa Chambers (best e books to read txt) 📗

have to laugh at a memory. “I signed him up for this basketball league at the community center when he was six just to get us both out of the house. Other kids would toss him the ball and he would duck.” I shake my head. “I had no idea what to do with him.”

“What does he like to do?” she asks.

“He’s into video games. It’s always been a struggle, getting him to balance playing video games with going outside and doing stuff. But now he’s interested in coding. So maybe some good can come out of his obsession after all.” I try to keep a positive attitude about Matthew, but high school was no picnic, and now college is turning out to be an even bigger struggle for him.

“You sound like a father…a really good one, actually,” she says with a smile that makes my stomach feel even looser than these waves.

I have to look away from her as my face heats up, and not from the sun. Nobody’s ever given me that kind of validation when it comes to Matthew.

“I wish my father was as supportive as you are,” she says with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

“What’s going on with your dad?” I ask.

She turns toward the waves, her fingers skimming the water aimlessly. “He’s just having a hard time digesting that he doesn’t control me.”

“You said your dad hates the beach. Is that why you came here?”

She huffs a laugh. “Probably. This was the first place that came to mind. My aunt brought me here once for vacation when I was about twelve. It was just the two of us. I loved it so much. We made sandcastles and walked on the beach every day. We worked puzzles at night and she showed me how to prepare seafood. It was the best week of my life. I guess when things went south, I wanted back in that world.”

“Where is she now?” I ask.

She gives me half a smile. “She died a few years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

She waves me off and lets out a strong exhale. “I guess we should head in before we shrivel up.”

“Or the sharks start circling.”

“Are there really sharks around here?”

“We are in the ocean.” I focus on something behind her. “Shit, is that one?”

“Where?” she asks, grasping my arm.

I smile at her. “God, you’re easy.” She squeezes my arm, pursing her lips at me, and then we head in toward the shore. “Tell your dad you’re sleeping in some guy’s bed who you met yesterday. That’ll piss him off.”

She lifts her eyebrows. “For sure.”

“Tell him I ride motocross, cage fight, and have a tattoo of a snake on my inner thigh.”

“Is any of that true?” she asks.

“One of the three’s true,” I say, wanting to keep her guessing about me.

“Are you gonna tell me which one?”

“You’ll have to find out.”

We hold each other’s gaze, and I start to wonder if she’d let me kiss her, when a wave breaks and she slams into me, the two of us going tumbling through the ocean, our slick bodies tangled up in one another’s.

As we gather our footing, another one comes. “Crap. I guess I forgot what happens when you come into the breakers.” She squints at the shoreline. “Wow, we’re almost back where we started.”

“That’s the undertow. It pulls you in without you even knowing it’s happening.”

She looks away, unable to hide her smile, and I start to wonder what I’m getting myself into with her.

The ocean pushes us to the shore, and as we head over to the blanket, I see Tori sitting with the others, glancing between Kylie and me. Her gaze lands on me, and her eyes narrow. How that woman can make me feel like I’m inside out with one glowering look is beyond me.

Kylie collapses onto the blanket next to Simone and Bailey. Tori clears her throat, getting my attention. I mouth, What?

She lifts one eyebrow in that expert way she does, and I roll my eyes and sit at the other end of the blanket.

“What are we doing tonight?” Logan asks.

“Kylie here starts Monday at the lagoon pool,” Bailey says. “Let’s show her around in prep for her first day.” Bailey’s expression morphs into a sneaky smile.

“Hell yeah,” Isaac says.

Simone flicks a bug off her knee. “We can’t get her fired before she even starts. We like her.” Simone smiles at Kylie, and Kylie grins back.

“Buddy’s working security in that perimeter tonight,” Bailey says.

“Ah,” Simone says. “In that case, we’re all clear. If everyone will pitch in ten, I’ll make my famous margaritas.”

“You’ve got to tell us what’s in those,” Cohen says.

“Never,” Bailey says with a grin.

“I bet Jack Massey could get her to tell,” Logan says and then ducks as Bailey throws her empty sparkling water can at him.

Tori shifts, looking at her phone like she’s disinterested, but I know she never really got over him. I hate that he hurt her, and I hate worse that she can’t seem to shake him.

Bailey stands and holds up her phone. “Venmo me, folks. Simone and I will head to the liquor store now.”

“Done,” Tori says, typing into her phone.

I pull out my phone and send her twenty. In a second, she looks up at me with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Brett.”

“That’s for her, too,” I say, indicating Kylie. Tori gives me a raised eyebrow while I try to ignore her. “I’m going to eat if anyone wants to come,” I say.

“I’ll go,” Cohen says.

Tori stands. “I’m gonna get a nap.”

Logan nudges her. “I’m going with Tori.” She shoves him and he stumbles backward with a grin. “Someday, sweetheart.”

“In your dreams,” Simone says. “I’m going with Bailey.”

I glance at Kylie, who’s getting to her feet. “You hungry?” I ask.

“No, I’m good. Are you okay with me going back to your place?”

“No problem. Val is probably gone to work now.”

“He works on the weekends?”

“Yeah, caddies don’t do the eight-to-five workweek.”

“Sounds good,” she says and then heads off.

We all scatter