“Most people around here have sea legs.” My voice is smug, but I don’t care.
“You better go. The whole group looks like they’re waiting for you,” Chevelle says.
“Okay.” He rocks back on his heels and looks at Chevelle, at me, and back at Chevelle. “Thanks again. Next time I’ll make sure there’s no one who can’t handle their alcohol.”
“That would be nice. Bye.”
“Bye, Craig,” I say pointedly.
He glances at me but walks down the pier to join his idiot friends.
“Why are you acting like you’re my boyfriend or something?”
I grab the hose attached to the pier, turn on the water, and step into her boat. “I’m looking out for you. Your boat is in later than expected and that guy could’ve been some creepo.”
She shakes her head but doesn’t refuse my help cleaning. We work together and get it done in a half hour.
“I’ll come back tomorrow and finish it up. I’m exhausted,” she says.
I put the hose back and carry the garbage bags while we walk down the pier.
“Thanks, Cam,” she says on our way out.
“You’re welcome.”
We’re actually civil with each other until another figure approaches us at the marina exit.
“Chevelle.” The guy stands in the shadows. For a moment, I think it’s that douche Craig again, but when he gets closer, I see that this guy isn’t in docker shorts and a polo. He’s in jeans that hang off his hips and a threadbare T-shirt.
“Derek,” she says with a lift in her voice that I don’t care for. She rushes to him and hugs him. His eyes remain on me over her shoulder the entire time.
“Who’s your friend?” he asks her.
“I could ask the same thing.” I lift my chin a bit while I stare him down.
She steps back. “Sorry, this is Cam, my brother Fisher’s best friend. Cam, this is Derek, my…”
He sticks out his hand. “Boyfriend.”
What the hell? I’ve seen this guy around recently. He just went from Vinny’s boat to Porter’s. Definitely a douchebag if Vinny already got rid of him.
I shake his limp hand. “I didn’t know Chevelle had a boyfriend.”
“Well, she does.” He widens his stance and crosses his arms as though he’s claiming his territory.
Well, this is my territory, and Chevelle’s been mine for a helluva lot longer than she’s been his. Besides, I could easily kick the shit outa this little pissant.
“I haven’t told a lot of people yet. Keep my secret?” She bats her eyelashes at me.
“You know I can’t keep it from your brother and…” I lift my wrist. “I’m really late in meeting him.”
“Let’s go,” Derek says to her. “The movie.”
“Yeah, right. Thanks again for your help, Cam.”
I nod, narrowing my eyes at Derek. Chevelle laughs as if my big-brother overprotectiveness is cute to her. She usually hates it. It’s how I get a rise out of her most times. I like annoying her as if we’re eight on the playground. Any reaction from Chevelle will do. At least it means she feels something for me.
The two of them walk off right as my phone buzzes in my pocket.
“I’m coming,” I answer and hang up.
A short time later, I walk into Truth or Dare Brewery, ignoring everyone’s hellos and heading right to Fisher, who’s sitting with Jed, Chevelle’s stepbrother.
“Did you two know Chevelle has a boyfriend? Some fisherman from the dock?” I say.
They stare at me for a beat, then look at one another.
“We all know Chevelle, it won’t last,” Fisher says.
Then they go back to their drinks. I sit quietly and stew, when what I really want to do is follow Chevelle and Derek on their date so I can make sure he’s worthy of her.
3
“COCKTEASE.”
Chevelle
My sister Mandi is getting married in two days. Since she and her fiancé, Noah, have been living in our shared house, I’ve yet to really invite Derek over because although he’s really easy on the eyes, his personality is hard to warm up to. He has a chip on his shoulder that I’d love to help him shed. But other than that, he’s been great.
I invited him over tonight since I’m the only one here.
The doorbell rings and I wait a few seconds before answering the door. A girl never wants to seem too eager for her date to arrive.
Derek has boxes of microwave popcorn, Junior Mints, and Skittles in his hands. “The musts of a movie night.”
“I baked some cookies too. And I have popcorn. Great minds think alike.”
He smiles and wraps an arm around my waist forcefully, pulling me into him. My hand lands on his chest and he smashes his lips to mine, sticking his tongue in my mouth without any finesse, just brute force. So he needs a little help in the kissing department. Good thing for him, I’m an expert teacher.
I slide out of his grip and take the items from him, heading into the kitchen.
“You bake?” he asks.
“Yeah. Ever since I was young.” My brothers would always ask me to bake for them. They had to help me at first, but then I took over for most of the holidays.
He leans his ass against the counter and crosses his arms, watching me move the cookies from the cookie sheet to the cooling rack. “I never pegged you as a baker.”
I chuckle. “How did you peg me?”
His gaze travels down my body. “Not as a baker. If I wasn’t watching this with my own eyes, I would’ve assumed you bribed someone else to bake them just to impress me.”
My forehead scrunches. “That’s a little insulting.” I put down the spatula and stare at him.
He pushes off the counter and grabs me again, pulling me into him. “It’s only because you’re so sexy. I always think of girls who bake as the ones who can’t get a date on Saturday night.” He kisses my neck. “But you’re too fucking hot to bake.”
I feel my cheeks heat. “Thank you.”
I don’t move out of his arms, allowing his lips to skate across my skin. When his mouth reaches my ear, he whispers some raunchy words about what he wants to do to me tonight. We haven’t slept together yet and I’m not sure I’m ready. I like him, but there are some red flags, so I’m using tonight to feel him out since he’s a fisherman and could be gone tomorrow for a week or two.
“Let’s move this to the couch,” he says and grabs my ass, pulling me up to him, so I wrap my legs around his waist.
He drops me on the couch, but I sit up, not ready for him to lie down on me just yet. His hand slides along my cheek, his fingers weaving through the hair at the side of my face, bringing my face to his. Our lips meet and again, he’s not patient enough to wait for me to invite his tongue into my mouth. We’ve only been seeing each other for a few weeks now and I feel like if I criticize him, it won’t go over well, and it’s not as if I don’t enjoy the tongue action. I just would’ve preferred a slower pace.
His free hand grabs my breast over my shirt.