Hit the Spot

“I know how to swim,” she quickly answered.

I released a breath. Then I inhaled another one sharply when she went on to add, “Sort of.”

Motherfucker.

“Sort of? What the fuck is sort of? What’s that mean?”

“Like, I know the basics. I’m just not a strong swimmer,” she explained, still speaking fast. “I haven’t really ever been out in the ocean before. That was my first time.”

I pinched my eyes shut. “Jesus,” I mumbled.

“And I typically stay in the shallow end of the pool.”

I shook my head.

“Also, I sort of nearly drowned when I was four.”

My eyes slowly creaked open, staying narrowed. “Say again?”

“I nearly drowned when I was four.”

I stared at her, nostrils flaring, jaw tightening, and gaze so intense she slowly leaned away to get some distance from it.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

Sorry?

I bridged the distance she’d just put between us and crowded her against the fence, keeping my arms on either side of her. She had nowhere to go.

“Jamie—”

“You came here wantin’ a lesson from me, a motherfuckin’ surf lesson, which is a water sport, babe, requires water, lots of it, and didn’t think to mention the fact that you’ve never been in the ocean before, might be a little unsure about it, and fuck, I don’t know, also possibly straight up freaked the fuck out about the entire experience since you nearly died drowning when you were little? You didn’t feel like that information was important enough to share?”

“I honestly didn’t think you were going to take me out in the water.”

“We’re surfin’, Legs. What the fuck do you think we’re gonna do?”

“I don’t know. Practice on land?”

I glared at her.

“I should’ve said something,” she whispered.

“No fuckin’ shit!” I barked, causing her to flinch and suck in a breath.

“God. Why are you yelling at me?”

Her eyes searched my face. She was breathing heavy.

“Why?” I straightened up and jabbed a finger at my chest. “Because I’m over here having the time of my life, smiling like a fuckin’ idiot ’cause I got your tits pressed up against me after forcin’ you out in the water when you were scared. That’s why.”

Her eyes flicked wider.

“I saw your hesitation goin’ out,” I continued. “I read you, but since you didn’t feel the need to share your fuckin’ fears with me, I wasn’t worried about it. Figured you were just nervous ’cause of that suit you were wearin’. Not ’cause you nearly died when you were a kid. Jesus Christ. What the fuck’s wrong with you?”

Tori blinked several times. Her mouth tightened. “I’m sorry, okay? It was that stupid bet! I was just trying—”

“Fuck the bet! Something could’ve happened to you!”

She sucked in a breath and pressed her fingers to her lips, looking on the verge of tears.

“Shit,” I muttered, stepping back and scrubbing at my face roughly with my hands. My chest was heaving. My muscles were locking tight.

What the fuck? I was losing it. I needed to chill out.

She wasn’t hurt.

But she could’ve been. Shit.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was quiet. Barely above a whisper.

I dropped my hands and looked at her.

“I should’ve told you,” she added once our eyes met. “I should’ve said something. I know that now. I’m sorry.” She stepped closer. “Seriously, Jamie, I … I’m really sorry.”

“Yeah, you said that.”

She blinked at me, fingers twisting in my shirt at her sides, chewing on the inside of her cheek and looking out of words, but also looking like she could break down at any second and fall apart in tears.

I was pissed, but I didn’t want her crying.

I exhaled a breath and rolled my shoulders, eyes on the sand, trying to ease the tension pulling across my back and low in my neck.

It didn’t work.

Fuck this. I had a better idea.

“Stay here,” I ordered, pointing at her face.

It was tight with worry and regret. She blinked and nodded, letting me know she was gonna listen.

Good. Wasn’t in the mood to track her ass down.

I stalked out from behind the dune, finding my board washed up on the beach. After propping it up against the lifeguard stand, getting permission to leave it there ’cause I was cool with the guy, I grabbed all of her shit and mine, which included my towel, a pack of smokes, and my lighter, then I went back around behind the dune, seeing Tori still standing where I left her, in the same position I left her in, with that same bothered look on her face.

“Let’s go,” I said, handing over her stuff. “You owe me a drink.”

She blinked up at me and sniffled. “Excuse me?”

“A drink. We’re drinkin’. Let’s go.” I moved to lead us to the tiki bar down the beach.

“I don’t want to drink.”

Halting, I turned my head, then I hit her with a scowl. “Worried the shit outta me. Got me hatin’ my reaction to feelin’ your perfect tits. And you were fuckin’ scared.” I grabbed her hand and tugged. “We’re drinkin’. Both of us.”

Eyes wide, Tori went with me. She didn’t put up a fight. Not with her mouth or her body.