By the time she made her way back outside, Olivia was lying on a plush beach chair, talking on the phone. Emily walked over to the four men, shot Dillon a wry smile, and politely asked him to make her a Captain and Diet Coke. He didn’t look too happy with her new ensemble, but it was obvious he saw the look in her eyes this time, telling him to deal with it.
He honored her request and went to make her drink.
Gavin glared at Dillon as he walked away, and then flicked his eyes down to Emily’s shorts. Knowing how overly possessive his friend was, he knew Dillon made her change. He gritted his teeth, not understanding why his friend couldn’t be proud of what he had in his grasp.
Nevertheless, a charming smile ran across his mouth as he gazed into Emily’s eyes. “I’d like to introduce you to my buddies, Chris and Joe. Guys, this is Dillon’s girlfriend, Emily.”
She smiled and shook their hands. Seeing that they could pass for brothers—with eyes, hair, and features that were strikingly similar—she asked, “Are you two related?”
Chris spoke up first, his hazel eyes wide as he laughed. “Very good observation on your part; we’re actually cousins,” he remarked, tossing a hand through his almond-colored hair.
Joe smirked. “Yes, unfortunately, our mothers are sisters,” he joked, patting Chris on his back.
Emily laughed with them. She learned that both men went to high school with Gavin and Trevor. They relocated to Florida and opened a landscaping business together after graduating college. When Dillon brought her drink over, she excused herself from the group of men and got comfortable on one of the poolside beach chairs with Olivia.
“Em, he’s really starting to become—”
Emily held up a silencing finger. “Please. Just let it go for now, Liv.”
She propped herself up on her elbow and flashed a frown. “Let it go?”
“Yes, please. I don’t want to talk about it, okay?”
“I’ll let it go, friend, but I have to say Douchebucket is officially a total asshole now,” she remarked, securing her blonde hair in a messy bun. Leaning over, she reached for the suntan lotion, smearing more over her milky-white skin. “And you need to grow a backbone with him sooner or later.”
Effectively ignoring Olivia’s statement, Emily turned her head in the opposite direction to view the waves in the distance. Soaking in the warm sun, she concentrated on the voice of Bob Marley in the background, singing about how he shot the sheriff.
Over the next few hours, Gavin’s gaze would travel to Emily and then back to Dillon, battling an internal war. He positioned himself perfectly at the table to maintain an unobstructed view of her face from across the pool while trying to focus on a conversation with his friends. However, his mind continually strayed back to the thought of her soft hand against his lips when he had kissed it a few days before. His eyes burned with adoration as she laughed with Olivia; her smile was like an addictive drug to him; and her laugh sounded celestial in his ears. Although they each stole furtive glances at one another throughout the day, Gavin admired her from afar, not wanting to make the situation anymore awkward than it was.
As night fell, the small crowd jumped from a sudden booming sound coming from the front of the home. Lighting off a few fireworks before making his way to the backyard was Trevor’s way of announcing his arrival. Beaming a smile with blonde hair spilling over his forehead, he strolled in, barking out his signature line, “I’m here. Let the party begin!”
Olivia’s girlfriend, Tina, showed up shortly after. Olivia hopped up, squealing, and gave her a kiss, letting each of the men know that she was hers. Chris ignored Olivia as he eyed the beautiful redhead. Olivia smacked him on his arm as she walked away.
Strolling over to Emily with Tina by her side, Olivia announced, “Tina, this is my best friend, Emily.”
“Hey, it’s good to meet you.” Tina smiled. “I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s nice to put a face with the name.”
Emily shook the hand Tina extended to her. “You, too. You made your way out here without getting lost, I see. Olivia was afraid you wouldn’t be able to find the place.”
Tina leaned in and kissed Olivia on her cheek. “Sweetie, you were worried about me?”
Olivia blushed crimson. “Of course I was.”
The two women walked away and made themselves comfortable on a lounge chair.
Several whiskies on the rocks later, Dillon approached Emily. He let out a sigh and gently pulled her against him. “Babe, I’m sorry about earlier. I was an asshole. Can you forgive me?” he asked softly.
Emily searched his eyes, trying to understand the sudden change in him. “You have me so confused. You never acted like this when I was in Colorado, Dillon.”
“I know, Em,” he whispered, reaching for her hand. He drew it to his mouth and held it against his lips. “I just love you so fucking much. I’m afraid of losing you to someone else, that’s all.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I love you more than you realize, Dillon. I trusted everything in me to come out here to be with you. That by itself should say enough.”
Placing his hand on the nape of her neck, he drew her face closer to his. “You’re right,” he admitted, his voice lower still. He leaned in to kiss her lips, and she accepted without a second thought as they stole a few extra moments to reconcile.
Dillon pulled back slowly and stroked his fingers through her hair. “I’ll ease up, I promise.”
Emily cast a faint smile, hoping that what he said would prove to be true. Dillon playfully smacked her on the ass, gave her another kiss, and let her know that he was going to play a game of pool with Chris and Joe. She watched as he disappeared into the house.