In Too Deep (A Texas Beach Town Romance 1)

Rico experiences five entire seconds of full-on gaping at me in an amazed, half-impressed shock, before reminding himself he’s pissed at me, then looking away again. “I don’t even know who this Mr. Hopewell is.”

“It’s the guy who owns the fair on the north pier. The point is, I still am playful and careless sometimes. But—”

“Y’know, I’ve been doing some thinking, too, and I’ve realized it isn’t even about this Kent guy.” Rico faces me. “It doesn’t bother me that you met him. I’m happy for you that you found some guy who sweeps you off your feet. Hurrah. And sure, I met Adrian, he was a fun distraction—a hot one, even—but this weekend wasn’t about the sex or the boys, Jonah.” He gets to his feet. “This weekend for me was about having fun with you, my best friend.”

I open my mouth to speak, but only sigh, at a loss.

“You. It was about you, and me, and us. Fuck the guys. Who cares about the stupid guys? You and I used to do everything together. I wanted us to get a pair of hotties, take them up here, and fuck them together. I wanted us to bend them over the bed and high-five each other over their sweaty backs. You and I were supposed to go out clubbing together every night. Get drunk-as-fuck together. Laugh ourselves into hysterics. That was the plan. I even packed you stuff for clubbing, which you promptly shoved away into some forgotten corner of your luggage.”

“No, I didn’t! Oh.” I just realized I did. “But you found Adrian. You got your fix. You didn’t need me there giving you high-fives, or—”

“It doesn’t matter! Even with Adrian, do you realize how fucking lonely I felt this whole weekend? At the club. On the beach. Even that crazy story I was trying to tell you about those two cuties at the other resort and how they took us up to their room. I didn’t care. Something was missing the whole time: you. My heart was barely in any of that excitement. It meant shit to me when I was doing it alone.” Rico drops down to the bed and lies back, staring up at the ceiling sulkily.

I gaze at him, feeling bad. “I’m so sorry, Rico. I didn’t realize it meant so much to you.”

A moment passes. “I just missed you, Jonah. That’s it. That’s my whole thing. It’s not complicated.”

“I understand. And thank you for explaining. And I’m still sorry.”

“But no, you had to go and fall in love with some stupid beach boy named Kent, who is totally …” Rico’s tone changes. “… totally admittedly adorable … and kinda completely your type, and …” He sighs. “Okay, maybe I misjudged him, and … well, okay, I guess I’m jealous, too. And also happy for you. And confused. I can be all of those things, okay? I’m allowed.” He sighs again, heavier.

I move to his bed and lie down on my back next to him, our shoulders touching. “I’m sorry I let you down.”

“No, you’re not. You found Mr. Right.” He shrugs. “I’m probably the one who should be sorry. This whole time, I thought you were holding me back. But it’s really me who was holding you back. Maybe I’m the one who needs to grow up, let go, and see things for what they are.”

I stare up at that ceiling. I’m pretty sure we’re past the time we’re supposed to be out of here, but the Elysian Seaside Resort Late-Fee Police aren’t banging on our door just yet, so I ignore the time and just spend this moment with my best friend. “Y’know, I was looking forward to a bunch of reckless insanity this weekend, too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I know how we used to be. It wasn’t that long ago, either. I guess I just … didn’t count on meeting Kent.”

“And I didn’t count on how I’d react to that. Or how I would react to so many hotties all in the same place at once.” Rico sighs happily. Then he nudges me. “Y’know what I did last night while you were at your little party?”

Little party, he calls it. If only he knew. “El Amado?”

“Nope. I told Adrian I wasn’t up for a night out. I just stayed my ass in this hotel room to sulk. And that sulking turned into room service. And a masseuse named Carlos. And an entire cheesecake.”

I blink. “An entire cheesecake …?”

“All for me. Fuck it. The weekend’s over, isn’t it? Do you have any idea how fucking badly I wanted to join you and get one of those delicious funnel cakes? Ugh, I am kicking myself now.” For some reason, that comment alone has me bursting out in laughter. Rico frowns at me. “Hey, it isn’t that funny. Hey!” Then he starts laughing, too, and before we know it, we’re rolling on the bed like a pair of hyenas, howling.