Tough Shit (Rejects Paradise 1)

She’s been here for nearly ten minutes chatting before it hits me—the boat. This was the girl who came and chatted to me and made that day just a little more bearable. It’s crazy to think just how much has happened since that day.

Now confident that I know who she is, I’m able to relax back into the sunbed and listen to her chatter and just like on the boat, I find that she’s really not too bad. It’s a shame I can’t remember her name but when I think about it, I’m not sure she ever offered it and after all this time, it’d probably be considered rude to ask for it now. I’ll check with Milo later.

Soon enough, girls start gravitating toward us and for some reason, they’re all fawning over the tattoo that sits over my shoulder. I guess in their clean-cut world, seeing a girl with visible tattoos isn’t something they come across every day. They’re always covered or hidden away. I don’t doubt that a handful of these girls are hiding little tramp stamps and love hearts.

One girl tells me how she wishes she could get one and before I know it, I’m racing through the massive house, collecting a bowl of things and showing them all how to DIY tattoo, doing the good old stick and poke with India ink, thread, and a needle.

Hours pass before my stomach begins growling and I go searching for food. I still haven’t spoken to Milo but I’ve been keeping an eye on him. It’s impossible not to. He seems to be everywhere. He’s so damn loud, but I don’t care because it makes watching him a shitload easier.

I wander into the house, following the smell of pizza and grin as I find the many arrays of boxes spread out over the kitchen counter. All my favorites are here and as I dig in, I’m happy to find them still warm.

Taking a bite, my eyes roll into the back of my head. This is life right here. Whoever made this pizza deserves a fucking medal. Knowing I won’t be going anywhere for a while, I grab a plate and load it up before jumping up onto the kitchen counter and watching the party as I eat.

I’m halfway through my third slice when the douche squad comes rolling through the kitchen and I groan to myself. It’s all four of them and I silently curse the stupid bitch who woke up Jude, though he seems content with ignoring my presence which I’m more than alright with. Spencer looks over me with interest while Colton just glares, looking as though he’s about to have some kind of tantrum because I had the nerve to show up at his party uninvited.

Charlie’s eyes instantly fall to my bikini top and instead of walking straight past, he pulls himself up and gives me a flirty smile. “I was wondering if you were going to make an appearance tonight.”

I can practically hear Colton’s eye roll, but knowing how much it annoys him, I play along. A flirtatious smile tears across my face and for a moment, Charlie looks dumbfounded. “What are you talking about?” I say with a fake giggle, lightly smacking his chest. “I’ve been here for ages, silly.”

His jaw drops a fraction and I take all sorts of satisfaction out of it, watching how a guy like Charlie who would have girls constantly throwing themselves at him is affected by the one chick his parents wouldn’t approve of. Don’t get me wrong, that thought sucks and only serves to remind me how I don’t belong here, but it’s also kind of thrilling.

“You have? Nah, it’s not possible,” he says, dropping his eyes over my body again. “I would have noticed you the second you walked through the door.”

I lean forward and trail my fingers over the front of his shirt before twisting them into the material and pulling him in. He steps in between my legs and his hands instantly fall to my thighs. “You see, that’s just it,” I whisper into his ear, my breath tickling against his neck. “I came through the back.”

Colton turns his back on us and focuses on grabbing a slice of pizza. “Don’t fall for her bullshit, Charlie. She’s just playing you.”

His eyes linger on my mouth and I watch as his tongue pokes out and trails over his full bottom lip, completely enraptured by me. “Nah,” he says, his voice low and tortured, choosing not to believe his friend when in reality, he’d be smart to. “She wouldn’t do that. Look at her eyes. She’s down.”

Colton turns and watches the show while Spencer pushes up onto the counter beside the pizza boxes. A lazy grin plays on his lips as he watches his friend about to strike out while Jude happily sulks and walks away, making life a little easier for us all. Though hopefully, he’s not about to go and search out some poor girl to assault.