Pulse racing with excitement, I gripped the railing, searching for him. When he resurfaced, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Are you Caleb’s flavor of the month?”
Puzzled, I looked at the girl standing beside me. She was beautiful, with blond hair and a curvy body showcased in an infant-sized orange bikini. Her eyes were big and set wide apart, reminding me of an alien. The look she gave me was unfriendly.
“No,” I said stiffly.
She raised an eyebrow. “Why are you with him, then?”
“Babysitting,” I replied, turning from her and deciding to ignore her.
She scoffed and walked away.
I had to be careful not to hang around Caleb if I wanted to be left in peace. Clearly, the most popular guy on campus came with a pack of rabid female hyenas who wouldn’t think twice about clawing out the eyes of their competition. Which I most definitely was not.
“Red!”
I spun around and watched Caleb jog toward me. His wet hair was plastered to his forehead. Water trickled down his lithe body. Jeez, could he turn it off for a minute?
“Your turn,” he panted, stopping in front of me. He bent forward and rested his palms on his knees, breathing hard.
&nb
sp; I was too busy ogling him to process his words, and it took a moment to realize what he’d said.
“Nuh-uh. Unlike you, I’m not suicidal.”
“What happened to the girl I met at the club?”
“That wasn’t me.”
Deliberately, he straightened his body inch by gorgeous inch until he stood in all his poster boy glory.
“Come on, Red. Live a little. Or are you scared and prefer to stay in your shell?”
When I just looked at him coolly, he shook his head, shooting me a disappointed look before he turned his back, dismissing me.
Hot—I felt hot with anger. How dare he! Spoiled rich brat. Irresponsible, reckless, suicidal maniac!
I was tough. He didn’t know me. I toed off my sneakers and took off my shirt, ignoring the surprised whoas and catcalls around me.
Let them look! I knew I looked good. Good enough that I’d had a short modeling stint—until the photographer asked me to pose naked. I ran out of there faster than he could say strip.
Caleb turned, his eyes widening in surprise. I looked at him directly, defiantly, as I unbuttoned my jeans and wiggled out of them. I was wearing my best underwear—a matching lacy red bra and panties. They weren’t exactly new, but they still looked damn sexy. The next thing I knew, I was climbing on top of the railing, and seconds later, I was up in the air.
“Wait!” I heard him call out.
But he was too late.
God help me, I’m going to die, I thought darkly as I felt the cold wind slap my face. While I was suspended in the air, the moment felt endless. I felt horror and shock when my body hit the freezing water. Gravity pulled me down, down, down… Where the hell is the bottom?
Panicking, I fought my way up. When I reached the surface, I gulped in blessed sweet air.
I did it! I freaking did it!
All of a sudden, I felt hands grip my shoulders, shaking me.
“Are you crazy?”