Trixsters Anonymous

“What are our chances of speed paddling right past them. If I can get to the beach, I can make a run for it.”

As if they hear her, both men dive under water, invisible to us. I estimate the distance and figure out in my head that I have about five seconds before Walker reaches me. He’s an expert swimmer, proving that this summer on our few trips to the beach.

Maren knows this, too. “You have to have sex with him,” she blurts.

“Now?”

“Yes, now. As soon as he gets to you, slide in the water and take his mind off of killing me.”

“I’m not having sex in the ocean with all these people around.”

“Stop being a prude. It’s not like you haven’t done it before.”

“Maren!” I yell right as the tip of my board dips underwater and Walker lifts himself on.

She yells as Marcus does the same. I fall forward to hold on, but she’s not quite so lucky, toppling to the side. The sound of howling comes from behind us as Rachel and Nina witness our clumsiness.

“Emi.” Walker glares at me, returning all my attention to him. Even the cool water doesn’t tame the heated anger rolling off of him.

Inch by inch, I crawl, holding on with a death grip until I’m close enough for him to reach out and steady me. “I thought you knew. I swear I did. Until an hour ago, I thought you knew where I was.”

I flinch at the confession, completely throwing Maren under the bus.

“Do you think I’d agree to you traveling to South Beach Miami without me? I didn’t want you in Myrtle Beach without me, but Miami? Fuck no.”

His lips are set in a straight line, his nostrils flare, and his eyes are hard as steel.

“Do you think, maybe just maybe, you’re being a teensy bit overprotective?” I dare raise my hand to squeeze my thumb and finger together.

Wrong thing to say, because now his jaw starts to tick. Maybe I should follow Maren’s plea and try to have sex… like right now.

“No, Emerson, I think I’m holding it together pretty well, considering I’ve watched you and this band of rebels the last fifteen minutes and that man couldn’t keep his hands off of you, and also considering your nipples are poking straight through, showing off your piercings in that sorry ass excuse for a bathing suit top.”

“You picked this out!” I defend.

“Yeah, for our honeymoon, where we have our own private bungalow!”

This is the first time he’s given me a hint of where he’s taking us on our honeymoon. I ignore his roar and the fury still surrounding us, scooting so I’m as close as possible.

“We have a private bungalow?” I whisper in awe, imaging all the commercials for exotic Caribbean islands. “I’ve always wanted a private bungalow.”

He blows out a breath and hangs his head in a gesture I know well; he’s battling back his anger.

“Those are the kind of surprises I support, Emi. The kind that puts that expression on your face. Not the kind that takes you two states and five hundred miles away.”

Here’s my chance to try and settle things, so he doesn’t lay into Maren. “Sweetie…” I skim my fingers down his jawline and cup his chin, urging him to look at me. “Maren wanted to surprise me, too, and do something different. I know she was underhanded and conniving, but her heart was in the right place.”

“She’s on my shit list.”

“She’s my best fri

end and our maid of honor. You need to get over it.”

“Not today, I don’t. She can deal.”

I peek over my shoulder and see her and Marcus in a very heated discussion. Her hands are flying in the air, and her mouth moving rapidly. Marcus can’t shut her up. Finally, he grabs her wrists, presses them to his chest, and lays his mouth on hers. She struggles a milli-second and melts into him.

“He’s a lot more forgiving than I am,” Walker gruffs, bringing my attention back to him.