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“This. That. Stuff,” I mumble, swirling the food around my plate. I crave anything to drink that will make this go away. Surely, that wouldn’t scream alcoholic if I drank two days in a row.
Oliver widens his eyes, pursing his lips before muttering beneath his breath, “Sounds interesting.”
“Did you know Olly is an ex-soccer player like Sebastian?” Lana quickly interjects.
That explains his well-maintained physique. The way his arms flexed when he held me over the railing. He’s extremely tall, almost a giant compared to me when I had no shoes on.
Oh, that’s right, how very crass of you to walk home barefoot.
“Nice.” I nod, unsure of where to go from here. “Ex-player?”
“That’s the way the world turns,” Oliver deadpans.
Judging by the way he’s also swirling the food on his plate, I assume it’s a sore subject.
“So, there’s a surf comp a few beaches down next Saturday. An annual event hosted by a local radio station. I took Lana last year, and she loved it. You guys should come. We’ve got room in the car,” Sebastian suggests, eyeing Lana for her encouragement.
“Muscled blokes on surfboards, why wouldn’t she enjoy it?” Oliver snickers.
“Oi, you’re talkin’ about my missus.”
“Oh, sweet of you, babe, but Olly has a point.” Lana turns to face my way. “Sebastian is right. We have room in the car for both of you.”
Sebastian puts his beer down, his fork pitched upright. “So now you want to double date after you’ve just admitted you’re perving on the surfers?”
I had no clue what perving means, but I assume it’s some sort of Aussie slang for checking out the opposite sex. Good luck, Lana. Sebastian doesn’t look like he will back down.
Lana draws her eyebrows together. “It’s not a double date. It’s a group outing. How about you, Lizzie?”
“I’d love to, but I have something on. I’m sure you’ll all have fun, though.”
Dammit! If Lizzie had come, our numbers wouldn’t feel like a double date. Why did Sebastian have to go and put that notion in my head?
Group outing. Repeat, Group outing.
“Let’s lock it in.” Sebastian smiles proudly. “The four of us.”
Lana clears her throat, nudging sideways at Ace.
“Sorry, five of us.”
Bubbles hops on over to Sebastian but I swear on my life he is giving him dirty eyes.
Sebastian groans. “No way, buddy. You’ll have the house to yourself to do whatever secret business you do when we’re gone.”
With a stand-off that feels like it’s lasting minutes, Bubbles eventually hops away.
Great—Bubbles was going to be my saving grace. With him hanging there, I’d be occupied. I mean, a rabbit at the beach isn’t that weird.
Now, I’m going to be there with Oliver Madden.
His name already annoys me. So arrogant, cocky, and worst of all, incredibly hot.
All the things I need to stay away from.
Seven
Oliver
