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Malachi stands, chuckling good-naturedly. “Sorry, man.”
Sam says nothing as he spreads his towel out and collapses onto the lounger, claiming his space. His tan skin glistens with water from the pool.
“Well,” Malachi says to me, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, “offer stands, Emerson.”
“Thanks.” I smile at him and watch as he walks off.
“What offer is that?” Sam prods.
I take a sip of punch and eat another French fry, dipping it in ketchup before it disappears into my mouth. “He said he’d show me around LA.”
Sam gives me a look before dropping his sunglasses over his eyes.
“What?” I ask defensively. “He was being nice.”
“Like Abernathy? Like the guy at the restaurant?” Sam runs a hand through his wet locks. They look darker when wet, less blond and more of a light caramel shade.
I roll my eyes. “No, you were right about them.”
“I know,” he replies arrogantly, glancing away. “For someone who has a boyfriend, you seem to get hit on a lot.”
“Not really,” I counter.
I’ve never considered myself particularly attractive to the opposite sex. In a room full of beautiful women, I’m not the girl every guy notices. But at the same time, it’s not like relationships deter all men. Some view a significant other as motivation. A challenge.
“You should stop giving off single vibes.”
“And how do I give off single vibes?” I ask, my brow furrowing. “Because it sounds like you’re accusing me of something. Again.”
“Well, for one, stop flirting with every male in sight. And stop prancing around in that tiny bikini.”
I glance down at my swimsuit and glare back at him. “I don’t flirt, and I definitely don’t prance. And what’s wrong with my bathing suit?”
“There’s nothing wrong with it,” he says noncommittally. He lies back until his head is tilted toward the early evening sun. I can see his eyelids close behind his shades. “It’s just revealing, is all.”
I laugh mirthlessly. “My suit is revealing. Have you seen the rest of the women running around here?” I glance back at Cruz and Cooper, who are still entertaining the girls from before. “Like the swimsuit models with their breasts hanging out that you were ogling earlier. They barely look legal.”
“Careful, Doe.” He smirks. “You’re starting to sound a little jealous.”
I snort. “Jealous. Please.” I draw the word out purposefully to make a point of how ridiculous he’s being. “And stop calling me Doe. What are you doing over here anyway? Don’t you have some groupies to entertain for the night?”
“You’re supposed to be keeping me away from those groupies.” He shifts until his arms are resting behind his head. “And I came over here to save you.”
My eyebrows lift. “To save me from Malachi?”
“Malachi,” he scoffs beneath his breath. “Yeah, I came to save you from Malachi. Or maybe, I came to save you from yourself.”
“I don’t need saving,” I say, stealing his line from before.
He says nothing as I continue to snack on my fries, but I can feel his eyes trailing my skin again. The silence extends until a few minutes later, his breathing is deep and even, as he apparently falls asleep.
I glare over at his still, perfect form. Well, you’re not stimulating to talk to either.
But even while sleeping, he looks flawless, like he’s posing on the lounge chair. I force myself to look away.
After a few minutes of people-watching, I pull out my sketch pad and start drawing the skyline, but give up when I feel uninspired by the scenery. I glance over at Sam again and study him through an artist’s eye. I probably look like a creep, but I can’t seem to avert my gaze. When he’s quiet like this, I can forget about his arrogant, abrasive personality and focus on his outward beauty. I don’t usually sketch people, but something about the lines of his torso and the shape of his face draws me in. I take my pencil out and start working.
The guests become rowdier as the light begins to fade and the drinks flow more freely, but I’m lost in my work. Eventually, the crowd thins until there are only a few people left. The desert sunset is as striking as I imagined it would be. I pull on my cover-up when the air turns cooler. Sam awakens.
