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DANE
Tempted to lay Nick out and for being a drunk asshole, I grit my teeth and clench my fists. But I have to think about my dad’s campaign. Anything I do might reflect negatively on him. He’s warned me over and over to keep my nose clean.
Funny, the rumors about me sleeping around doesn’t bother my dad. He doesn’t believe it taints the family’s reputation, considering it more like a rite of passage so you know the qualities you want and the ones you don’t.
A few weeks ago, I was reeling over Lettie and her over-the-top flirtations with Nick. Instead of telling Nick the real reason I was in a piss-poor mood, I told him I was tired of having sex with random girls. I was ready to find someone to settle down with, and I guess he took it as I had sworn off sex.
Needing to focus on anything but Nick, or Lettie, my cheeks puff out before I let out a whale of a breath. This is Timber Thrills, and I’m going to have a good time. Nick isn’t ruining my fun. So, when I walk through the midway alone, collecting myself, I see the rifle game where you have to squirt the water in the tiny hole. I have to play, and I know I will win because I always do. Greathouses win.
The employee dressed in safari green gives me my pick from three prizes—a pink squirrel, a ladybug, and a Yoda stuffed toy.
I can’t go back with a ladybug for Lettie. The guys would give me shit, even though they know we’re just friends. Lettie also loves Star Wars, so the employee pulls the pink squirrel off the chain and hands it to me.
Rejoining the group at the tower, I give Hannah the squirrel, and she presses on her toes and kisses me on the cheek. “You’re sweet.”
Lettie stands behind her, inhaling and exhaling long breaths. Her lips are tight and trembling.
Is she upset that I gave my prize to Hannah?
Before I can reach her, security rushes past us. The girls are all standing on their tippy toes while my gaze follows the guards, and my vision lands on Nick, pissing off the side of the platform.
He yells, “What else was I supposed to do? I know I’m not the first to pee here. I can’t lose my place in line.”
Security realizes he’s with the rest of the tall guys, so they come to us and say, “Is he with you?”
Devon says, “Unfortunately.”
“Well, he’s banned from entering Timber Thrills for the year. So, I guess one of you will have to go with him.”
“We came in a bus, and he can get there on his own,” Devon responds.
“Fuck you. Some teammates you claim to be. What happened to We Are One?” Nick spews our basketball team motto.
Devon gets in his face. “Because you need to learn a lesson. How to represent our college and how to treat women.”
I place myself between them. “Nick, we'll see you on the bus.” I glance at Lettie, and I’m surprised she doesn’t follow him. In fact, she doesn’t say a word to him, turns her back, and crosses her arms, talking to the others.
A few minutes later, we’re dropping two hundred feet, with Hannah on one side of me and Lettie on the other. Hannah squeezes my arm, and Lettie screams, unable to contain her excitement.
One thing about being an athlete is we’re always hungry and race to the Treehouse Pizzeria, a unique dining spot where they have to climb ladders to reach the treehouse seating. Despite there being a downstairs area, Lettie wanted to have an adventure together.
It’s hot and humid and time for water rides. We bought fast passes for the three big water rides and rented lockers for our clothes. The girls remove their tanks and damn, Lettie has a mouthwatering rack. I try not to stare at her lightly tanned chest. It’s not like I haven’t seen her in a bikini a thousand times, but each year, she makes it harder and harder for me not to notice.
Or not to drool.
I mutter under my breath, inaudible to the group. “She’s my best friend. She’s my best friend. Her rockin’ body and infectious laugh doesn’t make a difference to me.”
Except they most certainly do.
Hannah looks cute in a lavender suit. It’s the same style as Lettie’s, just a different color, yet they look completely opposite. Hannah looks sporty, and Lettie looks like a fucking ripe peach in that coral bikini top.
I gulp, swallowing what little moisture is left in my mouth.
The Alpine Crusher ride fits three people in a log with the heaviest in the back and the lightest is in front. When the employees arrange us, I’m in the back, Lettie, and then Hannah. There are little indentations with bars to secure us going across our knees. But as we ascend in the log, Lettie tips her head back.
“Thanks for letting me hang with you.”
I graze her arms with my fingers. “Always, Lettie Bug.”
