Page 55 of Coastal Rewind

Three dots appeared and then quickly disappeared. I was waiting for her response when a knock sounded at my door. I dropped my phone onto the counter and crossed the room to open the door.

Nolan stood there with a hand over his eyes. “Is it safe to enter now?”

I punched him in the arm and he dropped his hand with a smirk.

“Why wouldn’t it be safe?” I asked as he pushed past me into the suite.

“What you and my sister do in the privacy of your own room is something I hope to never learn about.”

“Oh, are we talking about Mason finally getting laid?” Zane appeared in the doorway, catching it before it could slam in his face.

“The drought comes to an end,” Tucker said as he followed Zane into the room.

“Must be nice,” Mack muttered behind them.

“Is this the fucking gathering hole? I’ve barely seen you for days and now you pounce?”

“Aw, did you miss us?” Zane clutched his chest.

“You’ve seen us literally every day. You’ve just been distracted by pussy.” Mack clapped my shoulder.

Nolan plugged his ears. “Make it stop,” he groaned.

“If you can’t handle it, then leave, Kelly.” Tucker pulled one hand away from Nolan’s ear.

“No, it’s okay. I’m not talking about this anyway.” I wasn’t. I wanted Ryleigh to know I was serious and talking about her like she was just another escapade on the road wasn’t the way to do that.

“You’re no fun.” Zane pouted.

“We actually came in here to tell you we’re going out tonight.” Mack flopped onto the couch and propped up his feet like he lived here.

We didn’t have a game tonight, which was a nice break, but I had no interest in going out.

“You have barely been out with us this season. We’re not taking no for an answer.” Tucker crossed his arms.

“It’s the least you can do since I had to hear the word pussy in this room,” Nolan added.

That was the comment that got me to come out to this little dive bar on a Sunday night. Zane and Tucker were in the middle of a game of pool, and I was sitting at the table observing their antics, like I always did.

“You can’t get her number.” Tucker laughed as he lined up his shot.

“I totally can,” Zane said, glancing toward the bar where a bachelorette party was congregating. The group kept looking over at us, which meant they definitely knew who we were.

“The last time you tried to get a girl’s number, she stuck an ice cube down your pants.”

“I thought it was some kinky foreplay,” Zane muttered.

“You probably could. They keep looking over here.” I raised my beer bottle at the group who were not in the least bit subtle.

As if I summoned them with my words, one of the girls pushed her shoulders back and walked over toward us. Zane’s face lit up, but quickly fell as she breezed right past him and stood directly in front of me.

“Hi, I’m Ariel,” she said coyly, wrapping a piece of hair around her finger.

“Mason—”

“Saxely,” she burst. “I know.”

“What can I do for you, Ariel?”