Right when the shot fires off announcing our start, I hear Brix’s voice behind me knocking my focus off-kilter.
Shoving all thoughts of him out of my mind, I hit the trigger and aim the water at the hole, pushing my boat along. My eyes bounce from mine to Trevor’s, and he’s just barely behind me.
“You’re going down, Trev!” I shout over the music.
“Not happening!” he yells, leaning in closer to adjust his aim as my boat crosses the finish line, sending the buzzer ringing.
Spinning around in my seat, I recline back on my elbows with a smug grin on my face. Holding a finger gun in the air, I shoot a fake shot before blowing on the end of the barrel.
“Told ya.” I smirk, winking at Trevor.
I collect my prize from the row of teddy bears and useless trinkets. Tucking the small tie-dye bear under my arm, I jump down from the platform and come face-to-face with Brix and his group of friends.
His foot is propped up against the cement wall a few feet across from us. The stark contrast between him and Trevor dawns on me. He’s dressed all in black—denim jeans, a t-shirt, and Chuck Taylors. Sunglasses cover his eyes and his trademark silver chain hangs from his pocket. His slicked-back hair ties it all together, giving the impression as though he just stepped off the set of Grease.
My eyes fall on the lip ring he has clamped between his teeth. My mind immediately escapes to the thought of biting his lip and sucking it into my mouth.
As if reading my thoughts, a small smile curves on his mouth, sliding his sunglasses off his face and tucking them into the collar of his shirt. His eyes rake over my body, stopping at the black gladiator sandals wrapped around my feet. He pauses on my legs, up to my chest, until his eyes meet mine once more.
Trevor’s palm presses against my lower back, pulling me out of the moment, and it’s then when Brix connects the dots on who I’m here with. The features on his face completely change. What was once sexy and playful has now turned into something much darker and more sinister. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he is pissed or maybe even jealous.
Why would he be?
“Out on a date so soon, sister?”
I feel Trevor’s hand tense against my back.
“Shut the hell up, Brix,” I warn. “Ignore him,” I mutter under my breath to Trevor. “Let’s go. Do you want to hit one of the rides?”
“What about how you came into the bathroom the other day when you knew I was showering?”
Heat flares up my neck. If it weren’t for all the people around, I’d kill him right here. I’d go to jail for murder, and I wouldn’t even feel bad about it for a second.
“That’s not how it happened, and you know it.”
Even though it is, and the scent of the lies hangs over my head, I feel Trevor’s fingers dig into my back.
“You mean to tell me you didn’t stand there and watch me while I showered?”
“Go to hell, Brix.”
A salacious grin takes over his face, and I so badly want to smack it off.
“Let’s go,” I respond harshly. I feel my blood boiling, the anger and adrenaline rising. The crowd of people and their eyes on me leave me feeling like I’m standing butt naked in front of them.
I’m going to make Brix pay for this. I don’t know how or when, but I’ll make him regret this one day.
Trevor doesn’t say anything when I storm off, but he eventually catches up to me. In my haste to get away, I dropped the bear on the ground.
He holds the stuffed animal out to me. Swiping it from him, I toss it into the garbage can a few feet in front of us, marching across the makeshift park toward his car.
“I’m sorry, Trevor. I think I’m ready to go home now.”
“What? Ivy, no! Don’t let him get to you. I didn’t believe a thing he said. Brix is a jackass, okay. I’ve known that since I first met him. Don’t let him ruin our night.”
I stop, crossing my arms over my chest using one of my hands to massage my forehead as if my fingers can somehow erase the embarrassment and anger I felt a moment ago.
“I’m just in a bad mood now. Can we find something else to do?”