Chapter 4: Skye

The hot summer sun scorches my back as I lounge on my belly with my chin propped on stacked hands and watch the guys play volleyball in the sand. Shirts have been stripped off while boardshorts hang low on lean hips. My gaze stays trained on Hunter. I couldn't look away from his rippling muscles if I tried.

He puts all the other boys to shame.

There are several small groups of girls in tiny bikinis, trying to catch their attention. A couple of guys show off, flexing and posing as they jump or dive for the ball. Hannah sits a couple of feet away from Hunter. While his attention is focused on the game, hers is fixated on him. Even behind the sunglasses covering her face, the hope and longing that fills her expression is palpable.

Every time I bring up her obvious crush, Hunter waves it away as if I'm jealous and don't know what I'm talking about. He doesn't notice that she shadows his every move. Or, if he does, he's oblivious to the fact that her feelings aren't platonic. Part of me thinks his cluelessness is adorable. And then there's the other part that wants to smack him upside the head for being obtuse.

What's funny is that he keeps all other females at a firm distance.

Hannah has always been the exception.

And I think she realizes it.

"It's such a gorgeous day. There's not even a cloud in the sky," Lanie sighs from her towel next to me before flipping over.

"It really is."

We couldn't have asked for better weather for the party and bonfire later this evening. Even though it's only one o'clock in the afternoon, beer is already flowing freely. Everyone is laughing and having a good time. A few classmates toss around a football while others play volleyball or are in the water swimming. Some are using skim boards to fly across the shoreline.

It's the first lazy day of summer before everyone leaves for college in August. Unfortunately for me, I'll be going away next week. Hunter's right. I shouldn't have agreed to this camp counselor position.

Even thinking about it has my mind tumbling back to yesterday and my conversation with Mason. Actually, referring to it as a conversation would be misleading. It was mostly him telling me-

"What's the frown for?"

I blink out of those thoughts and swivel my head toward Lanie. "Huh?"

"You look upset. What's wrong?"

My gaze flickers to my boyfriend. I haven't told my bestie what Mason said when we were alone together.

I didn't share it with Hunter, either.

I need time to think. As much as I hate to admit it, maybe going away for a while is what's best for both of us. Being so far apart from him for two months will be difficult. The guy doesn't just own a piece of my heart.

He is my heart.

Which is exactly why I need to do what's best for him. It would be all too easy to be selfish and only think about my own happiness. Hunter deserves for all his dreams to come true. These past two years have been brutal on the Price brothers.

Even though it feels impossible, I paste a smile on my face and shake my head. "No reason."

When a couple guys hoot and holler about their victory, rubbing it in the other teams' faces, Lanie glances over at them. "Does this have anything to do with Hannah?" Before I can respond, she growls, "What's she even doing here? She's not a senior."

"There are a lot of underclassmen who showed up to party," I point out.

"Maybe so, but she shouldn't have come. And could that bathing suit be any smaller? One wrong move and her boobs will pop right out," she grumbles with narrowed eyes.

My gaze reluctantly settles on the younger girl who's no more than six feet from Hunter. Lanie's comment about her breasts busting loose at any given moment is spot-on. The string bikini looks more like dental floss and leaves very little to the imagination.

Clay, a senior football player, sidles up to her and attempts to strike up a conversation. She barely gives him the time of day. Instead, she rushes toward Hunter and throws her arms around his neck before congratulating him.

Ugh.

Unable to stomach the sight of her fawning, I roll onto my back. It's tempting to stalk over and stake my claim once and for all. But I refuse to let jealousy get the better of me.

Ironically, if the scenario were reversed, Hunter would be at my side, telling the guy attempting to flirt with me to fuck off. It's a scene that's played out dozens of times throughout the years.

"Want to go for a dip and cool off?" I ask, needing a distraction.

"Yup. Sounds like a good idea."

The ocean has always been a place of refuge for me. I can't remember a time when I wasn't drawn to the water. When I'm feeling down or just need to think, I come here and sit in the sand while watching the waves roll toward the coastline. It never fails to soothe my spirits.

We rise from our towels before heading down to the shore and running into the waves. The cool liquid swirls around our ankles, then our calves, before crashing into our thighs. The need to be one with the ocean thrums through me as I raise my arms over my head and dive beneath the surface until my bare belly can scrape along the bottom. My fingers trail through the sand, coming away with tiny shells. As I emerge from the water, strong arms wrap around me from behind before sharp teeth nip at my earlobe.

"Looks like I've caught myself a mermaid," Hunter growls against my wet flesh. "One I'll never let go of."

As much as I hope that will be the case, a flutter of uncertainty fills my belly.