"She told Cindy that you and I needed to get out of here for a while and that they could make breakfast together. We have 30 minutes." She wagged her eyebrows. "I think she feels bad for slamming you on the courts last night."
"She didn't slam me." I gave her a silly grin. "Alright, yeah, she did."
Emily chuckled and nodded toward the lake. "Let's go sit on the pier; you want to?"
"Hell yeah." I followed her toward the lake, making sure to keep my eyes on the ground to avoid broken glass. There was no need to end up with a staph infection in the hospital before the summer really started.
"You sleep alright?" Emily slowed a little, and I caught up to her.
"Yeah. I don't remember anything after us sitting down for the movie. Did you guys take me to my bed?" I took another drink of my coffee and turned as someone whistled just behind us.
A car full of guys slowed down, and the goofy-looking one half hanging out of the back window called out to us. "Party tonight at the big ass house as you drove in. Bring your own beer!"
"Got it. Thanks." I waved and turned back to Emily. "Sounds like everyone in the whole damn town got invited."
"You got up and went to bed yourself about halfway through the movie." She stood still as her gaze followed the guys down the road. "That guy looked familiar. I think he was in my calculus class."
"Oh yeah?" I turned to look back down the road, honestly not caring. "I'm not sure I'm going tonight."
"What? Yes, you are. You're going." She lopped her arm into mine and walked with me down to the grassy bank of the lake. "I'm going, and that means you're going."
"Why do we have to go?" I took another sip of my coffee and walked out onto the pier, loving the way the sun warmed my skin.
"Because, Cora, it is summer break and we're in the middle of party central. Let's go meet all of these people, and if they suck, then we'll rent a bunch of movies and survive Cindy's cooking lessons instead." She smirked and sat down on the edge of the pier, letting her legs dangle off the edge.
"Are there alligators in this water?" I handed her my coffee before sitting down beside her.
"Doubtful, and even if there were, they wouldn't be over here. They're scared of humans." She moved over as I sat down beside her and let my feet skim over the warm water beneath us.
I took a deep breath. "You guys be nice to Cindy. She's a good person. Cooking is just her thing."
"I get it, but it's not mine." She handed me my coffee before leaning back and closing her eyes. "I'll behave, though. I love her; you know that."
"Yeah." I lost my train of thought as my eyes moved over the various boats across the lake. The one directly in front of us caught my attention. The guy from the day before was wrestling with some chick on his boat. His friends were laughing, and the girl was having far too much fun. "Ugh."
"What?" Emily glanced up.
"That guy that was leaning against my car yesterday is out there." I pointed to him and tried to keep the false disdain on my face. His body was covered in an oily substance, and the way it made his skin shine left my stomach tightening.
"That's the guy?" Emily leaned forward as her mouth dropped open. "Wow. Next time he's leaning against your car, don't dirty your hands with him. Just call me. I'll take care of him."
"Brother." I leaned back, letting my eyes move across him as he tossed the girl into the water. His laughter was loud and fun. A smile lifted my lips as his friends moved up to knock him into the water next. He swam to the girl and they laughed, dragging each other under the dark blue surface.
"Is he taken?" She looked back at me.
"No clue, nor do I really care." I shrugged, caring more than I wanted to. I had the ability to locate the douchiest guy in the whole place and attract him to my side no matter where we were. It was a gift. A magical power. Now, if I could just figure out how to not fall for them once they came close.
"I care. Damn, he would be fun for a one-night stand." She moved back and tugged her shirt off, shocking me.
Her blue and white bikini top looked great on her. She drove me nuts hiding her body behind her clothes when she had every right to show it off.
"You look good." I leaned back and pulled my legs up, resting my feet on the edge of the dock.
"No, you look good. I just look okay." She laid down beside me and pulled her sunglasses off the top of her head and put them on. "We need to get back over there. I bet the cinnamon rolls are almost done."
"Naw, they'll call for us." I lifted my arms into the air and stretched. "I love it out here. It's so peaceful."
I jerked up as someone yelled from beneath the pier. "A li