Lizzie

The sun feels amazing on my skin; it's so hot today, but we have managed to get some lounges with umbrellas that shade us. Thankfully, it isn't too busy. Tammy is wearing a cute pink bikini, although it looks more like scraps of fabric since it doesn't cover very much at all. She doesn't seem too affected by what has recently happened to her and has agreed to speak to a private counsellor.

"I'm not going to let it get to me. You know it happened, he is a prize prick but my daddy says that the court will throw the book at him in any case. He'll get his comeuppance," she says, shrugging her shoulders, then picks her phone up and sticks earbuds in. That means the conversation is over. Lilly and I just glance at each other, hoping that Tammy will be okay. She seems fine and has been her usual fiery and cheerful self.

"I wonder how the guys got on with practice today. Denver is all in one about the game next week. I sure hope they win." Her hair is bundled on top of her head, like mine, in a messy bun. She's lathering on sunscreen like there is no tomorrow. I ought to do the same if I want to protect my skin. My favourite is Hawaiian Tropic. I absolutely love the coconut smell on my skin.

"Brandon seems pretty chilled out about it; I don't think he's stressing too much," I tell her as I settle on the lounger. I've spread my Frozen beach sheet on the lounger and am lying down on it with my book ready to go. I'm reading another Colleen Hoover book and have an Elsie Silver one with me.

"It's the last of the season for them and at school. Can you believe that we're almost at the end of it? I'm so looking forward to the holidays and just chilling out. Daddy said we're all going for a holiday in Europe. First to Paris, Barcelona, and then taking some time to go to Morocco." Her eyes have a wistful look to them as she finally finishes with the sun lotion.

"Wow, that sounds amazing. Not sure what our plans are yet, we usually go to Alaska for a couple of weeks. It all depends on how much time my dad can take away from work." I am now comfortable on the lounger with my baseball cap on to protect my head. It's one of Brandon's; it has the school football team logo on it. It's my favorite.

"I love Alaska," Lilly says, looking adorable in her pale blue bikini with daisies all over it. That girl is obsessed with Daisies. "It's so beautiful. What I'd love is a Christmas there; can you imagine?" Now she has that far-away, day-dreamy look about her. "All that snow, the pines and a log cabin."

"Beautiful," I say and take a sip of my water. I love being by the ocean; the sound is soothing, and the sun is absorbed by my skin. The warmth on my body makes me feel relaxed. And we all need this right now, what with all the studies, exams we've had, the situation with Tammy. It's been crazy the last few weeks at school, and I am so ready for the holidays.

"Brandon and I might take off somewhere for a few days. We wanted to go to Oregon this weekend, but well, that couldn't happen, so maybe we can go over the holidays."

"Yeah, about that, you and Brandon, I mean." Now Tammy has taken out her earbuds and is listening to our conversation.

"Yeah, me too." She says with a little gleam in her eye. "Are you sure you two aren't dating?" It causes me to blush furiously because the mere mention of Brandon's name sends shivers and tingles down my spine. When I think of his intense eyes and the way he gives me a quirky smile and calls me Lizzie-baby, it's enough to send butterflies cascading in my stomach and warmth to spread through my entire body.

"Oh, my god. Are you blushing?" Tammy says and leans forward on her lounger to take a better look at me. I playfully swat her arm.

"Don't be so ridiculous. Do you know how hot it is out here today? It's the friggin sun already." Neither Lilly nor Tammy is convinced.

"Only, we think you've got the hots for Brandon." They both giggle. Honestly, they're so childish sometimes.

"Well, you're both wrong. I hate to disappoint you girls. We're still just best friends. Nothing's going to change that." I pick up my book, but these girls are relentless.

"Are you sure about that?" Lilly says, definitely not believing a word I say. Okay, how could she when I don't believe what I'm saying either?

"Absolutely. Besides, even if I did like Brandon like that, he definitely doesn't see me as girlfriend material. You know what a guy-slut he is. He's too busy playing the field."

Some guys approach us; they're fit-looking, tanned, and one has very dark hair and what looks like violet eyes. I mean, he is intense and has that whole brooding look about him. He's wearing board shorts, pale blue ones that show off his tan even more.

"Hey girls. You want to join us for some volleyball?" He asks. Even though he's hot-looking, he does nothing for me. There is no insta-attraction or reaction.

Lilly shakes her head. She's a loyal one-man girl. "No thanks. I'm with someone." Tammy looks mildly interested. His friends look fit too. One has sandy colored hair and green eyes; from the sight of his body, he obviously hangs out in the gym a lot. The other one is standing slightly behind them like he's really not interested. He strikes me as the nerdy one with his rimmed glasses, ordinary brown hair and leaner body.

"Nah," says Tammy, deciding that she'd rather spend her time with her girlfriends than some dudes looking for, ultimately, a quick lay at the end of the volleyball game. None of us feels like being pulled today.

"You should go though, Lizzie. It'll do you good to play with some boys." She laughs. Oh. My. God. She is so not funny. I glare at her, really?

"No, I'm good, thanks." Mr Violet-eyed smiles; he is hot-looking, no denying this, but he's not Brandon, and whilst I can't get Brandon off my mind, I think I'm pretty screwed for any other guy.

"Okay, girls, we're over there if you change your mind." They move on. It won't be long until they hit on some other girls.

"You should have gone, Lizzie, unless you're waiting for Brandon." Tammy and Lilly laugh.

"You two. Pack it in. I keep telling you we're just good friends. You know we've been besties since, like, age 5. What is wrong with you both today?" I huff and pick up my book. It's upside down. Great.

"I see the way Brandon looks at you, though, Lizzie. There's something in his eyes that he doesn't have when he looks at other girls." Lilly is focusing on me; her gaze is distracting me from reading even one line of my book.

"That's because I'm his friend and not somebody he wants to fuck."

"Mm, well, we're just saying. Maybe he wants more. Have you even talked to him about it?"

"For fucks sake, Tammy. Lilly. Pack it in. We're never going to date. He likes to screw around, and I'm waiting for Mr Right." That causes them to have hysterics. Personally, I didn't think it was that funny.

"Oh my. You're the cutest, Lizzie. Mr Right." Lilly laughs some more. It's fine for her; she has Denver and will no doubt end up getting engaged to him and following him around when he's done with college and hits the football circuit big league for real. There's no hiding from the fact that both Denver and Brandon are going to make it; the scouts have been buzzing around them for years, and a couple of teams want to sign them. Denver, it looks like, will go with Dallas. Brandon, he's still debating.

"Guys, can we just chill out and not talk about boys. You're doing my head in. Stop with the whole Brandon shit." This time, I'm focusing on my book.

Lilly and Tammy are silent. For all of a minute if that. "Well," says Tammy. "Personally, I think it would be the best thing ever."

"Me too." Adds Lilly. "Besides, my momma always says that you fall in love with your best friend."

"Whatever," I mumble. "I'm not listening. I'm reading."

"I've read that book; it's so good," Lilly says, who, like I've said before, is just as avid a reader as I am. Tammy puts her ear pods back in, rests her head back on the lounger, and adjusts her shades to cover her eyes. She has a smile on her face, one that says she's right about Brandon and I.

Is it that obvious? Am I that obvious? Maybe I'm going to have to watch how I act around him.

"Hey, thought I might find you here." That sexy drawl, I would know it anywhere. In a crowded, noisy room, I'd know exactly whose lips spoke. Instantly, heat rushes through my stomach and I feel like I need to press my thighs together. My clit suddenly feels like it is swelling. Fuck's sake.

Brandon stands before me; he's not wearing a shirt, and his body is so tanned and flat. His six-pack is as defined as a male model's, and it doesn't escape my attention that he has the perfect damn V that dips into his faded orange board shorts. His arms are perfect with his muscles on display even though he isn't flexing. I want to get off the bed and run my hands across his chest, outline his tattoos and push my groin right into his. Heat is flooding my body, Lilly and Tammy have got their eyes on me, and I can feel the intensity in my face. It must be scarlet.

"Er, hi, Brandon." He winks. It makes butterflies in my stomach flutter.

"What happened to practice?" My voice sounds strange, like it's developed some new squeak.

"See." Said Tammy. I shoot her a look that says, shut the fuck up.

"Had a run-in with the coach, left and decided to catch up with you instead. Your mom said you were here at the beach. I tried calling you, and I messaged you, but there was no response." Brandon sits his magnificent body down at the end of my lounger. Wow, he is so damn fine-looking half-naked. I wonder what the rest of him looks like without all his clothes on.

Enough of that already. Stop. I scream internally at myself. Lilly and Tammy seem to suddenly have a vested interest in Brandon and I am so screwed.

I am so fucking screwed.