5/28/17

I WINCE AT the obnoxiously bright light streaming in through the bedroom window. A groan flies from my dry lips before I lift my hands to press the heels of my palms into my aching eyes. A pounding headache begins to echo from the back of my head as my hands drop into the soft comforter covering me.

Slowly I lift my body to take in the bedroom I somehow managed to crawl my way into last night. The walls are a light almost slate blue, and the furniture and bedding are all a bright white with accents of grey and blue tossed into simple decorations. It's fresh and clean, and the perfect room for a beach house.

I run a hand through my tangled hair fully aware it's most likely sticking up in every direction. My body sinks into the soft sheets and pillow top mattress that feels like absolute heaven with the hangover from hell hitting me right now.

I roll out of bed and pass a large standing mirror to see my outfit. The memory of the night before hits me as I remember Hayley and I grabbing our suitcases late last night from her car but leaving them by the front door. We only grabbed our pajamas to change into as we were too tired and I was too drunk to do anything else.

My eyes land on my purse that I must've grabbed on my way up last night, and I quickly rummage through it to find the small bottle of Advil I keep in it. I pop a couple into my mouth and wash them down with a swig of water that I found on my nightstand.

God, I drank way too much last night.

Grayson wouldn't stop filling my glass and before I knew it I was around six margaritas deep. Though the distraction was well needed with Colt and his dark eyes and flirty grin that wouldn't stop watching me. Following me. Making dirty comments about me that no one else got but us.

Because he knows. He knows a part of me no one else has ever seen. A part of me I keep so pushed far down from the surface it never sees the light of day. It's hidden.

But he saw the truth. I broke rules with him.

And you liked it.

I shove the random thought that flits through my brain aside and take another gulp of the room temperature water to clear my cotton mouth.

I make my way out downstairs quietly as not to not wake anyone up and grab my suitcase and small duffel to drag up to my room. Everyone's passed out as it's still early in the morning, but I've never been one who's able to sleep in. No matter what I'm awake and ready to go by eight in the morning.

My feet lead me back up to the room that will be mine for the summer. As I set my bags down in the corner of the room and open them up I can't help but pause.

The idea of leaving flashes through me. Urges me to buy a last minute plane ticket and get the hell out of this small beach town.

But then the anxiety that threatens to overtake me begins to settle. Because I think of Grayson's laugh and Hayley's witty remarks. I think of my two best friends and how much they mean to me. How much they've changed my life these past couple years, and how nervous I am to leave them when the time arrives.

So with a forced sigh I begin to slowly pull the clothes out of my bags and place them in the distressed white dresser.

A loud knock startles me and I flip around to face the last person I want to see standing in my open doorway.

I've lived in the shadows my entire life, and I've liked it that way. But under his intense glare I feel exposed and it causes my insides to stir.

Colt's seen me.

He's seen what I do when the sun falls and the sky is painted with glittering stars. He's seen I don't work at some cheesy diner in the bad part of town. He's seen how I like to be touched, how my body feels pressed up against his, he's seen too much.

And it terrifies every single part of me.

"What?" I question a bit tersely as I turn back to my suitcase. I almost forgot he was still here. Everyone stayed over last night especially after the fifth round of tequila shots Cale and Colt took.

"Well good morning to you too," he teases me as he stands before me in his same jeans and T-shirt combo from the night before that's simple yet he pulls off in a way that should be illegal.

"What do you want Colt?" I push not up for his bullshit so early in the morning.

"Just wanted to see how you were," he comments with a wicked smile as he leans against my doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest.

It's actually annoying how attractive he is this early in the morning after a heavy night of drinking. He isn't golden light and bright warmth with that perfect boy next-door smile like his brothers. No, Colt is moonlight and shadows and far from a boy. He's the man I should run far from, and yet somehow here we are once again being pulled together by some unknown tether. 

My fingers unconsciously fall to my hair to try and unknot my auburn hair. Unlike Colt I know I look like a mess in my pajama shorts and off the shoulder T-shirt with a hole in the hem.

"Sure," I sneer as I grab onto a pile of shirts from my suitcase to place into the dresser drawer next.

"What I'm just making conversation," he says with a grin I know can melt the panties off any woman in this town and probably has. "It's what friends do," he adds casually as if we can ever be anything close to friends. Pretty sure friends don't know how each other taste.

"I'm fine," I grunt with a roll of my eyes at his choice of words. "Why would you care anyway? We aren't friends," I emphasize before I shove at the drawer until it slams shut.

"You're more fun when you've had a couple drinks in you," he tells me as his dark eyes continue to track my movements and I continue to attempt to avoid his piercing gaze. "A lot less uptight," he practically laughs and it instantly ignites a fire in my veins.

I flip to face him. "I am not uptight," I argue with heat flaring in my voice.

He shrugs knowing he's under me skin. Reveling that he's under my skin. "Well maybe not in lingerie," he comments.

I shake my head with a deep breath in attempts to calm myself down enough that I don't cross the room and punch him square in his handsome face.

"You do not get to speak about that night," I tell him with force.

"Why?" he inquires. "I was thinking we could pick up where we left off." His words come out deeper and huskier and my body flares at the tone.

My body may want to pick up right where we left off months ago in that dark room, but my mind knows better than to fall into his trap. Especially now that I know he is.

Colt Hasting will never touch these panties again.

"That would be a hard pass, friend," I say sardonically.

"Why not?" he asks. "Friends help friends out all the time. Plus you seemed to love it, pretty sure you begged for more at one point," he smirks playfully knowing full well he's pissing me off.

"Colt!" I whisper yell at him as my entire body flushes with anger and something deeper. Something darker that only he draws to the surface.

"Fine, fine, fine," he murmurs with a casual wave of his hand.

I point my index finger at him. "Do not say anything to anyone," I state sternly. I love and trust my friends and the larger part of me wants to believe the knowledge of my job wouldn't my ruin my friendship, but then the idea of disappointing them snakes through me. Just like the idea of disappointing my mother threatens to choke the life out of me every time I receive a rejection letter from a job I applied for.

I cannot let my friends down also when I'm already too good at letting my mother down. It may actually ruin me.

"Your little friends don't know about your adventures on the dark side?" he questions as if almost shocked I didn't tell them I was a stripper. 

"Of course they don't," I state fiercely. "And they won't," I express standing my ground firmly.

His dark eyes narrow in for a moment as he tilts his head almost as if he's trying to read me. It's nerve-wracking, it makes my heart race, and to be honest it even scares me a bit the way he seems to be able to read me so easily when he just learned who I was less than twelve hours ago.

"It's your secret to tell. Not mine," he says nonchalantly though I can see the inquisitiveness sparking behind his eyes.

"Exactly," I agree instantly. "And while we're at it let's stop with the lame innuendoes," I tell him finally turning back to my bags to continue to unpack.

"But they are just so damn funny," he laughs and the sound sends a chill down my spine. It's warm and hearty and makes my cheeks flush.

I shake my head trying to shake him off and out from my mind and skin. "Wow, they were right about you," I sigh. I'm not usually so straight forward, but Colt is brazen and something about him ignites the side of me that only comes out on stage. That only shines in the darkness.

"What are the whispers saying this time?" he questions with amusement clear in his gaze. "If you must know the rumor is true. He does grant wishes," he says with a nod towards his crotch.

I let out a dry chuckle somehow still shocked by what comes out of his mouth. "God, you really are as arrogant as they say," I voice acknowledging how asinine he sounds. "Not to mention a dick."

"A dick who had you so wet—"

My ears burn at his words and my feet step forward as my hands slap his hard chest without a second thought. "Shut the hell up!" I shout at him cutting off his dirty words. Dirty words that cause shame to spiral within me, because the line I crossed with him is one I've never crossed with a client before. Especially a client whose name I didn't even know.

But even more it's shame that I enjoyed it.

His laughter pulls me from my thoughts. "It's just too much fucking fun," he teases with a wink that shouldn't affect me and yet tingles still erupt in my stomach at the simple action. He really is too attractive for his own good.

I need this conversation to end and him to leave my room, and I know there's only one way to get that wish. "You want to be friends? Fine," I state. "But no more of this shit," I tell him firmly brushing a few stray strands of hair out of my face.

"I can only promise I'll try," he concedes with a shrug that tells me he won't change anytime soon.

"Whatever," I sigh knowing if I'm going to survive this summer with my secret intact that I will have to pick my battles with this infuriating man. 

"So...friends?" he pushes with his lazy grin that showcases his perfect teeth.

"Against my better judgment, yes," I agree feeling as if I've just made a deal with the devil.

His grin widens as enthusiasm gleams in his eyes. "Excited for this friendship Maxine," he drawls taking a step back from my bedroom door. "Really glad I decided to stick around this summer. I think it's going to be one hell of a ride."

With those last words he's gone.

A rush of wild anger, heady excitement, jaw clenching frustration, and even a touch of intoxicating lust mix deep within me confusing and infuriating me even more.

But as I'm standing in the room that will be called mine for the next couple months I know he is right about one thing.

This summer will definitely be one to remember.