Him by Carey Heywood (reading strategies book .txt) 📕

The plan after dinner is to go to a nearby nightclub. The whole idea makes me very nervous. I just have to get through the night without dancing with Will. Should be easy enough. If all else fails, I'll fake a twisted ankle. When we get to the nightclub, Christine orders shots. I am already feeling buzzed from my sangria and start to refuse until she gives me a pitiful look. I order a glass of water, hoping to keep a clear head. Not that it helps. Brian orders another round of shots next. Christine pulls me and the other girls out onto the dance floor. The DJ plays mainly songs I have heard on the radio. I relax and am having fun dancing and singing along with Christine and her friends.

Some random guys try to approach our group a couple of times, but Christine waves them off, flashing her engagement ring. That only works for so long, and I feel some random guy's hands on my ass. I seriously will never understand the thought process that some of these guys have. Cute girl dancing. Instead of introducing myself and asking if she'd like to dance with me, surprise dry humping her from behind seems like a better move. I am doing my best to politely remove his hands when I see Will approach.

"So sorry, bud. She’s with me," he says, coolly taking my hand and leading me to another part of the dance floor.

"I was taking care of it," I huff, pulling my hand from his, annoyed that he doesn't think I can take care of myself.

"I know," he shrugs. "I was just looking for an excuse to dance with you."

"I'm not dancing with you." I turn and walk back to the table.

I can tell he's following me. I pointedly try to ignore him and talk to Brian instead. Brian hesitates for a beat, and I wonder briefly whose side he's on. I give Brian a look and feel Will back away. My traitor body pouts, but this is the smart thing to do. I only have to get through six more days, and then I can pretend like I never even saw him. As soon as I think it, I know it’s a lie. He’ll still haunt my dreams and make every other guy I've ever tried to date feel inadequate. The only difference is now Will's face in my dreams will be of him now, grown, a man. A very sexy man, unfortunately.

Brian is looking at me in concern. Shit. "Sorry, just zoned out there for a sec. What did you say?"

"Will you help Christine and I put together a video slide show tomorrow? She just found out the place where we're having the rehearsal dinner at can project on a wall during dessert, and I'm crap at that stuff."

"Of course," I say, flagging down our server. When she comes over, I order another water, doing everything in my power to stay clear-headed.

"You okay?" Brian asks.

"I'm great," I lie.

"You just seem so tense. I want this to be fun for everyone. You know, let your hair down. Have fun."

"My hair is down," I argue.

The server is back with my drink. I sip it and turn to watch Christine and her friends dance, mentally mapping out the drive to the local animal shelter back home. It’s clear I’m going to end up a crazy spinster thanks to Will. I might as well start collecting cats to complete the picture.

Chapter 8

Past

William Ethan Price has just told me I look fucking hot. I may never breathe normally again. After his unexpected declaration, he casually lifts himself from my raft and floats away like nothing just happened. In fact, for the rest of the day, he acts like he didn’t just drop the biggest bomb on me. From the lazy river, we go further into the park to the water slides. I may have forgotten how to breathe again when he grabs my hand and pulls me to a tandem slide. He sits in the tube first, and I hesitate before sitting in front of him, between his legs, my back to his chest. I cringe, wondering if he feels me shiver when his bare chest is on my back. Or if he hears my heart pounding when he wraps his arms around my waist.

I gently lay my hands on his arms, raising them unexpectedly when he removes his arms from my waist. For a moment, I'm wondering what happened until I feel his hands on my shoulders as he pulls me towards him so that I'm lying against him before circling my waist with his arms again. My neck is still stiff, holding my head up. His mouth is at my ear telling me to relax. I close my eyes and lean my head on him, turning my face to look at his neck. I see his jaw flex as he grins. I have never in my life felt this much skin to skin contact with anyone.

All at once, we're flying after the attendant uses his foot to propel our tube down the slide. Will's grip on me tightens as he leans forward, his cheek pressing against mine. We crash into the water a tangle of arms and legs. When I stand and turn my back to him, wiping water from my eyes, I hear him suck in a breath. Then he's behind me again, his body pressed to mine. I look back at him, and my mouth drops when I feel his hands on my ass. I'm about to ask him what he's doing when I feel him adjust my bikini bottom. I blush all over. I guess at some point during our slide, my suit shifted. He looks down at me, and I mouth thank you, his hands still on me. He