Read Online Guarded Hearts by L.A. Corvill - Free Book Online Page A

grabbing his arm. I quickly notice my actions and remove my hand. He glances down where I had touched him then back at me.
    Mandy realizes we aren’t right next to her and turns to look for us. She gives me a smile when she sees Nix and I talking to each other. We turn back making our way towards the crowd.
    Everyone begins to settle in; opening the chairs and umbrellas, popping open beer cans. The music starts blaring out of the speakers, and it’s beginning to look like a beach party without the bouncing of the beach balls. The volleyball net goes up ready for a match.
    The ocean breeze is cool enough to bring a chill to your body. Even though the sun is out, I decide to keep my clothing on, not sure if I want reveal my half-naked body now that Nix is here.
    Mandy introduces Nix to a couple of our friends while I sit in my chair, rubbing on some sun block. I catch myself looking at him, becoming curious of his tattoos. I want to see them, but most of the time he’s concealing them. As I look on I notice he is fidgeting, tugging in his long sleeve shirt. I wonder what he’s so nervous about. Why would he wear a long sleeve shirt to the beach?
    Tom comes over to invite us to play volleyball. I look over at Mandy and Nix to see if they agree, and I get up, and we head towards the net. Playing volleyball loosens Nix’s mood. We’re getting comfortable being around each other. Even though this isn’t Nix’s usual scene everyone seems to like him, especially the girls.
    “Hey, guys, I need a break,” Mandy says breathlessly with her hand on her knees, barely able to stand.
    “Me too,” I agree, walking off towards the ocean, dying to throw myself in to cool off. I look out into the ocean, slowly rubbing my feet back and forth on the sand, waiting for a wave to come wash it away.
    “Want to go for that walk?” I turn to stare right at him, and my heart rate increases. I almost can’t get a word out…he feels so close.
    “Yes,” I manage to say to him. We begin walking down the beach, along the sand and through the water. I can feel the coolness as the water hits my feet.
    He stops walking and is silent for a moment. I turn to look at him. I don’t know what he’s thinking or about to say, and I’m so nervous that a lump forms in my throat.
    “Livi, I want to apologize about the other day at Blends. I shouldn’t have just walked out on you like that. I’m sorry,” he tells me, removing his sunglasses so that I can see his eyes and the sincerity in them.
    I really want to say that it’s okay, but I promised myself I was going to be honest with him, because I want him to be able to get to know me.
    “I’m not going to lie, Nix, I was a little shocked. I was just left there, sipping on my coffee, but I’m sure you have a good reason. You do have a good reason, don’t you?”I ask, hoping he doesn’t say he just wants to be friends, or he had the wrong impression of me. Because if that’s the case then he could have just told me, and avoided this whole situation to begin with.
    “Livi, I like you. I’m very attracted to you, and I hope it’s mutual. I would like to get to know you.” He looks at me, looks out into the ocean, then back at me. “The reason I walked on you out at Blends was because I just can’t be around all the partying and drinking. That’s just not what I’m about. I don’t know what Mandy’s told you about me, but I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I don’t got out to college parties. So when you told me about college was all about partying, I just couldn’t sit there and listen to all that bullshit,” he explains while looking down at the sand before he put his sunglasses back on.
    “Apology accepted,” I say, grabbing hold of his arm. “Nix?”
    “Yeah?”
    “I think we both have a misconception of each other. I would really like to get to know you, too.” He runs his fingers through his hair.
    “I’m really glad to hear you say that. I don’t know what it is