Read Online Shady Bay by Casey L. Bond, Anna G. Coy - Free Book Online Page B

underneath my right breast. I tied the halter at my neck as she exited the room, flipping the light switch.
    “Shut up! Did you make that?”
    One second later, she was in front of me, fingering the fabric at my stomach. “Um. Yes.”
    “Oh, sorry. You aren’t very touchy-feely.”
    “No. It’s fine. I’m glad you like it. Want to see some more? I have two ready to go to the shop?”
    When she was finished changing into a simple crocheted bikini in deep mauve, I only had one left to take to the shop. But I’d give her anything I had. Plus, I’d gained a beautiful model.
    We loaded a bag with towels, tanning lotion, bottles of water and magazines , and set out for the beach. People were scattered here and there along the shoreline, but no one directly behind our townhouses. June and I laughed, read about the latest trends and fashion faux-pas and talked about life. She was the youngest in her family and had five older brothers.
    She’d lived in Myrtle her whole life but was happy to live in her own apartment now, and finally able to have some peace and quiet. She went to school for graphic design would have to work her butt off this summer if she was going to afford tuition in the fall. So, in addition to her waitressing job, she had been offered a modeling gig. A guy she knew from school was shooting custom book covers and wanted her on one.
    “Would you go with me? I mean, I know him from class, but I don’t know him well and I do not want to end up in a Silence of the Lambs scenario.”
    “Sure. I’d love to go.”
    We baked in the warm sun, the sand felt exquisite under my tummy. I was almost drifting off to sleep when splash!
    I jumped up off the towel like my life depended on it. Some jackhole had thrown ice-ass cold water on me. I moved my frozen swaths of hair over to see who unnamed jackhole was. Jaxon stood proud holding a little purple sand bucket. Game on.
    I chased him down the sand and was gaining on him. He tossed the bucket back at me and it hit me in the forehead and bounced away. Some kid began screaming about his stolen bucket but I didn’t stop. June was cheering me on from back at our towels. “Get him, girl!”
    “You are dead, Jaxon. Do you hear me? Dead!”
    “Gotta catch me first.”
    He did some crazy football maneuver and doubled back toward me. I knew the game, ‘chicken,’ and this chick wasn’t gonna back down. I lowered my shoulder as he came near and then I couldn’t breathe. I was lying flat on my back and I couldn’t get any air. I gasped and sputtered trying to inhale.
    “Oh, shit! Mercy? Are you okay?”
    Jaxon pushed himself up and straddled me. I could breathe a little now. The sky was blue. The sun was in the west. And... Perfect. Pay back can be a real... I connected my knee with Jaxon’s groin and watched with a smile as the cocky jerk collapsed to the side, groaning in pain. I stood up, got my bearings and made my way back to the little screaming boy, who had his stupid bucket in his hands. “You’re boyfriend stole my bucket, lady!”
    I grabbed said bucket from him effectively shutting him up and then walked to the water and filled that puppy to the brim. The only thing Jaxon heard before he felt the cold water was me asking, “How’s it feel douche canoe?”
    The boy ran over and grabbed his bucket back from me and ran like hot coals were under his feet, while I walked back to June. She was doubled over laughing, as was Brody, who’d sat down beside her. “That was...awesome!” June laughed.
    “It was.” Well, at least Brody agreed. “I tried to tell him not to do it. Serves him right.”
    Eventually, June and Brody went for a walk together. They looked so sweet. I’d have to give them a push together if they wouldn’t take the leap themselves.
    Jaxon limped over and fell onto June’s towel. “That was below the belt, Mercy.”
    “Duh.” I rolled my eyes.
    “I just threw water on you. You freaking hurt the boys!”
    Calmly I explained, “No.