Read Online Summer's Temptation by Ashley Lynn Willis - Free Book Online

spewing obscenities.”
    He smirks, and it’s so cocky it’s almost endearing. “I do. Dad screws up a lot and my stepmom likes roses.”
    Liz stands and grabs Emma and Hannah’s wine glasses. “Y’all want some wine?” She tilts her head at the magnum on the coffee table.
    “No, thanks,” Tyler says. “We have a game to watch.” He stands and stretches his arms over his head. The waistband of his shorts rides low over his chiseled hips and shows off a smattering of dark hair trailing downward.
    “Then get your stinky asses out of here,” she says.
    Josh stands and opens his arms wide, wet sweat-stains darkening his armpits. “Not until I get a hug.”
    Liz scowls. “If you value your balls, you won’t touch me.”
    Tyler feigns a punch to Josh’s gut. “Come on, asshole.” He shoves him toward the door.
    Liz and I watch them go, and I can’t help but think Tyler looks as good leaving as he does walking in. His lean back muscles push against his tan skin in all the right places.
    Before he shuts the door, he turns and looks straight at me with those piercing eyes of his. “Do you two have class on Thursday?”
    “Nope,” Liz replies.
    “We’re wake-boarding. You ladies are welcome to join us.”
    I know he said ladies , but the way he’s staring at me makes me feel as though the invitation’s directed solely at me.
    “We’ll be there,” Liz says before ambling into the kitchen.
    “Bye, Cassie,” Josh calls.
    Tyler throws me a lopsided grin before closing the door. I’m left alone in the living room, wondering if anyone noticed I haven’t said a word since Liz brought up the topic of fuck buddies.

Chapter 5
    P hilosopher Dan stands in his usual spot, leaning against a light pole with a cup by his feet for passersby. His grin’s as bright as always when I sidle up next to him.
    I hold out a brown paper sack. “Croissant sandwich with ham.”
    “Did you remember mustard?” he asks, taking the bag.
    “Hard to forget since you yelled at me the one time I did.”
    He chuckles, digging into the sack. “I like my mustard.”
    “Believe me, I know.” I sip my coffee while watching him pull out a plastic-wrapped sandwich.
    I had been giving him change and any dollars hanging out in my wallet, but every time I visited the vending machine while I tutored at the Math Learning Resource Center, I never had any money. So on mornings I have class, I stop by the campus bakery to get him breakfast. We’re both happy because neither of us go hungry.
    I eye him as he bites into the croissant. “Where’re my words of wisdom, Mr. Philosopher?”
    For everyone else, he philosophizes about friends, family, and school. For me, it’s all about love.
    Monday, he’d told me, “Love is like luck. You have to go all the way to find it.”
    I’d told him, “My luck is shitty, so I’ll just stay where I am, thank you very much.” I heard his laughter all the way into the building.
    Wednesday, he’d told me, “Love makes time pass; time makes love pass.”
    I’d told him I was holding him to that. So far, time hasn’t done a darn thing to ease my feelings for Wyatt; I kept that part to myself.
    Between mouthfuls, Dan says, “Sometimes the best person for you is the one you don’t want.”
    “Say what?”
    He wipes a dab of mustard from the corner of his mouth and scowls. “You heard me.”
    “I don’t want anyone. Does that mean everyone’s best for me?”
    He reaches into the sack and pulls out an apple. “You ain’t listening right.”
    “You’re not making sense.”
    The apple crunches when he takes a bite. After swallowing, he asks, “Who you want?” He takes another bite and waits for my answer.
    I’ll never say this, but I still fantasize that Wyatt will come to his senses and beg for me back. Of course in my fictional world, I tell him to go to hell. I want to believe I’m strong, that I’m better off without him. But sometimes I’m afraid if he showed up on my doorstep with a