Read Online Three's a Crowd by Sophie McKenzie - Free Book Online Page A

else. But then I felt her respond, her tongue soft in my mouth. And all I could think about was wanting her.
    I kissed her as slowly and gently as I could, trying to do it exactly how she’d taught me, all those months ago.
    She drew back and smiled up at me.
    “I love the way we do that,” she whispered.
    I nestled my forehead down against hers and ran my fingertips down her back. She shivered and closed her eyes. I kissed her again, my hands moving lower and lower. . .
    Then suddenly Eve was twisting away. I stumbled slightly on the sand.
    “Luke,” she said softly. “It’s too easy to just . . . I mean . . . we ought to talk. Don’t you think?”
    “Okay.” To be honest, I didn’t really see what there was to talk about. Whatever had gone wrong between us was all right now, wasn’t it? Still. If Eve had something on her mind I knew she wouldn’t be happy until she’d talked it through.
    I took her hand and we walked further up the beach.
    Eve explained how she’d been too embarrassed to tell anyone about her singing lessons.
    “I thought it would sound all stupid and pretentious,” she said, putting her arm round my waist. “I didn’t even want to do it that much, but my dad made me. You know what he’s like.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “I don’t know why I didn’t say anything. It just felt like this really private thing. And I didn’t want Chloe and Ryan to laugh at me or expect me to perform or something. And now I’m going to have to put up with Lola going on about it – she’ll probably suggest we sing a duet or something. Honestly, she is such a bitch, she. . .”
    As Eve segued into another rant about Lola, my mind drifted off, mainlining on the feel of her body next to mine.
    A minute later Eve sighed. “Are you even listening to me?”
    I jumped guiltily. “Of course.” I looked round. We had wandered way past the staff cabins and the Garito. The beach was completely deserted up here. “Why don’t we sit down for a bit?” I said.
    I pulled Eve over to the trees at the top of the beach and smoothed out a patch of sand for her. “Sorry I haven’t got anything for you to sit on,” I mumbled.
    She smiled at me. “’S okay.” She sat down beside me and looked out at the sea, her arms wrapped round her knees.
    We were silent for what felt like a long time. Then Eve leaned back and put her hands on the sand beside her.
    “I hate the way I look,” she said.
    I stared at her. The moon was shining on her hair, lighting the side of her face. She was, without doubt, the best-looking person I’d ever met. “But you look amazing,” I frowned. “You’re . . . you’re beautiful.”
    She smiled sadly at me. “That’s what I mean.” She paused, scrunching a handful of sand between her fingers. “It’s like . . . like being pretty is all anyone ever sees. No-one sees me . Who I am.”
    I reached out for her hand. “I do,” I said.
    Eve gazed at my hand on top of hers. She pulled hers away and let the sand run out from between her fingers. “Do you?” she said, dully.
    “Yes.” I scrambled onto my knees, eager to prove it.
    “How do I feel about my dad, then?” she asked.
    “Um . . . well . . . you love him, obviously, because he’s your dad.” I paused, trying to work it out. “But he also annoys you, like with the singing thing and ’cause he’s weird with you about boys and stuff.”
    Eve shook her head and stared out to sea. “I adore my dad,” she said. “I always have. When I was little I couldn’t wait for him to come and take me out. I wouldn’t be able to sleep the night before, I’d be so excited. And then sometimes he wouldn’t make it and I’d get so upset.” She paused and when she spoke again her voice was practically a whisper. “When he did come, it was always so fantastic. He was so handsome and he’d take me out and buy me stuff and make me feel like a princess. His princess. Like the most special person in the world.”
    I