The Hazards of Sex on the Beach (Hazards #3)(47)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

I smiled, willing a blush away. “That’s okay then. Let’s forget you ever said it.”

Chase tightened his arm around me.

“Don’t look up,” Jade whispered.

Chase heard her. “Why are you telling her that?” He glanced around just as the Pearberry’s came into view.

Jimmy’s eyes lit up when he saw me, and I buried myself into the crook of Chase’s arm while trying to hold in a groan.

“Wait. That guy? You’re hiding from him?” Chase pulled me closer.

“Did you hear that song he sang?” Jade looked anywhere but at me.

“I did actually. It was pretty good.”

“Did you catch the title?” she continued.

“Yeah, it was Cara’s Song. It made me think of—wait. Why are you hiding from him? Was that song about you?”

I groaned louder.

Of course, that’s the moment Jimmy reached us. Ava and AJ had stopped to talk to other people a ways back.

“Hey, I was hoping you made it.” Jimmy ignored everyone and everything else—including the fact that my boyfriend had his arm around me.

“Yeah, Chase is playing…” I tried to give him a very strong hint to tread carefully.

“What did you think? The girls were cool about mixing it up and letting me write a few songs. I needed to share my madness, you know? That’s what music’s about, right? Opening up, and sharing it all out.”

“Yeah. True.” I really wanted him to walk away. So far Chase hadn’t said anything, and I wanted it to continue that way.

This seemed to encourage him. “You look great, by the way. I think green’s a really good color for you. It works better than the pink you always seem to wear.”

Chase broke his silence. “Dude, stop talking to my girlfriend that way. What she wears isn’t your business.”

Jimmy finally looked at Chase. “I’m just letting her know she looks nice. She should wear green more.” He rolled his eyes.

“Nice to see you, Jimmy.” I hoped he interpreted the statement for what it was—a goodbye.

“It’s always a pleasure to see you, Cara. Do you think I can get your number? I’d love to get together sometime.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Chase released me, and stepped in front of me. “Please tell me this is a joke.”

“What?” Jimmy looked up at him with a completely deadpan expression.

“What?” Chase stepped toward him. “You just asked for my girlfriend’s number in front of me.”

“Would you have preferred I’d have asked when you weren’t around? Considering I live in the same city as her, and you’re very rarely there, that could be arranged.”

“Do you want me to hit you? Is that it?”

I searched for Ava and AJ. They needed to get Jimmy before he got hurt or got their group blacklisted. Chase seemed to hold a lot of influence with this scene.

Jimmy shook his head. “No.”

“Don’t ask for her number anytime. It’s not available to you.”

I wasn’t used to Chase in the role of the boyfriend trying to keep other guys away. I liked it. He’d stood back, until Jimmy pushed things too far.

“What if she wants to give it to me?”

Chase looked at me. “Do you want to give him your number?”

“Nope. Sorry. As you are well aware, I have a boyfriend.”

Chase pulled me back into his arms. “I understand your fascination, but she’s not available.”

“But she will be eventually.”

“What makes you say that?” Chase’s words surprised me. Was he trying to say he thought we had a serious chance of staying together long term?

“Jimmy, you should go.” I was all about taking care of myself now.

“If you want, but I’m serious about the green thing. If it’s okay, I might buy you some more green clothing. You don’t seem to have much in your wardrobe.”

“How would you know?” Jade eyed him skeptically. “You’ve only seen her twice before this.”

He shrugged. “I’ve seen you other times.” Then he ran off before anyone could say anything.

“Did that guy just admit to stalking you?” Kyle asked.

“Why? You going to push him for her too?” Jade laughed.

“I think Cara can take care of herself with him, but man he’s a weirdo.” Chase rubbed my back gently. “How am I ever going to sleep again?” He buried his face in my neck. “Are you a magnet for this stuff?”

“I attracted you, and you’re normal. Well, at least you’re weird sexy.”

He turned me around in his arms. “Well, this weird sexy guy of yours needs you.” He brushed his lips over mine. “I’ve missed you so much it hurts.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Get a room, guys.” Jessa finally walked over. “Preferably after the show. I don’t feel like explaining to the crowd why the lead singer in the headlining band disappeared.”

Chase groaned. “Just a few more hours.”

“Did you tell her where she’s sleeping yet?” Len grinned. “There’s still time to find a room somewhere, so out of concern of my brother not getting any, I thought I’d make sure she knew.”

“Uh, what’s he talking about?” I tugged on the corner of Chase’s shirt.

“I thought we’d do something fun.” He ran his hands through my hair.

“Fun?”

“We’re camping out tonight. Not near everyone else, don’t worry. There’s a quieter area I know about.”

“Camping out? As in sleeping in a tent?”

“Uh huh.”

“And you expect me to do anything with you outdoors?” I released his shirt.

“See, man, I told you.” Len seemed very proud of himself.

Chase eyed me a little bit nervously. “You really don’t want to?”

Then I laughed. I had to. “I’ve been camping before. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Len.”

“Really? You’ve been camping?” Len eyed me skeptically.

“Uh huh. My dad’s into it, and since I’m an only child, we did lots of those father-daughter bonding camp out things.”

Jessa smiled. “See, I told you she wasn’t prissy, Chase.”

“Oh yeah? Is that why you wouldn’t bet with me on it?”

Chase turned to Len. “Wait what? You were betting on whether she’d sleep in a tent?”