The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (Hazards #1)(18)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“I don’t know, actually. I’m guessing some Phi Omegas but hopefully not too many.” I’d seen enough of those boys last night. I was still embarrassed.

“I’m in.”

“Cool.” Tally and I had gotten along so far, but we hadn’t hung out. I figured a day together might be good for our roommate relationship.

I decided on the red bikini again and threw on a white sundress over it. I picked out my oldest flip flops in case I lost them. Twenty minutes later, Tally and I were waiting out in front of the dorm.

A yellow Jeep wrangler pulled up. It was the kind that actually had a backseat, but there wasn’t much space back there—it was meant for two and not three—especially when two of the occupants were tall guys.

Kyle hopped out and turned to Tally. “You can sit up front.”

“Thanks.” Tally smiled and took the seat Kyle had vacated.

“After you.” Kyle gestured for me to slide into the sorry excuse for a middle seat and got in after me.

The pledge who’d been checking me out the night before sat on my left. Fantastic. The car lurched forward, and I grabbed onto Kyle to avoid flying out of my seat. I searched around for a seatbelt and couldn’t find one.

“I’ve got you.” Kyle put an arm around my waist. I contemplated shrugging him off, but it seemed better than nothing.

I leaned over to get a better look at the driver. Yup, another Phi Omega. “Kyle, does this happen to be a fraternity floating trip?”

“Technically, yes.”

I glared at him. “Then why did you tell me you were going with some friends?”

“I am. These guys are my friends.”

“Don’t you think Dylan’s going to think it’s weird that I’m going floating with Phi Omega while he’s away?”

He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Who cares?”

I pulled away. “I’m not one hundred percent sure what’s going on with your brother and me, but I don’t particularly want to upset him.”

“Chill out, Juliet. You guys have hooked up a few times. He can’t decide what you do and don’t do.”

Tally turned around in her seat. “Don’t worry. We’ll hang out and do our own thing.”

“Thanks.”

“That’s cool as long as it involves me. I didn’t see you at all this summer. We need to catch up.”

“How long is this car trip? Let’s catch up now.”

He laughed. “Only twenty-five minutes.”

I looked out the window. I loved how Southern everything was in Charleston. The moss-covered oaks and the houses with columns and huge porches.

“What did you do this summer? Other than Dylan, that is.”

I glared at Kyle again. “If you’re pissed at me, why’d you invite me today?”

“I’m not pissed. It was a joke.” The humor in his eyes matched his words.

“Fine. I worked as a lifeguard at the community pool back home.”

“Didn’t you do that last summer too?”

“You remember?”

“Of course I do.” He ran his free hand through his dark brown hair.

“What did you do?”

“Not so fast. That can’t be it. I doubt you worked every minute.”

“I hung out with my friends. There isn’t much else to tell.”

“Did you do anything cool for graduation?”

“Not really. There were some parties, but that’s it. I’m guessing you did something.”

“I spent a few weeks in Europe, and I was down at the beach for most of July.”

“Oh, I guess we missed each other.”

A Journey song came on, and the driver turned up the radio.

“Yeah…who knows what would have happened if I’d come down at the end of the summer instead.” He adjusted his arm around me.

“Who knows?”

“Is that an acknowledgement that you might have hooked up with me instead?”

Did we really have to have this conversation with other people around? Even if his frat brothers already knew about my hookups with Dylan, I didn’t need to have it broadcast.

The pledge next to me—I still didn’t know his name—laughed. For some reason, more than the laughter, it annoyed me that he hadn’t introduced himself. “Who are you?”

“I’m Gregg.”

“Hi, Gregg.”

Kyle ran his hand down my arm. “Yes or no?”

“No. I wouldn’t have.” I wasn’t going to let him make me sound like a slut.

Kyle brushed my hair away so he could whisper in my ear again. “If it had been me skinny dipping with you, you wouldn’t have let me take you home?”

What? He knew about that part? I figured he only knew we’d hooked up. The only reason I didn’t kill Kyle then and there was that the music was so loud that I didn’t think anyone else heard.

He must have noticed my expression. “Yes, I know all about it. Dylan didn’t spare any details.”

“Lovely. Just lovely.”

“Trust me. I didn’t want to hear it. I’ve wanted you for so long, and then he just took you.”

“He didn’t ‘just take’ me.” I felt my anger rising.

“Just so you know, it doesn’t change anything. I’m still interested…”

“What?”

“I’m just saying… I hate that you’re with him, but I’d still want to date you.”

“Do you realize how bad that sounds? I’m dating your brother, and you’re trying to ask me out?”

“He knew how I felt and went after you anyway. I’m not doing anything wrong.” He ran a hand through my hair.

Maybe he wasn’t—but I sure felt like I was. “Kyle—stop.”

“Fine. We can stay friends for now.”

“How do you know that’s even still an option?”

“Because it is.”

“I can’t decide who’s cockier, you or Dylan.”

Kyle laughed. “I’m not cocky. I’m just realistic.”

Thankfully, the rest of the ride went quickly, and we arrived at the float place, a small shack with piles of tubes and a couple of rusty old school buses parked around it. I took a deep breath before getting out of the car. I really had no desire to spend the day wearing a bikini around a bunch of frat guys.

Fortunately, there were a few other girls there—including Jana. “Juliet, hey! I didn’t think you’d be here because Dylan’s not.”