Say It Again Read online

  I knew she was going to suggest that. Since I’m staying at her house it’s not like I can object, so I curtly nod my head and she picks up her phone, inviting people to our party.

  Grace and I bring in bags from the store and start setting up. It’s noon and we told people to start coming over at three p.m.

  “I’m so glad you came up with this party idea. You’re going to be okay with Jacob here right?”

  I shrug my shoulder. “Yeah, I mean he’s your brother so it’s not like I can avoid him. I knew coming here this summer I’d run into him.”

  Grace hooks her arm through mine and looks at me. “You’re my best friend. Yes, Jacob’s my brother and I love him, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

  I’m not sure what to say. I thought I’d have more time to get used to the idea of being here for three months before seeing Jacob. Luckily, he doesn’t have Facebook or Instagram because I would’ve stalked him and made myself look stupid by sending him a message or accidentally liking a status.

  Being around Jacob makes me lose all sense of thought. I’m a stupid girl around him and I blame it on his sexy lips and deep soul catching eyes.

  By two-thirty, we have the jungle juice made and food set up outside. All of the meat we’re grilling is in the fridge, and the snacks are out on the table. We’re not expecting a lot of people. Since it’s a party we have to make sure there’s enough of everything.

  Cooper and Ian are bringing the beer, and Aiden, Grace and Jacob’s friend, are bringing steaks. I’m not sure what Jacob’s bringing, but I’m sure he wouldn’t come to our party empty handed.

  Looking up toward the sky, there’s not a single cloud and the weather is supposed to cooperate, thank God. With the sun shining, I feel great and am ready to have some fun.

  Cooper and Ian arrive with more supplies and essentials for the party. We’re lounging around the pool when the hairs on my neck stand. That familiar feeling, that lump in my chest, those butterflies in my stomach, come and I know he’s here.

  “Cameron.” A deep, familiar voice hits me. My heart pounds against my chest and my breathing slightly quickens. His voice still makes my body tremble with desire. Cooper looks at me with a knowing smile and even Ian nudges my shoulder. Turning around I see him standing before me and holy fuck. If I didn’t have my sunglasses on I’d be so embarrassed. My eyes are wide as I take in his sexy body. He’s wearing a blue tee shirt with shorts. The outfit he has on is simple and it’s doing his body wonders. The shirt stretches across his broad chest and shoulders. His arms aren’t too muscular, just enough to lift me up and fuck me against the wall. The years have been good to Jacob Shea. His dark brown hair is tastefully styled with gel and the front is spiked a little while the rest of his hair looks as if he ran his fingers through. His deep brown eyes find mine and everything about him is sexy.

  And I’m so fucking screwed.

  SHE TURNS AROUND slowly. Holy shit. She’s even more beautiful than I remember. I can’t take my eyes off her tan skin and luscious body. The way her dress flows down her body and the way her hair cascades down her body. My God. The images I have in my head with her underneath me, moaning my name, and feeling her wetness against my cock. Fuck.

  “Jacob.”

  “It’s really good seeing you. Grace sent me a list of things you needed for the party. Can you let me know where to put everything?”

  A look of shock plays on her face and she quickly pushes that expression away and replaces it with a smile.

  “Put it on that table.” She points in the direction where the grill is and turns to look at me. “Thanks for bringing all of this.”

  Stepping closer, I place my hand on her waist and bring her in for a hug and breathe her in. Her smell is the same. I’m not sure what it is. One day I spent hours in Sephora smelling every perfume to figure out which was hers. I know now that perfume doesn’t exist. The smell is unique and beautiful just like her.

  “You look beautiful,” I whisper in her ear and feel her breathing tremble. “I hope we can find some time and talk soon.”

  “Okay,” she whispers back and pulls away.

  Going inside, I grab a bottle of beer from the fridge and turn around to see a very confused looking Grace. She cocks her brow and crosses her arms.

  “Oh, big brother.” I recognize that tone. She’s pissed at me.

  Grace is small and innocent. I’ve never seen my sister hit someone or confront anyone. She’s drama free and always thinks the best of people. The murderous look in her eyes is telling me something different. She’s about to punch me if I don’t stop.

  “I didn’t do anything.” I raise my arms in defeat and hope she won’t attack me. “I’m being nice to her, Grace. You should be happy.”

  “I’m not mad at you, but please don’t ruin this for her. She’s spent a lot of time planning this party and I think it’s her way of getting her mind off you. Please just give her space and let her come to you.”

  “She wants to talk you know. I’m not going to push her away or hurt her. You know why I had to leave that night and why I never contacted her. Our timing was off back then, but now this is my second chance.”

  “Now’s not the time.”

  “Fine.” I give in and take a swig of my beer. I’ll give Cameron space and wait. I’m not a patient man and soon Cameron will see that.

  A few hours into the party and I’m ready to fight every guy who looks at Cameron. She’s wearing a white bikini and fuck me, she’s sexy as hell. Her body is curvy and her long legs bring me back to the night she wrapped her legs around me as I felt her . . . all of her.

  “Damn, no wonder you are the way you are,” Aiden laughs and joins me at the table.

  Taking a drink, I look at the guy she’s with and I see the way he’s looking at her. “I’m ready to kill all these fuckers.”

  “I took the opportunity to introduce myself and stuck around near her. Those guys want her, but it seems like she doesn’t want them.”

  “What do you mean?” I cock my brow and look at Aiden.

  “She’s turning every guy down. Each one would ask her to dance or offer her a drink and she says no to each one. Pretty sure this is a good thing, man.”

  “I hope so.”

  The party goes on for a few more hours and by eleven p.m. people are starting to leave. I’m looking around for Cameron and don’t see her outside. I tell Aiden to keep an eye on things and head inside to see if she’s there.

  Turning to the living room, I see her sitting down with her legs extended out and she’s leaning back with her eyes closed. Doing my best to not scare her, I quickly sit next to her on the couch and take her legs to place them onto my lap. I take one foot in my hands and massage the soreness in her feet.

  “That feels nice,” she mutters and slowly opens her eyes. “Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  She stares at me while I massage her feet and neither of us says anything. I’m not sure if she’s waiting for me to say something first or if she’s enjoying the silence between us.

  “How are you?”

  “Tired. I forgot how exhausting planning a party can be.”

  “It was a lot of fun,” I tell her and she nods her head with a smile. “I’m hoping we can talk.”

  There’s a pause and it looks like she’s thinking about what to say. Her eyes don’t stray from mine and I patiently wait for her response.

  “I know you want to talk and I do too. Can we wait until tomorrow morning?”

  “Yeah, we can. I’m glad you’re giving me a chance to explain.”

  “Honestly, in so many ways I don’t know if I even should, but I guess I’ve always been wondering what happened. I’m not the type of girl to bullshit. I call it out like I see it and speak my mind. If you think this is a game and want to play me, then you need to stay the hell away.”

  “It’s not a game. I’m not playing you or toying with your emotions. I’ve been waiting for this moment for years and I’m not g
oing to mess it up. I don’t like playing games or fucking around.”

  “Good,” she tells me. “No games or lies. I see that the years have matured you.”

  Fuck that hurt. She thinks I played her all those years ago. “No games or lies,” I repeat. “And for the record, I never played you, Cameron. You were never a game.”

  “Mmmhmm.”

  I lightly kiss her cheek and check the house before heading out. As soon as I get home and get ready for bed, images of her in her bikini come to my head and my dick wakes up from his sleep. Gripping my cock, I jerk off thinking of her, remembering how she tastes and fuck, I come fast. Seeing her today, being near her and massaging her feet did something to me. It made me feel. Cameron is sexy as hell, but there’s more to her than just her beauty. She’s the whole package.

  When I close my eyes I think about the night we shared. Her ass. The taste of her pussy. The way she moaned my name when my tongue pressed onto her clit. I need that again. I need her again.

  My phone beeps from my nightstand and I pick it up.

  Grace: So I’m risking a lot by telling you this. If you and Aiden are free tomorrow we’re heading to Canandaigua Lake to go on Cooper’s boat. It’s big enough for all of us. But, please, I am begging you, let Cameron come to you first.

  Me: I’ll be there.

  Me: Canandaigua tomorrow?

  Aiden: I’m down. Did you talk to her tonight?

  Me: She didn’t want to talk, but we spent some time together.

  Aiden: Nice. All right man, I’ll see you tomorrow.

  Me: Sounds good.

  Grace: Jacob, I am rooting for you two.

  Me: Thanks Grace. I needed to hear that.

  The next morning, Aiden and I get there by ten and already boats are out and the sun’s beating down on us. It’s supposed to be in the nineties and there’s no chance of rain. Usually summers in NY are up and down so it’s hard to plan anything, but so far this summer has been good.

  “It’s too fucking early.” Aiden yawns and drinks his coffee. “You owe me.”

  “For what?”

  “Waking me up this early. It’s Sunday and I got drunk last night. I shouldn’t be up this early.” He drinks his coffee and continues, “It’s my only weekend off for the next month.”

  Finishing my coffee, I shake my head and slap Aiden’s shoulder. “It’ll be a fun day. No worries.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  A few minutes pass and I see Cameron’s SUV at the loading dock and hurry over to help them get the boat in the water.

  “Morning everyone,” I say and hear Aiden laughing behind me.

  “Morning,” blondie says while the other guy, wearing sunglasses smiles at me and we meet near the water. “I’m Cooper and this is Ian. Sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk last night at the party. You’re Jacob right?”

  “Yeah man and this is Aiden.”

  “What’s up?” Aiden tips his cup toward the guys and walks over to us.

  “Glad you guys could make it. I know it’s early and all. Shit, I don’t know if you guys are hungover like we are.”

  “Dude, word to the wise,” Aiden starts to say, “Never plan something this early after a night of partying. Never.”

  “Duly noted.” Cooper laughs.

  I look over and see Cameron and Grace. Giving them a wave, they smile back at me. Within a few minutes, we’re on the boat and I’m passing out bagels and fruit to everyone.

  “Oh gosh, thank you. I’m starved,” Ian says with a smile and gives me a wink before sitting down next to Grace.

  I look at Aiden and raise a brow. “Gay.” I mouth and then look at Cooper and see him staring at Ian. Looks like I have nothing to worry about.

  Sitting down next to Cameron, I hand her an egg white multigrain sandwich with ham. I’m trying hard not to stare at her. Her long legs in her white shorts, which are too short, are damn sexy. Her toenails are painted yellow and I can see her black bikini top through her loose pink tee.

  “How did you know this is what I like?” she asks, taking the sandwich and tossing it between her hands.

  “Remember when we were talking on the way back to the sorority house?”

  She nods.

  “We were talking about our favorite foods and you said this is what you have to have every morning or else it’ll be a sucky morning.”

  “You remember?”

  The surprise in her tone doesn’t throw me off. She doesn’t want games and I want to put everything out there.

  “I remember everything.” She tries to hide the blush on her cheeks and unwraps her breakfast, slowly taking bites, avoiding eye contact. “I remember when you get nervous your tone rises a little. Whenever you talk about your parents, your eyes are sad, but you have a smile on your face because you love talking about them. I remember when I’m inside you, your eyes gently close and you dig your nails hard into my back.”

  Her face flushes when I mention that last fact. There are no words coming from her and I wonder if I pushed her too far.

  Instead of the smile I thought she’d give me, I hear her sigh and I notice tears streaming down her face.

  “Baby, don’t cry.” I take my finger and wipe the tear from her cheek. I keep my hand on her face, turning her so we’re looking at each other, and she pulls away from me.

  “This can’t be happening,” she whispers. “Why are you doing this? Why can’t you be some cold asshole?”

  I bring my hands up to her face again and press tightly so she doesn’t pull away. “You being here, next to me, talking to me, makes me feel so fucking lucky.” I feel the shudder against me. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, Cameron. That night was -”

  “A mistake.” She presses her hand against my chest and pulls away again. “A mistake that won’t happen again.”

  “That night wasn’t a mistake. You can sit there and say that, but baby, your body is telling me something else.” I hear her breath hitch and run my finger down her cheek, feeling her tremble. “What you gave me that night will never be a mistake, Cameron.” I lean in closer, smelling the softness of her hair, and tell her, “What we shared will never be a mistake. I’m going to show you how much I want you.”

  Knowing this has been a lot for her to handle, I give her hand a squeeze and get up to talk to Cooper.

  “Hey, man. Beautiful boat. Thanks for having us.”

  “No problem.” He smiles and turns his head back to the water. We park in a few minutes and everyone changes into their bathing suits and jumps in. “You coming?”

  “Yeah, in a minute.”

  Cooper hangs back and looks at me. “So Cameron and I went on a run this morning before coming here. I’ve known her for a while. She’s stubborn and doesn’t trust easily. But here’s the thing, don’t let her walls scare you away.”

  “Did you guys talk?” I’m curious if she said anything that’ll help me win her heart. For her, I’ll do anything to make her see that night wasn’t a mistake.

  “Yeah, we did. Like I said she’s being stubborn and doesn’t want to let you in. You’ve got to understand something about Cameron. Ever since her parents died, she’s been on her own. Since her parents didn’t have siblings and her grandparents, on both sides, passed before she was born, she doesn’t have family. I’ve known Cameron for a while so my family became hers. Getting close to people is hard for her. Trusting people freaks her out. I don’t know if you know about Cameron and me, but we dated until I realized I was gay. She supported me and was there. I hurt her though and graduated a semester early to find myself and find a way to get back in her life. It took time and finally when we did mend the brokenness between us, I can honestly say she’s my best friend and I’m hers.”

  I listen to everything Cooper’s telling me and it makes sense. I remember her telling me about her parents and having no one. She joined the sorority to find friends and a bond with others and she did, especially with Grace. Opening up is never easy and for someo
ne like Cameron, I can imagine, it would be the most difficult.

  “After I graduated, she avoided dating until she met an asshole named Mitch. He fucked her over and her walls and attitude got worse. She has it in her head that people always leave,” Cooper says. “Can you blame her? Everyone she’s loved or trusted has left, besides Grace.”

  “I guess not.” From the conversation I had with Cameron that night, she admitted she feels responsible for her parents’ death. She wasn’t feeling good that night and asked her parents to get her medicine and a snack before coming home. If she didn’t ask this of them then they’d be alive. I told her that wasn’t right and even though they died, it wasn’t her fault. I don’t think she heard me when I said that. “Thanks for the talk Cooper. Honestly,” I laugh, “I thought you’d be competition.”

  Cooper laughs and slaps my shoulder. With the boat bobbing on the water we head to the edge and jump in with everyone else. Cameron’s talking to Ian so I swim under and grab her legs before throwing her in the air.

  “Ahhh!” she screams and splashes. When she comes up for air it takes my breath away. She’s moving her hair from her face and I swear it looks like her dream teams are about to pop out. My mouth salivates when she opens her eyes, her deep blue and green colored eyes that’ll knock any man down and make him worship the ground she walks on. Her pouty lips curve up and I see murder in those sexy eyes.

  “Need help, baby?” I joke and see a slight smile I know she’s trying to hide. Swimming closer I reach for her and soon we’re face to face. “I promise I won’t bite. Well, unless you want me to.”

  “You’re hilarious,” she says in a mocking tone.

  We’re close enough that if I lean in our lips would be touching. She’s sensing what I’m thinking and tries to push me away. “Scared, Cameron?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Then why are you trying to leave?”

  “I’m not.” Her chin raises a little to challenge me. “Just remember Shea, I can play your little game better than you.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Mmmhmm.”

  Damn, I’d kiss her now if I didn’t think she would kick me in the balls and then drown me. Fuck.