15| Cotton Candy

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Throughout the day I discovered that the Rivers siblings actually have a lot more in common than I originally thought. For one thing, they both like ketchup on their eggs. They also can't stand Justin Bieber but adore Adele. They get easily annoyed with slow drivers.

But most importantly, they are both liars.

For instance, Violet lied when she said that the beach wasn't going to be busy because everyone was away for the holiday. When we arrived and saw all of the locals crowding the area, she admitted she might have over exaggerated a little.

And as for her dear brother, he lied when told me nothing happened last night between us.

I couldn't exactly prove him wrong because mostly it was more of a feeling I had, but I couldn't shake it off. It happened while I was in the middle of my shower when bits of different images came flooding back. All images of Gage laying next to me, talking to me, then finally his lips hovering over mine. I figured it was a dream, a very heated dream, but it didn't explain why I could recall the feeling of his hands pulling me closer to his chest as his hot mouth worked against mine. It shouldn't feel so real, but it did, to the point I had to switch the shower from hot to cold.

Because of that I strongly debated on not showing my face today, but Violet was so adamant about me coming she practically dragged me out of my apartment. Yet another similarity between the two, they are both very stubborn.

The whole drive to the beach I could hardly look Gage in the eye without blushing and multiple times he asked if I was still hungover. I couldn't explain to him that images of last night kept replaying in my mind because that would open up a whole new can of worms that I wasn't ready for just yet. So instead I did what any other woman would do: I decided to worry about it later.

So after we made a quick stop to check on Mr. Phillips and give him some pumpkin pie we headed out to Miami beach. Luckily it wasn't a long drive, but finding parking was another story. I thought that would be the last of our issues though, until we finally arrived and I realized what all the beach entails.

"Come on, Katy! You need to take it off to go swimming," Violet huffed as she sat her clothes to the side.

I openly gawked her strappy laced bikini that showed off her perky breasts, flat stomach, and long toned legs then looked back to my underdeveloped body hidden under a loose fitted shirt and shorts.

"I think I'll pass," I mumbled.

"Do you not want to swim?" Gage asked as he pinched the back of his shirt pulling it over his head in one swift movement.

And that's when my brain stopped functioning.

It amazes me that no matter how many times I see his bare torso the sight of it still effects me. I realized I wasn't the only one when a few girls walking by spotted him and nearly tripped over their own feet. His body was practically hazardous.

Yet another thing the siblings had in common. They were freaking hot.

"Katy?" he repeated.

"Hmm?" I snapped my eyes back up to him. "What? Did you say something?"

He smirked. "I was asking if you were going to change."

"Oh! Out of this?" I picked at the edge of my oversized shirt. "I usually go swimming like this."

"Really?" he raised an eyebrow at me.

"Yep. It, uh, feels better this way since the water is cold. You know, extra layers keep the cold away," I laughed weakly. But he didn't seem to buy it.

"Did you not bring your bathing suit to change into?" Violet asked tying her long hair into a bun on top of her head.

That gave me an another idea.

I hit my forehead with the palm of my head. "Oh my gosh! I totally forgot to bring it. I guess I was just so busy with . . . other stuff I didn't think about it."

"You knew we were going to the beach and didn't think to wear a bathing suit?" Gage questioned.

"Yep. You know how my brain works. Nothing is together up there. One time I forgot my shoes when I went to school! I went barefoot the whole day. I'm just so forgetful some times. Forgetful Katy! That's me!"

Violet frowned. "But you'll still swim in what you have on, right?"

"Well, now that I think about it, it is all I brought with me. So I should probably just stay here and watch you two," I shrugged. "Sorry. Maybe we can do it another ti--ahh!"

Without warning I was suddenly swept up and off the ground by Gage who effortlessly threw me over his shoulders. My face hit his bare back that felt hard as a rock.

"Ow! Hey!" I tried to lean up to look at him. "What are you doing?!"

"We are going for a swim," was all he said as he started walking towards the water.

"What?! Didn't you hear me? I don't have a bathing suit!"

"Yeah but you also said you normally swim with clothes on. Remember?" he looked back with a smirk. "Extra layers help with the cold."

I narrowed my eyes at him and went for an alternate route. "But I can't swim!"

"I'll hold onto you."

Instantly my cheeks warmed up. "T-That's really kind and stuff but I'm fine with just watching you two."

"Not happening, Shortcake."

I slumped in his grasp and groaned. "Gage, please."

He paused and looked back at me. "Are you going to finally change?"

I thought about it.

"What if we went golfing instead?"

Wrong answer.

Instead Gage gripped my thighs a little tighter as he suddenly charged full blast towards the water with me screaming my head off the whole way.

"Gage! Cant we talk about this?!" But the water kept getting closer. "No! Please, Gage! Put me down!"

"Hold your breath, Shortcake!"

"WaitwaitWAITWAITWAIT! Ahhhhh!"

And then despite all my protests and pleas, I squeezed my eyes shut as I was mercilessly thrown into the cold ocean water, clothes and all. So much for a relaxing day at the beach.

When I resurfaced I heard the sound of booming laughter nearby. It took me a moment to realize that it was Gage in a full blown fit with his head back and everything, cackling towards the sky. For a second I was in awe at the sound of his true laughter, something I haven't heard before, but then I remembered why he was laughing and immediately frowned.

"You jerk!" I splashed him. "I said to put me down!"

"I would say that I'm sorry but I'm not," his laughter died down to chuckles.

"Ugh!" I rolled my eyes. "Great. Now my clothes are ruined."

"Should have taken them off," he started swimming closer to me. "And don't you say you didn't have a bathing suit."

"Why not?"

He pointed to my shirt. "I can totally see your striped top through your shirt."

I looked down and my eyes widened. Just as he said, with my white shirt now soaked it left nothing to the imagination. Quickly I covered my chest with a squeak.

"Don't look!"

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. "It's just a bathing suit."

"Yeah . . . but . . . still," I turned my chest away from his sight. "And just so you know, you are totally fired for this."

"Wow, that's the second time you've threatened to fire me in less than 24 hours. A new record," he swam backward.

I was going to splash him again when something he said caught my attention. "It is?"

He stopped swimming and looked away. "Uh, yeah, but it was just something you said when you were drunk last night. No big deal."

"Why did I say I would fire you?"

He still wouldn't look at me. Instead he seemed to swim further away so I followed after him calling out, "Gage? Where are you going?"

"I saw a fish."

"What? Gage! Wait come back! Why did I--?"

"GOTCHA!" Violet suddenly came out of nowhere to jump on a defenseless Gage tackling him into the water. And at that I stopped swimming to gawk at the bluenette as she stood on top of her brother to keep him underwater. "Ha! This is for Panama Beach! And back when you--whoa whoa no!"

Right when Gage popped back out of the water he threw Violet backwards so effortlessly she went flying before crashing back in the water with a massive splash. People around paused to watch what they were doing with a smile while I slowly started swimming away.

"Really? A sneak attack?" Gage he splashed Violet a little after she emerged from the water a little slowly. "You were seriously going to try that on me?"

"It was worth a shot," she coughed and patted her chest. "I think I might have swallowed something."

"Yeah well you should have known better. Are you okay?"

She coughed once more. "Yeah I'm fine," it was quiet again until a wicked smile grew across her face and she lunged for him again. "Sneak attack!" But he quickly dodged her and she fell straight into the water. When she emerged again she was pouting.

"It's not a sneak attack if you announce it, dork," he flicked her forehead.

"Ow," she rubbed the spot with a frown. "You're no fun. I'm going to hang out with Katy," she turned to me but when she saw where I was she looked confused. "Katy?"

I froze halfway back to shore when I heard her call my name.

Well fudge muffins.

Slowly, I turned around to address her with a sugar-coated smile. "Hey! You know what? I think I left something in the car. Like uh . . . some snorkling gear! Yeah! I'll be right back though so don't you two move from--PLEASE STOP NO!"

Almost at the same time they both lunged for me pulling me back deeper in the water. With Gage's thick arms wound around my torso and Violet helping him out there was zero chance of me escaping. Again we received odd looks but nobody thought to save me. Such a cruel world we live in.

Violet and Gage messed around some more until she spotted some of her friends on shore. She promised to be right back after she went to go talk to them although something told me that was yet another lie. I also noticed that her friends also had better bodies than half the people on this beach, including me. Seriously, what is up with this family?

"So what's really going on?" Gage swam up next to me blocking my view from Violet's model-type friends.

"What do you mean?"

"The bathing suit," he gestured to my shirt. "We all know you have it on but you still won't take off your shirt."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why are you so adamant about me taking off my clothes, Gage Rivers?"

Surprisingly that actually made him blush and he looked away. "That's, uh . . . not what I meant. I mean you can keep your clothes on, it's whatever. I just want to know what you have against your bathing suite is all."

Now it was my turn to feel flustered. "I don't really have anything against my bathing suite," I flicked at the water. "It's just . . . I would rather wear my shirt instead."

"Is it because you feel self conscious?"

I stopped playing with the water and looked at him. "What?"

"Violet was the same way a few years ago. We used to live close to Panama Beach so we would go there a lot. It was a short walk and we had nothing better else to do. One day we went and she was fine on the walk but as soon as she saw the other women there she ran back home and locked herself in her room crying," he sighed. "It took her months to go back to the beach with anything less than a sweater."

I made a face. "Why would she feel that way? She has a perfect body."

"Not to her."

"Well, she's blind then."

"Just like you."

I raised my eyebrow at him. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the fact that you're self conscious about your body when you shouldn't be, Katy. You may not be hiding your body beneath a sweater like Violet did, but I know that given the chance you would, and it's absolutely ridiculous. Your body may not look like others around here, but guess what? Their body doesn't look like yours either. And if everyone had the same perfect body, I guarantee you would still look for something that you lack. I'm half convinced that there is something in women's blood that prevents them from ever being satisfied with how they look.

There is always someone who will look better or dress better or whatever, and you can't stand it. So you beat yourself up about it although that's the last thing you should be doing because you are beautiful, in every way. It's not just about your body, which is more than fine by the way, but also about who you are as a person. Some of the most beautiful people have the ugliest souls but you were fortunate to have both. So please, Katy, stop thinking of yourself in such a negative way. Not that you need my approval, but you definitely needed a wake up call."

He spoke with such sincerity and determination I thought I was going to melt right there in the ocean and drift away. I thought back to the first time I met Gage when he was so closed off and bitter I never thought he would talk to me. For months he reamined closed off and only shared his thoughts about the playlist in the backroom. Looking at him now, a serious expression on his face after he spilled out his thoughts to me, I couldn't help but smile. This is the Gage I've always dreamed of knowing. This is the man who continues to amaze me. Not only does he bring me safety and comfort, but confidence as well. He is someone who believes in me, and I never knew until now just how much I needed it.

So with that I took in a deep breath and said, "You're right," before grabbing the hem of my shirt and pulling it over my head. It was a little awkward since the material was now thick from being soaked, and the last time I took my shirt off in front of a guy felt like ages ago, but for some reason with Gage I didn't feel weird at all.

Until I noticed his heated gaze on me.

At first I thought something had happened because he looked extremely uncomfortable with his body all tensed up and his nose flared out. But when his eyes started to slowly travel from the top of my head down past my chest and stopped at my waist, it wasn't difficult to understand what was going through his mind.

When his dark eyes went back up to me, filled with such intensity, he mumbled, "You really are beautiful, Katy."

And my heart tried to force it's way out of my chest.

It was then that I realized that the images from earlier definitely weren't from a dream, because I've see that heated expression before. The one filled with desire and longing that reached beyond the boundaries of friendship. And I had seen that expression recently. More accurately, I had seen that expression last night.

The second I reached my epiphany I felt like someone struck me when almost all at once the images I had been fighting to understand all morning filled my mind in crystal clear definition. They filed in one after the other like different pieces of a puzzle until they came together to make a very interesting picture. One that let me know Gage really was a liar, because something definitely happened last night. Something wonderful and yes, hazy, but something that awoke a part of me I hadn't felt in a long time. Desire. And for whatever reason he was trying to hide what happened between us. Perhaps I could understand where he was coming from because of the circumstances, but I didn't want to join the "let's-pretend-nothing-happened" bandwagon. Because in all honesty, I couldn't pretend like it was meaningless.

I was about to bring it up when I decided it probably wasn't the best time to mention it at the beach surrounded by so many people.

So instead I took another alternate route and splashed him.

Almost immediately the heat drained from his eyes replaced by surprise. "Did you just splash me?"

"Maybe," I splashed him again only this time he held up his arms in defense. When I was finished he released his guard to narrow his eyes at me.

"You seriously don't want this, Shortcake."

"I recall you saying that last week before I destroyed you in our food battle," I splashed him again.

"You must still be out of it if you really think that you won."

"Oh, but I did."

"No," he splashed me as he swam closer, "you didn't."

"Yes," I splashed him back, "I did."

"Then your memory really is horrible," he said as he suddenly came to a stop directly in front of me. "But you already knew that, right? Forgetful Katy. Isn't that what you said they called you?"

My response didn't come as quickly this time as my mind was too focused on the proximity between us. Or rather, lack of. From what I could tell it didn't bother him to be so close and from what I could feel I didn't mind. My heart was racing in my chest, but not from anxiety. It was excitement. Just as it had earlier when we were alone in his room wrapped up in each other. Those same feelings returned tenfold to the point where I found myself wanting to reach out for him again. The only issue was my uncertainty with his true feelings along with how far I would go if I touched him. I didn't want to scare him away. Therefore to busy my hands I slowly ran my fingertips along the waves between us feeling the water that somehow felt warmer than usual.

It took me a moment to realize Gage was still waiting on a reply. So after I gathered my thoughts back I said, "Maybe. But I always remember the important things," I smirked. "Things that make me happy. Things that excite me," my eyes flicked up to his briefly. "I never forget the things that make me feel."

I could have sworn I saw the lump in his throat rise and fall like the waves wrapped around us.

By the end of my little speech my heart was uncontrollable and my will unstoppable as I boldly inched closer and closer to him. I promised myself I still wouldn't touch him, but I couldn't help but be drawn to him. As I grew closer I halfway expected him to swim away, but no matter how short the distance was, Gage didn't move. Instead he stood his ground, looking at me in a manner that wasn't friendly at all. When I saw his expression a part of me thought that I, too, should want to avoid his own behavior, but for some reason I didn't.

Instead I fed off of it.

"Is that so?" he lowered his voice but never averted his eyes.

"Mhmm," I nodded before finally coming to a stop when our noses practically touched. It was then with hardly anything between us that I decided to throw away my promises and give I to what I've always wanted. "I can be forgetful sometimes. But do you know what I'll always remember?"

"What?" he mumbled.

"This."

Without warning I wrapped my arms around his neck to completely eliminate the space between us, and all at once the cold water started to change when I felt his lips pressed against mine.

I don't know what got into me, and maybe I was still a little hungover, but I was sober enough to know this is what I wanted. At this point I don't know why I would deny myself this feeling when for months I've known Gage and I do not act like the typical friends. I could see it in his heated gaze as they linger on my body a little too long or the way he held me closer

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