Vintage (Adrenaline Series Book 2) (8 page)

“That's...that's fucking lucky!” She shrieks. I motion my hands for her to lower her voice. Instead she rolls her eyes and storms towards the pinks mumbling, “You're getting all the fun this summer, I swear.”

The hunt continues through different hues and patterns until I feel like I've gotten lost in a Picasso painting. “Can we give up and actually
get
a pretzel from the pretzel guy?”

“No.”

“But I have homework.”

“You always have homework,” she gripes.

“But-”

“I can't focus with you whining!” Hayli snaps. “In fact, I-”

A hush falls on her unprompted. Unsure if I should be terrified or excited she finally stopped talking, I cautiously ask, “What?”

“Found it,” she whispers out, walking away from me and straight to the back wall where there's mixes of patterns and colors. Like a zoned in missile she walks straight to the target, grabs it and holds it out for me. “It's perfect.”

Weary I try to argue, “That's...that's not gonna cover much, Hayli.”

“It's gonna cover enough, Jovi. Look at it. It's the perfect colors. The perfect combination of playful and sexy. This is you. At least try it on.”

“Fine.” I snatch the hanger from her. “Can you pick something so I don't have to go alone?”

She looks around briefly before walking four feet over and grabbing a blue and white striped bikini with gold accents. With a suspicious smirk she declares, “You can never go wrong with the nautical. It's vintage.”

“Then why am I not trying on something like that?”

“Because we want you to stand out. And why do I have to explain myself to you. I picked a swim suit...now go. GO.”

Stomping to the back where the sales girl helps us both into dressing rooms, I look at the bikini I'm not sure I'm brave enough to wear.

Look at it! It looks like underwear. So I should just wear my underwear to the party? Parade in front of a bunch of strangers? I am not being ridiculous! You're being ridiculous! Oh...shh.

I strip out of my clothes and reluctantly put on the bikini. While I'm expecting to immediately hate it, I'm shocked when I don't. It's more comfortable than it looks even if it doesn't cover as much as I hoped. Staring at my reflection, I notice something about myself that I didn't before. When I wear colors like this, my whole demeanor changes. I'm smiling. My skin looks like it's glowing.  I feel like something Merrick could tag for the world to stare at. Yeah...I feel beautiful in colors.

Why don't I wear them more often?

The halter bikini is yellow with subtle orange swirling patterns. On top there's thick lace trim that covers part of the top where my cleavage is to match the thick lace band that's on the bottom. Turning around I admire the way the bottoms are scrunched up to make my butt look perkier than it actually is.

So this is what it's like when an artist finds the perfect inspiration.

“I'm coming in!” Hayli declares pulling the curtain open. As soon as her eyes get a glimpse of me she smiles wide. “Oh...my...God...”

“So...it's perfect,” I sheepishly admit giving my reflection another glimpse.

Proudly she drops her hands on her hips. “Told you.” A sweet smile pops on her face. “You're really gorgeous Jo'. I hope Merrick knows that.”

“He never forgets to remind me....”

“And if he ever does I'm kicking his ass.”

Giggling I notice her swimsuit actually looks sexy without implying she's for sale. “I think you found a winner too.”

“Yeah?” She admires herself in my mirror. “I think so too. Flirty yet sexy. Classic pattern, but the gold adds modern touches.”

Try to talk to her about art using the exact same phrasing and she looks at you like you're speaking Russian.

With a smile I nod at my best friend, just thankful that she's here with me.

And I don't just mean through this nightmare they call shopping, but through this thing I'm slowly starting to call my life. Who knows what would have happened if Hayli had never pushed me to live a little. To be a little more daring. To actually be brave enough to wear that little orange dress that stuck out in Merrick's mind. I'm trying not to think about how much it's gonna suck leaving her behind, but right now, it's eating away at me like a sickness I'm not sure I can ever cure. She's even excited I'm going to check out the campus, something Merrick still doesn't know I'm doing because I can't seem to find the right way to tell him. She's always supportive. Leaving my boyfriend and my best friend...could you blame me if I had a little doubt walking away without them is what's best for me?

Jovi

Hayli pulls into a parking space at a park on a huff. “We have to fucking walk?”

“Well every time I start working on jet packs you interrupt.”

She glares and pulls the keys out of the ignition. “You do know that's not funny, right? It's like the rocket scientist joke.”

You laughed. No? Well. Damn.

“We better not have to walk far.” Suddenly there's a threatening finger in my face. “My heels are much too high for a far walk.”

I go to grab my bag from the backseat but Hayli swats at me to stop. “Why are you even wearing heels?”

“Why aren't you?” Confused by her response I simply stare at her. “Do you realize most of the females in there are going to be wearing them? It's like signature sex kitten move. Heels and bikinis.”

“That's not-”

“Remember the races?”

A rush of gorgeous girls all in heels floods my mind and shuts my mouth.

“Exactly.” She raises her eyebrows. “Now lose the cover up.”

“You want me to walk there in
just
my bikini?!” I squeak.

“Yes.” Hayli smirks, checks her lip gloss in the rear-view mirror, and grabs her phone.

Noticing my own phone in my purse I nibble on my bottom lip.

What if Nadie needs me? Or my dad calls? Or-

“Leave it,” she demands. “Nadie knows we were going to lay out by the pool. You'll be fine. It'll help your dad start to cope if you don't answer every time he calls.”

“Or encourage him to turn on my GPS,” I correct her.

“Nah. I'm gonna take my phone. If he needs you, he'll try me before he turns it on. Now let's go. We're gonna be late!”

“Since when do you care about being late?”

“Since I'm not sure I'm gonna turn enough heads because we're too tardy.”

Not understanding her logic, I shrug, pull off my cover up and slide out of the car.

At least I get to wear flip-flops. It was a twenty-five minute battle, but I won it! Feel like I should have a trophy for slaying the beast she was turning into.

We head towards Vinnie's house, which is in the middle of a cul-de-sac in your average suburban neighborhood. In his two story house’s driveway there are cars parked closely together. The neighbors directly to his left and right have cars parked in and blocking their driveways, but no one else in the circle. The cute white brick house has perfectly groomed grass and gorgeous rose bushes by the front windows.

I would never guess the gambling guru lived here! Shouldn't he be living in a mansion by the lake? Or a compound?

There's a stone path that leads around to his backyard fence that we were told would lead us to the party. Hayli opens it with confidence and struts around the corner, gorgeous red hair bouncing making her look even more irresistible as the sun hits her.

She looks like a runaway model and is worried about turning heads? What's wrong with her?

Hayli finally slows down so I don't have to walk in alone. We round the corner into the lush green backyard, which is when I see a sight that glues me mid step. Merrick is shirtless in a pair of low rise black swim shorts, his perfected v and abs attracting every troll and tramp in a six mile radius.

Yes I'm jealous!

A small wave of displeasure washes over me as I watch one, who has clearly paid for the pair of boobs that are popping out of her barely there triangle top, run her finger down his chest.

I whisper in Hayli's ear, “We should go...”

She drops her jaw with a bitchy look on her face.

All this was too good to be true right? Always fun and games until something sexier comes along...

“Give him a minute.” She holds up a finger at me. “Just...give him a sec.”

Baffled she's taking his side instead of mine, I go to object when Merrick removes her hand from his body, shakes his head, and tosses back another swig of the beer he's drinking. Suddenly she looks peeved, but he shakes his head again and makes a hand motion to dismiss her. The female makes a pouty face, but he doesn't waiver.

As soon as she stomps off in a fit, I rush past Hayli and fly into his arms. Taken off guard, he stumbles a bit, but still manages to catch me. He opens his mouth to speak, but is shut up by my tongue launching itself at his. A groan comes out of him as his free hand grips the back of my neck while his beer hand gives my ass a small squeeze. The simple action happens to be a huge turn on that pushes me further to conquer and claim him. I continue working my tongue around his the way I want to on other parts of his body. Merrick groans again pulling me further into him, our kiss easily surpassing the summer heat we're making out in.

“Oh give it a rest,” Hayli gripes. “It's not like he ran into a burning building to save a baby. He told a ho' no.”

Pulling away Merrick looks at her, hand still on my butt. “What?”

“We watched you tell that tramp bye bye,” Hayli's information causes him to raise his eyebrows at me.

“So you're marking your territory 'cause you’re jealous?” Slightly embarrassed by my reckless action I glance away. His soft lips land next to my ear. “Mark me like that any time, baby.” A small smirk comes back to my lips and I kiss him again. Playfully his tongue teases mine, then my lips, before he draws himself back still grinning. “Jealous...”

“Ugh. Arrogant.”

“Confident.”

“Cocky.”

“Proud,” the correction surprises me. “To have a girl as special as you that protective over me isn't something I take for granted.”

Swallowing my swoon I remind him, “But at the races-”

“That was different. You were jealous because you thought I wanted everyone but you...now you're jealous because you don't want anyone to have me but you. If that's not something to be proud of...what is?”

His words lift me back to the tips of my toes to kiss him again. It's brief thanks to Hayli's disgusted sounds.

“I love you,” I whisper smiling.

“I love you too, baby.”

“And I would love to stop watching you two suck face and meet the party people,” Hayli encourages. “Now get to introducing...”

Merrick chuckles and drapes his beer free arm around my shoulder. He leans over to say, “You look sexy as sin, baby.” When I smirk he declares, “It's one sin I'll never pay penance for. One I plan to continue repeating again....and again...and again....”

“Stop talking dirty,” Hayli complains again.

On a chuckle, the three of us stroll away from where he was hanging towards the pool. To be in a neighborhood he has more backyard than is probably normal. It seems to stretch far and wide, the space on the other side of his fence an untouched wooded area. To the left there's a large patio area where people are grilling, drinking, and skimpily clad girls are dancing to music provided by J Money who tosses us two fingers in the air the second he spots us. The luxury sized pool, which is in the middle of the yard, is curved and long like you would see at high class luxury apartments. I feel like I've stepped into a tropical escape between the palm trees, gorgeous colored flowers, stone paths, and shaded huts where people are making out.

Immediately I notice everyone who is swimming or lounging close to the pool is drinking out of plastic cups.

Smart man. No glass by the pool.

We stop on the other end of the backyard from where we came. I spot Vinnie on a lounge chair with one arm draped around one girl and another in his lap.

Merrick told me he has two girlfriends. I don't know how they do it. I really don't. You saw how I lost it a few minutes ago. Sharing on purpose? Not for me.

In front of us are three men with their feet dangling in the pool, who have slightly similar features to Madden and Merrick. However they're identical to each other.

And I do mean identical. Same swim trunks. Same sleeve and chest tattoos. Same sunglasses. Hell, they're even laughing the same. Okay so are there actually three of them or is the heat playing tricks on me?

“Triple D meet Hayli,” Merrick introduces. “Hayli meet Triple D. My brothers.”

Holy hell, they're triplets!

Hayli gapes. “There's three of you.”

“A chick who can count.” The one in the middle chuckles. “I like that.”

“Is that 'cause you can't?” She snips back.

“That asshole is Daniel,” Merrick says shaking his head slowly. “The one to the left is Drew. To the right Destin.”

They give her a finger wave from behind their plastic cups.

“And that chick next to you...” Destin puts his cup down. “Is that the reason you hit Mad Man in the face?”

Shocked I question, “You punched your brother?”

Merrick's face scrunches like it's trying to explain when Daniel says, “It better fucking be. You better not be turning into the boy who cried pussy or love or whatever, baby bro'.”

“This is Jovi,” Merrick growls gripping me tighter.

Drew nods. “It's nice to meet you.”

“You too,” I softly reply.

“Ladies and Gentleman!” Daniel yells at the top of his lungs. “If I could please have your attention!” The party quiets down and he continues. “It is a sad day to announce that a McCoy has fallen. If you could all raise your glasses in honor of our fallen brother and give him a final salute!” To my surprise everyone in the party lifts their cups while staring at us. With a smirk I have become familiar with thanks to Ben and Merrick, Daniel says, “What's a McCoy always do in bed?”

The crowd replies, “Finish last!” They cheer and take a drink.

My face rubricates instantly. With nowhere to hide I turn my face towards Merrick's who looks slightly amused and slightly annoyed.

Is that why everyone wants to sleep with a McCoy? Because they finish last in bed? Like...oh...oh my gosh! A crowd full of people just cheers to that?! What do you mean I'm even redder than before? Stop laughing!

Merrick tips his beer at Drew. “If you could please.”

Drew nods in return. “Of course.”

Destin grabs the cup out of Daniel's hand seconds before Drew shoves him in the water. There's lots of laughter and when he pops back up he says, “Whooo! Welcome to the family Jovi!”

Weirdest greeting ever. But hey...at least they welcomed me right?

Hayli is still giggling when Drew says to her, “Come sit by me.”

She gets a sly smirk, which is wiped away by Ben's voice who states loudly, “Careful with Juicy Fruit Drew. She's a wild one.”

“You wouldn't know,” she snaps.

“Why do you call her Juicy Fruit?” Merrick questions, his arm falling so his hand rests on my hip instead.

“Like the red gum,” Ben answers.

“That's Big Red,” Destin corrects him.

“Oh.” He looks slightly confused. Quickly he dismisses the thought, adjusts the white baseball cap that's turned around backwards, and shrugs. “She's got juicy parts too, so it still works.”

There's more laughter and Merrick plants a kiss on my cheek. The unprompted gesture turns my face to him again. At that moment he whispers, “You okay? I know they're a little much to handle but...they're my brothers. They've got good somewhere in there.”