I get a lot of crap this morning from everyone about burning up a robe. In fact, although house fires are not at all a laughing matter, when I came down for breakfast, Damon started playing the song “Burning Down the House.”
Everyone laughed.
I smiled as I said, “Ha-ha. You’re all so funny,” and that was it.
And fortunately, Haley suggested we go to the resort.
And I will admit, I’m excited to meet the cute new boy she met recently.
“This summer has been good for us,” she says to me when we’re situated on the beach, watching the boys climb the big blow-up mountain and then slide down the other side, screaming. “The four of us really need to hang out together more often when we get back home.”
I reach over and touch her forearm. “You’ve grown up a lot, Hay.”
“I don’t know about that,” she says. “But I have realized I need to value our families above all.”
“You mentioned that earlier.”
“And I mean it even more now. And, just for the record, I’m happy for you and Chase.”
“Thank you. I’m happy for us, too.” I look at the boys out there, having the time of their lives. I turn back to her and say, “We’re tan enough. And they are having way too much fun without us. Let’s go show them how it’s done!”
And when I slide down the incline with Chase and come up from the water in his arms, I’m glad we agreed to all of this, too.
“I’m having so much fun,” I say, feeling exhilarated.
Chase kisses me. One of those hard, heavy, quick kisses, and then he starts swimming, dragging me with him. “Let’s do it again.”
“You know what they say. Once you start doing it, you won’t want to stop,” I say back.
Which actually causes him to turn around and stand up in the chest-deep water.
“Do you feel that way, too? I’m trying to be respectful, but it’s about all I can think about when I’m around you. You’re so sexy.” He pulls me against him and flicks the strings on the back of my top. “And this bikini is killing me. Good thing we’re underwater, or people would be able to see just what I think of it.”
I throw my arms around him and jump up, wrapping my legs around his waist, wanting to feel for myself.
“Chase,” I say, pushing my hips against his hardness.
“That’s not going to help the situation,” he says with a laugh.
I keep my arms in place but lean back to look at him. His hair’s wet, pushed back off his face, and he looks like he did the other day in the rain—wet hair, dark lashes, strong jaw, soft lips, eyes that say everything to me. Only today, there is no hesitation in them.
He doesn’t need to ask for permission because he already knows exactly what I want. More of him.
“I want you,” I tell him. “I’m thinking about it right now. I want to feel your weight on top of me, run my hands all across your body. I also want to kiss you the way you kissed me in front of the fireplace. I want to kiss all of you.”
“All of me?”
I can see his Adam’s apple move as he swallows hard because although we have worked our way around the bases and have had sex, there is still something I haven’t done to him yet.
“You mean, like—”
“Yes, my handsome boy,” I say, stroking down his face.
“Why does it sound like you’re talking to a dog?” he says with a laugh.
“Hey!” I swat him. “I’m trying to be sexy here.”
“You don’t have to try, Devaney. Everything about you is sexy—from the way you look when you first wake up to when you put your head on my shoulder and go to sleep. And, obviously, I’m not just talking about your incredible body,” he says, giving my ass a firm squeeze with both hands. “I’m talking about you. The way you smile, how you bite your lip when you’re pretending to be mad but really want to laugh. The way your hair glistens in the sunlight. The way you stomp up the stairs, your hands all balled up when you don’t get your way. The way you always have to blow on your cocoa before you take a sip, even when it’s not hot anymore.”
I grin at him. “You’re silly.”
“I’m not. I could go on all day. And I didn’t really get a chance to tell you, between the party and last night, but the cupcake you made me? Like, I hope you know how much it meant to me. Although I guess I should ask if that’s what you meant.”
“Yes, Chase. I want all that. For both of us. Together,” I say the magic words.
“Together,” he repeats, his grin wide.
Then, he grabs my waist, ripping my legs off him and throwing me backward.
I scream when he does it and come up, sputtering for air.
“Together,” he says, cocking an eyebrow at me and smirking.
I jump on his back and try to dunk him. I used to be able to do it when we were younger. But instead of him going under, he stands up fully, lifting me out of the water.
“Hold your breath,” he says. “We’re going down.” Then, he dunks us both.
And when we come up for air, I can’t help but lean forward and whisper in his ear, “Actually, it’s me who will be going down, Chase. Tonight.”
I jump off his back and swim like crazy toward the slide, actually managing to get there first.
He grabs me as I’m pulling myself up onto it.
He doesn’t say anything, just gives me a long, deep kiss, and then slaps my ass as we make our way up the slide again.
Haley and I leave the boys at the resort. They’re going to lift some weights while we go get ready. Tonight is going to be a fun night. First, it’s Sunday again. Which means the babysitter comes to watch the little kids and we get to go back up to the gorgeous restaurant on the hill and have a fantastic dinner—our last one during our time here. Collin, the boy Haley is currently crushing on, is here for a family wedding and snagged us an invitation to the reception, and I’m glad I brought one really nice dress with me.
My mother’s words of wisdom play in my head. Always pack a party dress.
And in this case, I’m glad I did.
Because as I make my way down the grand staircase, I can feel Chase’s gaze following me. I don’t make eye contact just yet, wanting to wait until we’re face-to-face to see his reaction. To my dress.
To me.
Jeez, Dani, you’re acting like it’s your wedding day or something.
All sorts of girl-power thoughts run through my head. That I don’t need a man’s approval.
And I know that. When I picked out this dress at the store, I knew I felt good in it. I knew it again tonight when I put it on. When you look and feel good in what you wear, it gives you confidence. A little extra bounce in your step.
I don’t need Chase to like it. I don’t need his approval, but since the kiss to end all kisses, I want him to love it.
I want him to notice everything.
The kiss was so incredibly eye-opening for me.
Really, this trip has been eye-opening for me in a lot of ways.
And while I thought the fire teasing was over, it comes out the second the waiter asks what I’ll have to drink.
My brother turns to him and says, “She’ll have a bour-burn.”
The waiter looks confused, but my dad waves him off.
“They’re just joking. Well, for the fire-seeable future anyway. I’m sure, eventually, they will be old enough.”
“I’ll have sparkling water,” I say quickly to the waiter, hoping to stop the embarrassment.
“To put out the flames!” Jennifer hoots.
“Very fitting with her new au-burn hair color,” Mimi adds.
I turn and look at Mimi with my mouth open. If anyone should ever stick up for me, it should be my grandmother.
“If you don’t watch it,” I say to her, “I’m going to start calling you Granny.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” she says, sounding aghast.
“Flame-ous last words,” Papa says, raising his eyebrow in my direction.
“Okay, everyone, very funny. You’re hilarious. Ha-ha.”
We manage to order and get our drinks before Jennifer says something to Jadyn about how they’ve really changed her character for the new season of her show.
“It’s crazy that they’re going to put me and the guy who’s practically my enemy on the show together.”
To which Jadyn replies, “Well, there is a fire line between love and hate.”
“And such good roles are so few and fire between,” Phillip says with a laugh.
Thankfully, Grandpa Mac changes the subject, asking his wife about the book she was reading this afternoon.
“It was amazing. It had a big, fat happily ever after, fiery-tale ending.”
“Bada-boom,” Grandpa Mac says teasingly.
I roll my eyes as the waiters bring our meals out and set them in front of us. Once we’ve all been served, Chase raises his glass in the air and says, “Burn appétit.”
“Traitor,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him from across the table as everyone digs in.
A few moments later, Phillip says to his daughter, “So, Haley, how’s your steak?”
“So fire, so good, Dad. Thanks for asking,” she says sweetly.
And I’m pretty sure everyone has been working on their fire jokes all afternoon.
I shake my head.
“Hey, don’t flame the messenger,” Papa says, chuckling at his own wittiness.
“If you don’t stop it, I’m going to sue you all for de-flame-ation.”
“Ah, she’s playing along,” Mimi says, clapping.
“It’s all for your burn-efit, Devaney,” Papa says with a grin.
“Well, that’s very burn-evolent of you to say so,” I say sweetly. Then, I look around the table at everyone, giving them the stink eye and hoping there will be no more jokes.
We all watch the sunset together and then say good-bye to our parents and grandparents, who have decided to stay for a night cap.
The four of us hop in a golf cart, Damon driving and Haley taking the front passenger seat, leaving me and Chase to sit together on the back. He wraps his arm around me, hangs on to the side rail tight with the other—my brother is a crazy driver—and kisses me.
“Have I told you how gorgeous you look tonight?” he asks me.
I roll my eyes at him but can’t hide my smile. “About a hundred times.”
“And I meant every time. I mean, the bikini today was killer, and I’ve been trying not to gawk, especially after last night, but damn, girl.”
“Now, you’re just being silly,” I say, swatting my arm in his direction.
He grabs it, holds it tightly, and gazes into my eyes. “There is nothing silly about how you look tonight. You should wear that dress, like, every day.”
“And here I was, hoping you’d want it off me as soon as possible,” I whisper.
He lets out a little moan that’s almost a growl.
“Must be the leopard print,” I tease.
The dress I’m wearing has a bustier-style top that fully showcases my assets but with thick straps that keep everything securely in place. There’s a seam at the waist, and then the dress glides over my hips to mid-thigh. One of the fun things about this dress is that I can wear it with white tennies and a jean jacket when shopping with my mom, and it looks almost sweet, but when I wear it with studded heels, like tonight, I feel a little fierce.
When I was a kid, I did a lot of competitive cheer. I was petite back then and was a flyer, the girl who got tossed around in the air and was always at the top of the pyramid. But then I grew.
I went from four foot nothing to five foot in a matter of a couple years, filled out, and was put on a team with older girls. The team was challenging. I was the youngest, and a lot of people didn’t think I should be on it, but I proved them wrong. We won so many tournaments and championships that I lost count, but I do still have our gold-and-black team jacket hanging prominently in my closet. The word fierce is spelled out on the back.
And that was what I aspired to be back then. A fierce competitor. A girl who worked hard. Who took no shit. And who never cried when we lost.
And although I stopped being on the team once I got to high school, choosing high school cheer instead, I knew that they would always be with me. Reminding me of what that little girl wanted.
Varsity cheer in high school. Homecoming queen.
Then college. Making the team before getting my degree and switching from cheering on the sidelines to reporting from it.
And sometimes, I wonder if I can really do it.
But as my dad would say, You’re a Diamond. You can do anything you set your mind to.
But sometimes, I feel more like a diamond in the rough of the family.
Something that needs more polish.
More experience.
And maybe more time.
But tonight, sitting on the back of a golf cart with a crazy driver, hanging on for dear life, I feel like I have all the time in the world.
Because I’m not alone in it.
When my parents told me they were getting a divorce, I was shocked. Devastated. Convinced it was my fault somehow even though I was definitely old enough to know better. And from there, I went from worrying about where I’d go to school, where we’d live. If we’d have to move. And I was thrilled when my dad and Jennifer got together, but that meant changes, too. What would happen if he moved us to California? What if he made me live with Mom? What if I didn’t get to live next to the boy who’d always been my rock? The boy who could make me laugh, even when it felt like my world was falling apart.
The boy who is sitting next to me, his strong arm pressed tightly against me.
I almost get tears in my eyes, just thinking about what my life would be like without him.
But then he grins at me, and all the worries leave my head.
“I’m pretty sure we almost died,” I say when we finally come to a halt in front of where a reception is very obviously taking place.
“It’s beautiful,” Haley and I both whisper reverently.
We’re in an area of the resort that I know is reserved for events and features its own private beach. There’s a big screened porch, decorated adorably with crystal chandeliers, offsetting the rustic beams and leather accents. Inside are long wooden tables piled with flowers in shades of sunny colors—a pale pink, a deeper peach, and a rich dark pink that’s almost fuchsia. Off the porch is a deck, acting as a bar, serving frozen rosé and piles of desserts in a display that rivals our nacho table.
We know from talking to Collin earlier that the wedding couple was to be married overlooking the water and that the reception would take place here. Twinkle lights are strung crisscross above the beach, forming a sort of ceiling but allowing you to still see the stars getting ready to peek out above.
A string quartet is playing soft background music, and cowboy boots are abundant among the crowd.
Collin must have seen Haley arrive because he’s next to us, escorting us into the area and introducing us to everyone.
The event is a fairly small one, about a hundred people, all family and close friends.
We’re chatting in a little group of kids about our age—who are all cousins—when a guy in a cowboy hat takes the stage along with a band.
“That’s Daine Kirkwood, another one of our cousins,” Collin tells us.
“I know him!” I say.
Everyone turns to me in question.
“I mean, we’ve never met, but I have his debut album. Saw him play at a small musical festival in Kansas City.”
“You’re probably, like, one of his very first fans,” Collin says. “He’s not exactly a household name yet.”
“Still, I’d love to meet him.”
Collin looks me up and down. “Oh, trust me, in that dress, you most definitely will. In fact, he’ll come to you.”
Chase scowls.
“Calm down there, lover boy,” Collin says to Chase. Then, he bows to Haley and asks her to dance.
Damon grabs one of the cousins and drags her out on the dance floor, and Chase and I join them as the band starts playing.
The night is really fun. It’s like being at a country bar that’s crowded with all your friends.
We dance under the lights, sneak frozen rosés, and have the best time.
And while I love when the slow songs come on and Chase holds me in his arms and we dance cheek to cheek as I dream about what our wedding would be like, I definitely enjoy line dancing the most.
It’s totally exhilarating.
Haley and I took dance lessons for years, and my brother has had private ballet classes since he was old enough for it to be clear that he’d be a receiver. My dad is still worried he won’t grow tall enough, but Damon doesn’t care whether he ends up a tight end or wide receiver. He just wants to run, catch the ball, and score touchdowns.
By the end of the night, we have chatted up the country star and danced our feet off, and we all feel like part of the family.
Chase twirls me as we’re walking back to the golf cart. I feel a little dizzy. I’d like to say it’s from the frozen rosé, but I know it’s from being swung around by Chase all night.
“This goes down as one of the best nights of my life,” he says, pulling me close.
“And I still haven’t gone down yet,” I quip.
Chase chokes a little and then starts coughing.
“You have a dirty mind, little miss,” he says, kissing my neck.
“What can I say? Dancing with you made me think dirty thoughts,” I reply, tilting my head to one side to give him more access to my neck. I love the way it tickles when he kisses it.
“I wonder why they call them dirty.”
“What do you mean?” I ask him.
He brings his face up, even with mine. “Like, sex isn’t dirty. It’s beautiful. Sensual.” He grins. “And hot.” He does a little cough and then says, “Like fire.”
I laugh. “You started off sounding like a total romantic. Then, you had to ruin it.”
He tickles my sides, causing me to squirm and laugh. “Are you telling me you don’t think it’s hot? That we aren’t hot together?”
I stop laughing and stare up at him. “We’re more than hot, Chase. Together, we are magic. Pure magic.”
“I like that,” he says.
“Plus, you’re hot,” I tease.
We go back to the house and straight to the boathouse, knowing Haley and Damon won’t be home anytime soon. We’re barely inside before he’s unzipping my dress and pushing me against the wall, kissing me.
I’m frantically reaching for his pants when we hear, “Hey, you kids home?”
I stop moving, frozen in my spot.
“It’s my dad!”
“We are, sir,” Chase calls out and then whispers to me, “He must be on the dock. Shit.” He turns me around, zips my dress up, and pushes me out the door, saying, “Tell him I’m using the bathroom.”
“Hey, Dad,” I say, finding him at the end of the dock.
He and Phillip are nursing drinks, leaned back in Adirondack chairs and smoking cigars.
“How was the reception?” he asks.
I take a seat next to them. “Actually, it was really fun,” I tell him. “They had this country band, and we danced for, like, three hours straight.”
“Where’s everyone else?” Phillip asks.
“Chase is using the bathroom, and Damon and Haley are still at the resort. I think some of the kids were going to the hot tub—”
“I didn’t see them take swimsuits,” Phillip says sternly.
“Sounds more like skinny-dipping then.” My dad chuckles.
“They didn’t really say,” I add.
“It’s okay, Devaney. A little skinny-dipping never hurt anyone. What do you think we all did tonight after you kids left?”
My eyes get huge.
“You skinny-dipped with Papa and Mimi?” I ask as Chase comes out to join us.
My dad shudders, causing Phillip to laugh. “Oh gosh, no. That is something I don’t need to see.” He shivers again.
“We put the babies to bed and brought our lovely brides out,” Phillip clarifies.
“Dad, gross,” I say. “Too much information.”
“It’s actually a great idea,” Chase shocks me by saying, but maybe it’s the alcohol. “Dani, that’s what we should do after our parents go to bed.”
My dad starts to stand up. “I love you like a son, Chase, but I’d have to kick your ass.”
Chase busts out in laughter.
But my dad eyes him seriously. “Why are you two home?”
“Because I have to get up early and work out,” Chase says, like duh.
Phillip laughs again, stands up, puts his arm around my dad’s neck, and says, “Let’s leave the kids to themselves.”
Dad nods but stops and gives Chase the eye before he goes.
And we hear him mutter, “You wouldn’t be saying that if it were your daughter and my son.”
To which Phillip replies, “Your son and my daughter aren’t even home yet.”
We quietly stand on the dock, not moving until they’ve gone inside. Then, we wait a little while longer, just to make sure my dad’s not going to come back and check on us.
But once we see both bedroom lamps switch off, we know they’re going to bed.
Chase turns to me. “If your father knew all of the things that we’ve been doing, especially what you offered to do to me tonight, he would kick my ass.”
I grab his hand and lead him up to his room. “Lucky for you, what my dad doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
