Page 31 of Fractured Mind
There’s a comfortable silence between us until Ruby speaks. “Good luck resisting Ashton,” she says in a taunting tone.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”Liar.
Her wicked grin is back in full force. “But it’s going to be fun to watch you try.”
“It’s not like that between us.” I shift my body, feeling uncomfortable. I touch my hot cheeks, which are most likely bright red. Although I try to ignore her taunts, it’s hard to know what to think when Ashton looks at me the way he does.
After lying there for quite a while, I stretch out my arms and yawn.
“Was that a yawn I heard?” Ruby asks, sounding amused.
“I could fall asleep. It’s relaxing here.”
She huffs. “If that’s the case, get up.”
I blink against the sun’s harsh rays. I scan the water, searching for the guys, and find them standing on the bottom of the inflatable slide with girls in bikinis around them. They are impossible to miss. Ashton has his back to us, and it looks as though he’s talking to Jackson, but there’s still a prick of irritation from the girls surrounding them.
“Where are they...” Ruby asks but stops and groans. “Those girls have an unhealthy obsession with the four of them.”
“I’m seeing that.”
She gets up and walks over to the edge of the boat, leaning over the rail. “James!” she calls out.
“What’s up, Ruby?” A deep voice replies.
“Can you do me a favor?” she asks in a sweet voice. “Take us to the shore?”
“Yeah, okay. Get on board.”
Ruby waves me over, so I follow her down the ladder, where a big, burly guy is waiting for us. He extends his hand to help Ruby onto his boat and then does the same for me. I suppress my repulsion at his sweaty hands.
“Having a good day, ladies?”
“We are having agreatday,” Ruby replies, smiling up at him. She pats the seat beside her, and when I sit down, the boat jolts forward. Ruby is laughing and cheering him on while I scowl.
He glances back at us briefly with a smile. “What’s wrong, Mia? Don’t you like going fast?”
I clench my jaw and shake my head. Not when I’ve been involved in an accident. He nods and the boat slows, so I force a smile in appreciation.
“How are you liking school?” he asks, his eyes still focused on steering.
“It’s good... better than my old school, anyway.”
“That’s cool... Look, Ashton’s a scary motherfucker, so don’t tell him I took you two to the shore.”
Ruby flicks her hand. “We won’t.”
I look at one, then the other. “What are you two talking about?”
James clamps his lips so that they form a line. My gaze cuts to Ruby as I wait for an answer.
“He’s protective of you, that’s all.”
The boat slows down even more, and when it gets close enough, I step off it and onto the pier.
Ruby smiles broadly at James. “Thanks for the ride.” He tips his head forward in a salute.
We leave the pier and walk over to the sidewalk. “Where are we going?” I ask her.