Shattered Ties

“Fine. That was...awkward. Ally really doesn’t like me.”

“Ally needs to get over herself,” Jesse growled. “I’ll take care of her later.”

I hoped that I wasn’t anywhere near them when that conversation took place. Both of them had a temper, and I knew it wouldn’t end well.

“Just don’t fight with her over me. I don’t want to get between you guys.” “You won’t. Ally needs to accept the fact that you’re not going anywhere.”

Andy appeared out of nowhere with three beers in his hands. “I need to get drunk.”

Jesse laughed as he took two of them, and then he passed one to me.

“Why the hell did you punch the guy?”

“He had his tongue down my sister’s throat. He’s lucky that his head is still attached to his body.”

Jesse shook his head as he pulled me down to sit on the sand with him. “She’s not a baby, Andy. You have to let her go sometime. It’s not like you don’t go out and screw girls all the time.”

My eyes widened at how casually Jesse had said that.

He noticed my expression and frowned. “Andy screws girls all the time, not me.”

Andy laughed as he opened his beer and sat down next to Jesse. “Don’t worry, Emma. Jesse is the good guy. Me, on the other hand...I like sex.” “I’ll keep that in mind,” I mumbled. I opened my beer and sipped it.

“Be sure to do that. If you two ever need any help, I’ll be glad to offer my assistance.”

“Dude. Shut up.”

Andy laughed. “What? I just want her to know she has options out there besides you.”

I grinned as I leaned across Jesse. He was going to kill me for what I was about to do.

“Is that so?” I asked in what I hoped was a flirty voice.

He grinned as he leaned closer. “It is. Give me five minutes, and I’ll make you forget all about Jesse.”

This guy was a total flirt.

I reached out and ran my hand across his arm. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

“You do that. And I’m sure Jesse would be up for a threesome if you wanted to take us both on.”

I stood up and walked to stand in front of Andy. I crouched down in front of him, trying not to bust out laughing. “You know what I’d like to do with you right now?”

“What?” he asked with a cocky smirk.

I stood up and tipped my beer so that it flowed over him. “That.” “What the hell?” Andy shouted as Jesse fell back into the sand laughing.

“That is the best thing I’ve seen all day,” Jesse said.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Actually, the second best with you being naked as the first.” “Good save.” I laughed.

Andy looked back and forth between both of us as beer ran down the side of his face. “You’re both crazy, but I have to admit that I like Emma a little better now.”

“I didn’t know I needed your approval, but I’m glad I have it.” I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Fuck you, both. I’m going to go swim to get the beer off of me.”

“Have fun!” I called after him as he ran down the beach to the water.

“You had me worried there for a minute,” Jesse said as he reached up and then pulled me into his lap.

“That was fun.”

“It was. Don’t do it again.” He rolled me into the sand and pinned me with his body. “Maybe I should worry about you and Andy being alone together.”

“No way. I only want you.”

He ran his nose across mine before kissing me hard on the lips. “Glad to hear it. Come on, I’ll introduce you to the ones I know.”

We spent the rest of the evening going from group to group. I couldn’t help but smile each time Jesse introduced me as his girlfriend. He was staking his claim on me.

It was close to midnight when he finally decided that we should head home. After all, I had to be in school the next day. Jesse went to find Andy while I waited next to the rocks.

One minute, I was standing there, waiting for him, and the next, I was knocked down to the ground. I shrieked as a body pinned me against the ground.

“Shut up!” a voice growled out as a hand clamped over my mouth.

Ally. I was so screwed.

I tried to push her off of me, but it was no use. For as tiny as she was, she was strong.

“You think you’re so badass, walking around with Jesse like you own him. Well, I’ve got news for you. He’s mine, and you need to stay the fuck away from him.”

“Emma! Where are you?” Jesse called from close-by.

Thank God.

Ally cursed under her breath. “You tell him about this, and I’ll beat the ever-loving shit out of you. Remember what I said—he’s mine.”

She was gone as silently as she’d appeared. I was still lying on the ground in shock when Jesse walked up to me.

“There you are. Why are you on the ground?” he asked as he helped me up.

“Uh, I tried to climb the rock, and I fell off. It knocked the wind out of me.”

“Just wait for me next time. Come on, let’s get you home.”

I was silent as we climbed over the rocks and made our way back to his car. The silence continued as he drove us back to his house.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked when he pulled into his driveway.

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