I flip him off before closing the door.
I get in my rental truck, my board and wet suit already in the back, and turn on the engine. Driving the McLaren with a surfboard is about as impractical as it sounds, hence the need for the truck.
As I pull out on the road, the sound of Beyoncé and Jay Z’s “Crazy in Love” fills the truck. I turn it up loud, the song igniting the nervous excitement I’m feeling at the thought of seeing Evie again.
She’s seriously gotten under my skin.
I’ve never felt like this about a girl before.
But if it had to happen, making me break my cardinal rule, then I’m happy as hell that it’s with Evie.
I pull up to Evie’s apartment building to find her already waiting outside.
I wind my window down as she approaches. She’s wearing pink flip-flops, jean shorts that are frayed at the bottom, and a pink T-shirt. I can see the bikini string tied around her neck, it’s white, and it has my mind wandering to all kinds of hot places. Her hair is down. It’s the first time I’ve seen Evie’s hair down. It looks beautiful. And I can’t help but imagine how all that long wavy hair would look spread out on my pillow.
“Hey,” she says. She has the biggest and most beautiful smile on her face.
And it’s all for me.
I feel a strange swelling in my chest.
“Hey.” I smile back at her. I reach my hand out, curling a lock of her hair behind her ear. I give it a little tug. “First time I’ve seen your hair down. I like it.”
She gives me a shy smile, touching a hand to her hair, as her cheeks turn pink. “Thanks. I haven’t seen your hair down either. You always have it tied back.”
Grinning, I pull the tie from my hair and shake my hair out. “How does it look?” I give her a cheeky smile.
“Good. Really good.”
The way she’s looking at me makes my shorts start to feel tight. I shift in my seat to rearrange the big fella.
Refocusing my attention, I say, “You didn’t have to wait out here. I would have come up to get you.”
“My dad and sister are still sleeping. I didn’t want to wake them. Anyway, it’s a nice morning to be outside.” She reaches up on her tiptoes, leaning against my door, and her fingers curl around the open window. “Good morning, by the way.”
“Morning,” I whisper. I slide my hand around the back of her head and guide her lips to mine.
She tastes like toothpaste and strawberries.
Fucking delicious.
Leaning back, she stares into my eyes. Hers are wide and innocent.
My heart starts to pound, and my cock is definitely paying attention. God, I want her innocence. I want to hide it from the rest of the world and keep it for myself.
I’m pretty sure Evie’s a virgin. I got that from the tentative way she kissed me last night. I’ve kissed a lot of girls, and I’m good at recognizing the inexperienced ones, not that I’ve ever fucked a virgin. That’s something I wouldn’t ever do. I don’t want the responsibility of being a chick’s first time.
But Evie…the thought of being her first…fuck yeah. I want to be her first…and last.
And listen to me.
Only one date, Gunner. You’re not even her boyfriend yet.
Yet?
“So, is this another car?” she asks, tapping a hand on the frame.
“It’s a rental. The McLaren’s not practical for getting my surfboard around, so I rented the truck. I could use Max’s truck, but I like to have my own. Hate relying on other people.”
“Yeah, I get that. That’s why I wish I could drive, so I wouldn’t have to catch the bus. I don’t mind riding the bus to work, but I hate the waiting around. That’s why I come to the beach for that hour—to kill time instead of sitting waiting for it.”
“Lucky me that you can’t drive.”
“Yeah, I guess we wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for me catching the bus.”
“No, we’d have met. I would have found my way to you somehow.”