Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 56603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“Nope. You didn’t even drink when you turned twenty-one. No more homework, no more classes, and you don’t start your new job for two weeks. No excuses.”
As usual, Elizabet’s enthusiasm was contagious, and I found myself agreeing with a laugh. “No more than a couple of glasses of wine.”
“Deal!”
“It’s so hot out here!” I complained loudly as I stumbled out of the pub with my arm linked through Elizabet’s. I’d stuck to my limit of only a glass and a half of wine, but it seemed as though it was causing my blood to boil. I’d ditched my graduation gown in the car, but now I pulled off my cardigan and tossed it somewhere, leaving me in a flowered, spaghetti-strapped sundress. It helped, but I was still so hot!
Elizabet fanned her face and bobbed her head like it was attached by a spring. “So hot. Let’s cool off in that park over there.” Her voice was slightly slurred, and her double fingers pointed at the park across the street.
“Yes! Let’s go!” Allison, Elizabet’s roommate, toppled into us from behind, almost taking us to the ground. She was a lot more adventurous (my nice way of saying a troublemaker) than Elizabet or I were, but it was easier to include her in our plans than deal with her pouting and petty revenge.
We had enough sense to use the crosswalk and ended up safely across the street. Elizabet also tore off her sweater, then ran around with her arms spread wide.
I stood still since the park was already spinning, and I vaguely wondered why it wasn’t causing a breeze. Elizabet was making me feel dizzy, but a minute later, she spun herself right up to the edge of a big fountain. Her knees buckled when she hit it from behind, and she ended up on her ass in the two-feet-deep water.
Allison and I doubled over with laughter, and I almost fell over from the force of it. Elizabet giggled hysterically and tried to get up, but between her laughter and inebriated state, she managed to fall back in twice more, leaving her soaked from head to toe.
“Get your asses over here and rescue me from drowning,” she shouted between guffaws. I staggered over and wiped my eyes of tears before extending my hand for her to grasp. Allison did the same on her other side, and on the count of three, we tried to pull her up from the fountain.
We were unsuccessful, and Elizabet fell backward, making a big splash and dissolving into laughter. Unfortunately, she still had a tight grip on our hands, and the next thing we knew, we were tumbling into the water right next to her. I turned in time to land on my back rather than face first, but I still ended up completely submerged for a few seconds.
I sputtered and spat out water as I sat up, pushing my soaked, dark-blonde hair back from my face. Laughter bubbled up as I imagined what the three of us looked like. I laughed so hard that when I tried to stand, I slipped and fell on my ass.
Alison was still sitting, and she spread her arms out before intentionally falling backward into the shallow pool. When she came back up, she grinned. “Yes! I’m not hot anymore!”
Elizabet and I looked at each other with raised brows and open mouths. Most of the time, I wasn’t a fan of Alison, but at that moment, she was my favorite person. “You’re a genius!” I shouted. Copying her action, I fell back into the water and sighed. The cool liquid mixed with the spring breeze felt amazing on my heated skin.
After floating for a couple of minutes, I managed to get to my feet without falling again. Elizabet was kneeling in the water a foot away, and I narrowed my eyes when I saw her looking at me with a sly smile. Unexpectedly, she cupped her hands, dipped them into the water and flung them toward me.
My jaw dropped in shock, and then I copied her expression as I pulled back my foot and kicked a stream of water at her. She laughed hysterically and retaliated. We began to do our best to get the other, and a couple of splashes later, Alison joined in our epic water fight.
I was holding my stomach, doubled over with laughter when Elizabeth spun around from spraying Alison and—not realizing I was bent down—kicked water at my chest.
I gasped when it hit me in the face, causing me to breathe some of it in, which led to a bout of coughing.
“Kaia! I’m so sorry!” Elizabet cried, and she trudged through the water toward me.
“Ma’am, are you all right?”
A deep, rich, velvety voice washed over me, sending shivers from every nerve ending. Each one of them shot straight to my center, and a pulsing that matched my racing heartbeat started between my legs. It was unlike anything I’d ever felt before.