Page 83 of Bend
“Good.”
I grin and lean back just enough to check the time on my phone.
“Shit.”
Her brows lift. “What?”
“Sayshen sent a message in the group chat earlier that Andre wants us all at the garage for eleven. So we should probably get going,”
She laughs and slides off my lap, brushing sand from her legs. I stand too, stretch once, then hold a hand out for her just because I can.
She eyes it, amused. “Wow. Who knew all it would take is one kiss to diminish Debbie Downer and bring back the gentleman's behaviour.”
“Ha Ha so funny,” I smirk.
She takes my hand anyway, and I tug her up easily.
We head back across the sand toward the lot where the bikes are parked, our shoulders brushing every couple of steps.
Echo slips her hands behind her back as she walks beside me. “So, a little birdy told me tomorrow is your birthday.”
“Of course it did, let me guess, birdie's little name is Sayshen?”
“Oh I would never expose my sources. Does that mean I have to be nice to you all day?”
“Yeah, it does actually. I’m pretty sure it’s the law.”
She snorts. “In Florida?”
“Well, it started in Canada originally, but I’m expanding the reach.”
She glances up at me. “Wow. International birthday tyranny.”
“Exactly.”
She smiles to herself, then nudges my arm with hers. “You know, for someone who spent half this conversation being moody and a bit heartbroken, you recovered suspiciously fast.”
I give her a look. “Heartbroken’s a bit dramatic.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
She hums, pretending to think it over. “Right. My mistake. Deeply wounded, unfairly handsome, and still somehow annoyingly hot about it.”
I bark out a laugh. “Why is that worse?”
“Really?” She grins at me. “I thought I was being very generous.”
“You were doing all right till you made it sound like I’m out here pining on a beach.”
She lifts a brow. “You are out here pining on a beach.”
“Kinda rude to say it out loud though,”
Her smile only widens. “Fine. You’re not pining. You’re just having an emotional crisis while looking all gorgeous and beachy.”
I shake my head, still laughing. “That doesn’t even mean anything.”
