"Heavens to Betsy!" Murphy hollers, dropping his suitcase to the ground in awe as we step up to the front gate of Alana's parent's beach house. "Why the hell didn't you tell us that you owned a goddamn tropical castle?"

"I don't own anything," she smirks, entering the digits onto the code-pad of the gate, which slowly draws open and invites us in as she finishes, "my parents do."

"Yeah, well, what exactly do your parents do?" Delk speaks up beside her, his eyes wide and his mouth agape as he soaks in the two-story exclusive estate looming ahead of us. "Because this is fucking insane!"

He's right, it is absolutely insane, and I find myself frozen in place too, admiring its new and improved features that I'm positive weren't here the last time I paid this place a visit. The panels of the house are now painted in a bright yellow, nearly matching the amber glow of the sun's rays that shine across the ocean that glimmers in the distance behind the house. Floor-to-ceiling windows have been installed on the front side of the property, giving a clever peek-a-boo to the boho-styled interior that waits for us on the inside.

"They run a real estate business back in Oahu," Alana answers back, conjuring all of our star-struck eyes back onto her. "You guys gonna stand there all day or what? It's about time we get this weekend started, don't you think?"

"Oh, hell yeah!" Murphy and Delk both exclaim, following suit after her, all three of them sprinting towards the front door of the beach house.

Staying behind the group, Brodie and I take our time as we stroll down the paved sidewalk leading towards the front porch, soaking in the warm breeze as it rushes against our skins and the smell of the pink plumeria flowers planted in the garden beds lining the house. Brodie's fingers lace into mine, drawing my gaze up to the boyish smile playing across his face.

"A weekend of having you all to myself," he hushes down to me, his thumb grazing the skin on the back of my hand as his eyes glimmer with the insinuation I can clearly see hiding behind them.

The area between my legs ache as his dark stare stays pinned on me, and I bite against my lip in an effort to stifle the tempting thoughts running through my head. Delk and Murphy's arguing cuts through the air, interrupting the flirtatious moment between us as they fight to see who gets through the door frame first.

"Correction," Brodie sighs, shaking his head at his friends' obnoxious behavior, "Having most of you to myself."

"Alana will keep them busy," I giggle, slipping in front of him and allowing my hands to fall onto his chest. His hands slip around my waist, tugging my body closer against his as we stay outside, away from the commotion we know is waiting for us inside. "Besides, Alana told me we could take the master room."

"Is that so?" Brodie asks, his interest piqued by the idea of getting a room all to ourselves.

"Mhmm," I hum, pulling myself up onto the tip of my toes and inching my mouth closer to his. Just as he starts to bring his lips to mine, I pull away from him and begin to skip down the footpath, taunting, "But don't get any ideas, Maverick. You're sleeping on the couch."

"No ma'am," he shouts after me, obstinately refusing to accept my absurd notion. His tall body only has to take a few strides to catch back up with me at the doormat, and his fingers latch against the belt loops of my shorts, jerking me back and stopping me from advancing any further. Twisting my body around, he hitches me off of the ground, causing me to squeal as he slings me over his shoulder and carries me through the front door. "If I'm sleeping anywhere, it's going to be tangled up somewhere in the sheets with you."

"You two are disgustingly adorable," Alana whines. "Cut it out."

"We will as soon as you point me in the direction of the master bedroom," Brodie fires back, swinging my upside-down torso around as his eyes skim across the spacious rental.

"Upstairs, third room to your right," she huffs, pointing her finger towards the white-oak staircase.

"Perfect," Brodie chuckles, advancing towards the stairway.

"You two better behave this weekend," Delk playfully reprimands.

"I don't know if that's possible," I giggle back, feeling heat gather in my forehead from my prolonged inverted position. My hair strings around my face, my curls bouncing each time we climb another step. "Brodie likes trouble too much to behave."

"Only when it involves you," he counters back, keeping his voice low so only I can hear.

Rounding the corner the second his feet hit the platform at the top of the stairs, Brodie carries me down the hallway. Clutching his arms tighter around my legs, he kicks the master room door open. Giggles escape me as he flings me back over his shoulder, slamming me playfully into the soft mattress positioned in the middle of the room. My body sinks into the white feather-filled comforter, its soft fabric encasing my curves as Brodie clambers over me. His eyes look down on me, all childlike like I'm one of the most fascinating things he's ever set his gaze on, and my stomach swarms with butterflies.

Damn him for always having the effortless ability to make my stomach spin the way he does.

A warm, misty breeze sweeps through the screened windows blanketing the powder blue walls and I close my eyes, drowning myself in it, the heat of the sunlight draped across the room, and the tenderness of Brodie's touch as his fingers swoop against my skin.

"You're soft," he says, and I can hear the smile behind his voice which causes my eyes to flutter open so that I can catch sight of it. I think this smile might just be my favorite, and I can't help but relish the fact that right now it's showing just for me.

Only letting my gaze pull away for a quick moment, my eyes sweep across the room, taking in its airy and coastal interior. It's decorated minimally, but the glass double doors that lead onto the balcony outside make up for its bareness. The ocean dances far beyond its white railing, making me all too excited to see it tomorrow morning as I imagine the sunrise that will appear in the distance.

Returning my stare back onto the handsome boy still hovering over me, I suggest, "You know, I'd be happy just staying up here the whole weekend."

"Yeah?" He chuckles, "What the hell do you plan on telling the others to excuse our absence, huh?"

"We can just tell them we got locked up in the room," I shrug.

"Locked up from the inside?"

"Mhmm," I nod, seeing no problem in the unbelievable justification as long as it means that I'll be shut in with Brodie. "We'll tell them the doorknob fell off or something."

"And what do we do if we start to get hungry?" He laughs, continuing to play along with the idea.

My eyes squint promiscuously, answering his question with a single look. I'll have plenty enough in this room to satisfy my cravings.

"And who's the trouble maker now, Miss Kahale?" He smirks, dropping his mouth down to the skin on my neck. Goosebumps immediately spread down my spine, and I lift my chin higher.

His lips are a mere centimeter from touching me, and my lungs suck in air, but the sounds of footsteps pounding up the stairs pull us both away from each other. Rolling away from my body, Brodie props onto his elbow beside me just as a head of black hair pops into the doorway.

"Shots?" Delk bares a wide, white smile at the two of us as he nods in the direction from where he came from. "Murphy's already a good three ahead of you two, so I suggest we go and grab some before he starts downing the whole damn bottle."

Walking over to us, I take his hand as he offers it out to me, and yanks me up off of the mattress and onto my feet. "Come on," he snickers, snapping his fingers at Brodie who's still on the bed. "You've got booze and a pool impatiently waiting for you downstairs."

Throwing a wink, Delk's shadow disappears back down the hall and I turn back to my boyfriend, tugging against his wrists and helping him sit up. "I guess plan A is a no-go," I pout, loving the way his hands pull against my waist and draw me back to him.

"Well," he smirks, looking up at me with his dark eyes as his thumbs brush against the exposed skin of my stomach, " I guess it's a good thing we got plan B, then."

"Plan B?" I repeat, quirking an eyebrow with curiosity.

"Yeah, the one where we sneak off while everyone is drunk and distracted."

"Okay," I nod, smiling. "I like the way you think Maverick. Let plan B commence."

"Let plan B commence," his voice echoes back, his lips giving a teasing kiss against my hip bone before he stands to his feet and leads us down the stairs.

Shots are already poured for the two of us by the time we reach our friends, music blasting from the Bluetooth speaker Alana has propped against the granite countertop of the kitchen island.

"Hope vodka is okay," she grins, pushing the tiny glasses our way. "It's all Mom and Dad had in the liquor cabinet."

Appearing at my side, breaking Brodie and me apart, and nudging my shoulder, Murphy insists, "Hell, I'll take it if you don't!"

His face is already becoming red and blotchy, making me laugh, and I quickly swipe my glass up from the counter, throwing it back before I remember I don't have a chaser in my hand. The liquid fire rushes down my throat, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth as it heats my chest. Clearing my throat and doing my best to keep back the wince I can start to feel rising, I tease back, "Get your own."

"Will do," he laughs goofily, reaching across the counter for the bottle of alcohol and filling his and my shot glass back up again. Handing me mine, he brings it to his mouth and challenges me, "Cheers?"

Despite the residual taste left in my mouth, I bring the nearly overflowing glass to my lips, nodding for Brodie to take his too.

"I'm okay," he declines, shaking his head with his boyish smile. "Drink it for me, if you want. I like the way it makes your nose crinkle."

"My nose doesn't crinkle," I argue, snatching it out of his hands in detest. Swallowing back the first glass with Murphy, I immediately follow it with the second, feeling the slightest wrinkle of my nose despite my efforts to hide it.

"Like that," he points out, and I don't think he's aware of the way he sucks back his teeth with his bottom lip.

"Hell yeah!" Murphy hoots, giving me an enthusiastic high five before rushing over to Alana, pitching up her body, and rushing her through the backdoor leading to the pool.

"Put me down," she squeals, but by the smile on her face, I can tell she's absolutely adoring the playful attention.

"Oh sweetheart, I'll put you down alright," he mocks, releasing his hold on her and tossing her into the pool. It's a good thing she's already stripped her clothes off down to her bikini because the splash of water swallows her, submerging her whole body.

"You're getting it now, you ginger asshole!" She gasps as her head comes back up above the water, and I watch with amusement as she begins to chase him around the border of the in-ground pool.

"Who's ready to go next?" I hear from behind me, feeling hands grip onto my waist.

I quickly turn out of the hold, backing away from Brodie and the sinister look rising on his face. "Don't you dare," I warn him through gritted teeth.

"I thought you liked the water?"

He continues to advance towards me, and I jut my arms out, preparing to push him away if I have to. "Not when I'm fully dressed," I counter back.

"You'll only get a little bit wet."

"Brodie Dawson," I glare at him, the distance between the two of us growing smaller. His eyes dart behind me and a wicked grin starts to tug against his lips. Without having to even look back, I know what the expression is referencing. "I'm gonna kill you two!"

Arms swoop underneath mine, holding up the top half of my body as Brodie jerks up the bottom half. I squirm and wiggle as hard as I can, putting up a tough fight as he and Delk carry me towards the pool.

"Good god she's strong," Delk grunts, struggling to keep a hold of me.

"I love you, Lani," Brodie laughs as if it's his way of apologizing for what he's about to do as we reach the edge of the pool.

"One," the two friends begin to count off, synching together as they begin to swing me back and forth. "Two!"

"You are getting dirty lickens, Brodie! I swear-"

"Three!"

They pitch me into the air, and my lungs take a deep breath before the water hits my back and envelops me, clothes, and everything. Bubbles rush past my exposed skin, and I push off of the bottom of the pool, feeling the fabric of my shirt and jeans stick and shrink around me. I plan my revenge before my head is above the water.

"Brodie," I fake cry, impressed at the tremble my voice is able to pull off once I'm above the surface. "M-my foot."

And by the worried look on his face, I know I have him convinced, which makes me feel a little guilty, but I'm too far into character now to stop.

"Oh god," he gulps, offering out his hand for me to grab onto. "You okay?"

With a pained expression still painted against my face, my fingers clutch onto him and he starts to lift me out of the pool.

"I am now," I fire back, dropping the pitiful act and yanking him down with me.

"Son of a-" The statement is interrupted as Brodie crashes into the pool, his hands yanking my legs down with him as he falls deeper down underneath the chaotic ripples of the water. Another body slams down beside us, causing more bubbles to engulf us. My eyes make out the feminine silhouette above, realizing that Alana took care of Delk for me.

Brodie's and my muffled giggles fill my ears as he fights to keep a hold of me, our bodies gradually lifting back up towards our source of oxygen. We break through the water, his hands still glued against me as we heave for air.

"That was cruel," he whines through labored breaths.

"Don't even!" I cackle, shoving him, which only encourages his grip to grow tighter around me. "You got what you deserved! It's called karma, bitch."

"And you'll be getting your's later tonight," he quips back, nipping my neck with his teeth and making me shriek.

Breathless laughter makes my head start to go fuzzy, my blood finally getting a hold of the three shots of vodka I swallowed down only a few minutes ago. I let my head fall against Brodie's shoulder, allowing my bounding pulse to calm. He feels so cold against the warmth of my cheeks and I'm appreciative when his hand travels farther up my back, giving my body more support as I pull myself out of the blurry fog starting to blanket my mind.

"You're soft, too," I hush into the crook of his neck, recalling his words when we were back in the bedroom.

His chest shakes with laughter, "How's that alcohol treating you, right now?"

"Goooooood," I draw out slowly, enjoying the tingling feeling of my body and the ridges of his muscles as he holds me close. Our friend's laughter echoes from the other end of the pool, Alana distracting both of the boys as she steps onto the diving board and tiptoes her way to the edge of it. I'm thankful that they're occupied as I pull my head up and bring my eyes onto the handsome features of his face.

"Why aren't you drinking?" I wonder out loud.

"Umm," he hums, and I can sense his hesitation to answer the question. "I don't like not being in control and alcohol kind of has a way of doing that."

"But you drank that night I saw you at the club?"

"Yeah," he chuckles under his breath, nodding as he recalls the memory. "Well, I needed something to distract me after seeing Hammond's hands on you. One time kind of thing."

"I'm sorry for that night," I apologize as my fingers trace along his defined jaw. "It's always been you. Always."

"It's done and over," he says simply before placing a sweet kiss against my lips. "I've got you now, and that makes up for it. Besides, I deserved it after damn near knocking you out during that volleyball game. As you said: It's called karma, bitch."

"I still have that ball, you know?" I smirk, letting my fingers play in the wet hair on the back of his head.

"I was wondering if you did."

"I do," I affirm, nodding my head eagerly. I pull off of him, starting to wade my way through the rest of the shallow end of the pool. Standing at the steps I peel my wet clothes off of my body, relieved to rid myself of their chafing and revealing the black bikini hiding underneath them.

Brodies eyes go wide, and I swear he stops breathing for a moment as his gaze skims down my body. Trying to keep my cool and not completely melt by the effect of his stare, I tease from the poolside, "And you're never getting it back."

The sun beams down on me, the warmth of it and the alcohol heating my body and making me wish I was back in the pool again. The desire only grows stronger as Brodie begins to strip his own shirt off of his body, bearing his tan and toned torso underneath. His skin is wet, and the sight has me really wanting to get back into the damn pool, but I'm not able to dwell on the unfortunate circumstance for long as hands start to pull me towards the house.

"Time for more shots," Alana squeals, dragging me through the back door and towards the kitchen counter where my next two glasses are waiting for me.

༄༄༄

I don't know how much time passes, and I certainly don't know how many damn shots I've taken, but what I do know is that I am completely wasted. My body feels like a weighted blanket, strewn across one of the pool chairs lining the- the- hell, where am I?

I open my eyes, and they feel weighted too, but through squinted eyes, I'm able to make out the stars looming in the sky that is apparently above me. I try to sit up, but my head is so dizzy that it steals my strength and I immediately fall back onto the vinyl straps of the patio chair.

"Easy, wild thing," I hear someone chuckle beside me.

I grin like a fool when my mind deciphers that it's, "Brodieeee."

I go to rise again and calloused hands immediately meet against my back, assisting me to stand and preventing me from falling back onto my ass.

"There we go," he encourages, being my emotional and physical anchor as he steadies my swaying body. "I've got you."

"Are my legs still here?"

"Yes," he laughs, slinging my arm over his shoulder and providing my wobbly body with even more stability. "Not sure if they're fully functioning right now, but they're here alright. Let's get you to bed, okay?"

I think we're walking now, at least I'm almost positive we are as the bright glow of the house lights stings my tired eyes.

"Watch your step," Brodie warns me, ushering me around a corner and walking me to the stairs. I lift my leg to the first step, missing it completely and feeling my body start to slip out of his hold. He catches me fast, pulling me back up and giving me time to gather my balance before we start to move again. "One step at a time, baby. Careful."