12. Oliver

12

OLIVER

FIFTEEN YEARS OLD

J ealousy makes my legs peddle faster. I hate being held back from hanging out with my friends and Samuel, but today was my day at the office with my dads. Since last summer, Sam and I are required to spend one day a week working at the family realty business. Our dads aren't forcing us to take it over someday, but they want us to start getting some work experience.

The small pay we get for the day does not make it worth it when I'm late. The guys and Amaya have been at the beach for at least forty-five minutes, and I tried really freaking hard not to yell, beg, and plead for Papa to let me leave early.

Yanking the handlebars to the right, I cut through the tall grass leading to the woods. Sweat drips down my back and I can't wait to take my shirt off and jump into the cool water. Preferably before Amaya catches a whiff of any nastiness this bike ride is causing.

The mini path through the brush and trees blurs by, but as I come closer to the lake, the branches get lower, forcing me to slow down so I don't hurt myself. Ignoring the ache in my tail bone from the off-roading, I squint my eyes when the sparkling blue water catches my eye.

Laughter and splashing water reach my ears, then I finally catch sight of my group of three. Then I see her. And I'm fucking done for . Amaya has been my friend since fourth grade, and navigating the crush I've had on her since, I think I've done a really great job keeping it quiet.

Until now.

Gone is her usual one-piece swimsuit she's always worn and in its place is a bubble-gum pink bikini. A bikini that the closer I get, the smaller it freaking looks!

My tires must make enough ruckus because the next thing I know, she's spinning toward me and flashing me the biggest smile. I don't notice anything else besides all of her creamy skin and wide smirk. Not my brother or best friend. Not the ground crunching beneath my bike, nor the heat making my clothes stick to my sweaty chest.

It's made obvious that she's struck me absolutely dumb when a branch slaps me across the mouth. With the thin stick, skin is ripped from my lips and leaves white-hot pain in its wake.

"Oli!"

I have half a moment of happiness hearing my name come from Amaya until I'm crashing to the ground.

My bike lodges itself in a bush and my knees make themselves acquainted with the rocky dirt. Not only does the ground welcome my legs and the palms of my hands with open arms, but it leaps for joy right into the gash I can feel oozing blood from my mouth.

Cursing brings me back from the grave I just tried to dig for myself. I huff and reach to touch the wound, but little hands pull me away before I can make contact.

"No, oh my god, don't touch that," Amaya gasps, her warm fingers trembling in mine.

"Holy shit, Oliver!"

"That's gnarly."

"Shut up!" Amaya snaps at the other two, her unruly long brown hair flying around. "We have to get him home. How do we get him home?!"

She's freaking out, and I want to console her, but my lips hurt and she's still only wearing a tiny swimsuit.

"I'll call my dads," Emmett shouts, already running back to their towels.

His back glistens in the afternoon sunlight, and I can't resist watching his budding muscles ripple as he comes to my aid. Shoving those thoughts away, I chalk my reaction to him up to hitting my head. Or maybe the tree took my brain along with a couple of layers of skin.

It's harder to ignore the jitters running through my limbs when Emmett kneels beside a half-naked Amaya. So instead of drooling over both of them, I smirk and hide the wince of god-awful pain it causes, just like I'll keep hiding my feelings for her. Them?

More blood dribbled down, causing Maya to fuss and Em to pale, but my older brother just laughs above them. He smirks down at me, and I swear I can see understanding in his eyes.

Hoping to divert his thoughts, I grin even wider. "Think it'll scar?"