“Don’t worry, I’ve got it under control.”

“Okay then. Talk to you soon.”

“Bye, Dad.” I end the call and drag myself to the bathroom, stepping into the shower. I can’t help but be overwhelmed with thoughts of Skyler standing here, the water slowly running down the inside of her thighs. I quickly wash my hair and rinse off, not even allowing myself enough time to let the water run warm. I need to get her out of my head.

It’s time to start playing dirty, to rattle her, push her buttons. She screwed me over and played me. Little does she know, I was sent here to play her. She has no idea who she’s up against.

I grab a pair of board shorts and throw them on before putting my contacts in and finding my aviators. I haven’t shaved since Friday so there’s a little scruff on my face, but I leave it. After a quick spray of cologne, I head out the door and lock it behind me. It’s a perfect day for the beach, and I’m banking on a certain sorority noticing that little fact, too.

The breeze rolling in from the water is the only thing saving me from sweating right now. The sun is hot and high in the sky without a cloud to block it and the beach is packed, as I suspected. I’m pretty sure everyone from Palm South is here. At least, I hope so.

“Kip!” I hear my name being called and see Kade jogging toward me from where a volleyball net is set up. I smile, but I’m thankful I can hide behind my shades. I’m not sure I’m completely ready to pull off a calm façade.

“Sup, man? You all right?” He asks, breathless when he finally reaches me.

“Yeah man, why wouldn’t I be?” I try to act casual, not fazed in the least.

“Uh, let’s see.” He pulls his shades off and waves them as he talks. “Your girlfriend who was only really your girlfriend for like a day broke up with you and told you she only dated you to get back at her ex-boyfriend, who just so happens to be your fraternity president, and then you chased her outside and almost got into a fight with said president, then you ran away and no one has heard from you since. Ring a bell?”

Well shit, when you put it like that.

I laugh, shoving his shoulder. “You make it sound like a Lifetime movie. I came out here hoping my brothers would have beer, not questions.”

He eyes me hesitantly, but shrugs and throws his glasses back on. “Well, looks like you joined the right frat, then. Come on, the ice chest is over here.”

After Kade fixes me up with a koozie and a beer, I scan the beach until I spot who I came here for. I quickly down the beer in my hand and replace it with another before making my way to the group of girls sprawled out in low-sitting beach chairs.

“Afternoon, ladies,” I say, taking a sip from my can as I scan the girls. Erin, Jess, Ashlei, Cassie, and Skyler are all in a line, their bright swim suits reflecting the glare of the sun. Erin holds her hand to shield her eyes and peeks up at me smiling. The rest of the girls stare at me dumbfounded. Skyler has her shades on – not the ones I bought her that I ended up breaking last night, but shades nonetheless. I can’t read her eyes, but her mouth is hanging open and that’s good enough for me.

“Well, hello there, handsome,” Erin says, predictably. I can always count on her superficial bullshit. I’m sure she couldn’t give two shits about what happened Friday, about me, about Skyler, or anyone else for that matter. She changed after the summer we spent together. Gone is the cool, relaxed girl who liked to listen to me play on my keyboard. She’s been replaced with someone fixed on popularity and making her parents happy. I can’t for the life of me understand people who care so much about what others think.

But then again, thinking of my current situation with my father, I guess I’m not one to talk.

“You girls need a drink? We’ve got a cooler up by the volleyball net.”

Jess lifts her tumbler full of light pink liquid. “We’re all set, thanks.”

I offer a smile. “Well, if you run out, you know where to find us.” I try to keep my eyes trained on Erin, but again I’m thankful for the dark tint on my shades because Skyler couldn’t be any more distracting in her bright pink suit. Although, I can’t help but wonder if it’s actually hers or just something her sisters dressed her in. Pink doesn’t strike me as a color she would pick out on her own. Regardless, her skin is catching a nice glow from the rays and that tight stomach of hers glistens in the sun as just a tiny film of sweat gathers. Her legs stretch out into the sand and her hair is flowing freely around her face, catching in her mouth that’s still hanging open as she stares at me.

“Erin.” I turn my focus and put on my charm. “Are you free tonight? I was thinking maybe we could catch up. I haven’t really had a chance to talk to you since I got here and before that it had been at least two years since we had a conversation. What do you think? Wanna grab a bottle of Jack and reminisce on the good ol’ days of harvest?”

Her eyes light up and I feel kind of like an asshole for dragging her into this, but she’s a reliable pawn in the game and I need her for now. The last thing I want to do is hang out with her, but regardless of what Skyler says about her and Adam, I know she cares about me. There’s no better way for her to realize that than to see me with another girl. Especially if she knows that girl and I have a past.

“You bring the bottle and I’ll make my grandma’s famous sandwiches. They’ll be the perfect ingredients to travel back in time,” she says, still smiling.

I nod. “I can hardly wait. Pick you up at seven?”

Erin bites her lip a little, a gesture that used to turn me on as a junior in high school but now just makes me want to sprint in the opposite direction. She may be reliable, but she’s still crazy as far as I’m concerned. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know I was playing with fire here.

“It’s a date.”

I smile and offer a slight wave to the girls before trudging back up the beach to my brothers. Adam’s standing with Kade now and I know he’s the next person I need to cross off my list. I need to fall back under the radar, get right with everyone and play the rest of this game with my head on straight.

Turning back one last time, I catch Skyler watching me over her shoulder. She quickly turns back around, adjusting her glasses and taking a sip from her cup. I smile, feeling a little relief set in. Dad said to rattle her, right? Push her buttons? See what gets her worked up?

Something tells me I might have just figured it out.

“Are you sure the heels aren’t too much? I’m still not sure what we’re doing and I want to appear nice but not eager,” Erin asks for the seventh time, twisting to view her slim frame from the side in her full length mirror again. I’m lying on her bed looking up at the ceiling and don’t even bother leaning up.

“Big, you look amazing. Trust me, don’t change anything.”

“I agree,” Cassie chimes in. “You’re killing it in those heels, G-Big. I don’t know how he’s going to keep his hands off you. Those shoes paired with those shorts make your legs look fantastic.”

A small pain aches in my stomach at the mention of Kip touching Erin, but I’m growing used to it. It’s kind of comforting, actually. At least I’m not numb. At least I feel something.

“Touché, Baby G.” Erin struts over to her dresser and snatches up a small clutch, stuffing it with lip gloss and her ID essentials. When she finishes, she drops down into the chair and stares down at her fingers nervously. “I’m scared for tonight. We’ve hung out all week and things have been amazing, but this is the first actual date we’ve been on since high school.”