encompassing. I didn't want to leave the dream behind. But
it was day – a Saturday – and the promise of the whole
weekend lay before me like a pearl-hiding oyster. I had
homework to finish, sure – but I also had a whole day to
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explore the island. Last night, over pizza, Brandon had told
me how fantastic the island was for nature-lovers. There
were hills and mountains, he told me, caves and secret lakes,
forests that human beings hadn't even entered for century.
“Maybe I could take you for a hike tomorrow,” he'd
asked, in a tone that made it clear he wanted nothing better
than to be secluded with me in a hidden cave. His fingers
lightly brushed against my shoulders, and I felt a thrill go
through me as my mouth opened slightly.
Brandon’s chocolate eyes smiled at me as he looked
at my mouth. “So you’ve grown up on Aeros Island?”
“Been here as long as Varun and Chance,” Brandon
said. “We grew up together. And we were inseparable when
we were younger. But Chance…he went his own way a
while back. Now it’s just Varun and I, and we are tight as
brothers.”
“I could see that,” I said.
“Varun’s cool, you know,” Brandon said. “He’s
generous, giving, and he doesn’t mind sharing.”
“Really?” I asked.
Brandon licked his lips. “Really.”
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“Girls, too?” I asked.
“If the right one came along that we both want,”
Brandon said. “Varun and I wouldn’t want the other one to
miss out.”
“Oh, I see,” I said.
“But she has to be some special girl,” Brandon said.
“One strong enough to take both of us.”
I gulped. Why did that sound so hot? And why was I
even contemplating it? It wasn’t like I was a virgin, having
lost it when I turned 16 two years ago, but in this territory, I
was, and it just sounded so forbidden…
“I’d like to take you out hiking tomorrow, Mac,”
Brandon said. “Show you some places that are so secluded,
no one can interrupt our exploration of each other.”
Oh, yes, I wanted to say, but I wasn’t about to jump
into anything that soon.
“Maybe some other time,” I said. I did wanted to get
to know Brandon more as he was fun and sexy too, giving
me a sense of familiarity when I first met him, too. I didn’t
know what, but it was somewhere between the cool comfort
of Varun and then the heated passion of Chance. Brandon
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gave off a vibe that was both to me, and I couldn’t figure it
out what.
“Okay, Mac,” Brandon had said. “Since Varun saw
you first, he should take you out first. But keep me in mind.
I’m fucking hot for you, too. Not because you’re new here,
but because you and I…there’s something there.”
His thumb traced my lips before he licked it, sending
both heat and chills through me. “For now just tasting your
lips on my finger is a start.”
I wanted to say yes to his date, but then Varun had
told me about Jana and kissed me. And confused the hell out
of me with what he said. Now my head was spinning, and I
wanted to be out on my own to clear it.
The promise of exploration was an attractive one,
and although I wasn't sure I wanted Brandon as my tour
guide as attractive as he was this morning, I definitely
wanted to see the island. A good night's sleep had invigorated
me, and the memory of Varun's kiss on my lips kept me
strong.
But he had said something strange to me last night –
what was it? “I've missed you, Mac.” What did it mean? Had
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he just missed me since that day at school – but that seemed
like a strange thing for anyone to say. And I certainly hadn't
been to Aeros Island before. Perhaps I'd misheard him –
perhaps he was talking about kissing me, not missing me.
After all, I was so intoxicated by his presence, by the kiss,
by the sheer beauty of the island, that I could very easily have
gotten mixed up.
Still, there was something strange about Varun, as
there was about Chance. Evidently the Cutter family had
plenty of mysteries still to be discovered.
The note on the refrigerator made it clear that I was
on my own. “Out Early For Wedding Planning. Danish in
Fridge. Take Off Plastic Before Putting in Microwave. Love
Mom.”
Appetizing, I thought grimly. I decided to skip
breakfast and head over to the hotel. Perhaps Varun would
be around – perhaps he'd be one for hiking. In any case,
sneaking grub from the hotel buffet sounded like a better
prospect than day-old refrigerated Danish.
I quickly changed into sneakers and shorts, picking
out a silky floral blouse whose patterns – flowers and coral
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– reminded me of last night's garden, and then headed off to
the hotel.
Brandon and Varun were nowhere to be found, but
Sally, the girl I knew from the party, was manning reception.
“I like this a lot better than kids' parties,” she said.
“But last night was an emergency.”
