Please tell me you get that reference.
“Okay, let’s do this.” Gabe claps his hands together as if he relishes our torture and with loud groans, Sydney and I start. He counts us through each rep, his deep, strong voice carrying over us, urging me on. He never once looks at his sister. His eyes are on me, only for me. I can feel his hot gaze as if he’s actually touching me and I want to prove to him that I’ve got what it takes. That I can do these stupid sit-ups even if they almost kill me.
“Good job, Luce,” he says as he stops right at my feet. He kneels down, his hands resting lightly on my knees, his gaze never leaving mine as I rise and fall, rise and fall. I pretend he doesn’t affect me, try my best to keep my breathing even and controlled. “Keep it up.”
I feel the burn of his touch as if he literally sets me on fire. He’s not counting anymore, neither am I but Sydney is. And the second she yells out twenty I lay back on the sand, staring up at the bright blue sky, blinking against the sun. Gabe’s still touching my knees, still crouched right in front of me and I suddenly worry that my shorts are gaping at my thighs. What if he can see right up them, see my panties? I don’t want him to see my boring pale blue cotton panties.
Do I?
Ooh, maybe I do.
“You did good,” he murmurs, his voice low as he squeezes my knees. I feel that touch like a pulse deep in my core and I slam my thighs together, wondering if he can read my mind. Read my body’s reaction to his closeness. He still hasn’t let go of me and I have the sudden image of him skimming those hands up my thighs, to the spot between my legs where I burn for him.
I so shouldn’t be thinking like this. He’s not for me. I want a good guy. Not scared of commitment, player asshole Gabe.
“Thank you,” I finally say, lifting my head the slightest bit to find him still watching me, though now his gaze is zeroed in on my lips. They tingle in anticipation and I remember his kisses. His skilled, perfect mouth. Oh crap, I want him to kiss me again. If Sydney weren’t here I bet he would kiss me again…
“Will you two just get a room already?” The disgust in Sydney’s voice snaps me back to attention and I sit up just as Gabe’s hands fall from my knees and he draws himself to his full height. “The sexual tension between you two is freaking ridiculous.”
Say what? “I, uh, have no idea what you’re talking about,” I stammer, trying my best not to look in Gabe’s direction. This is just too embarrassing, especially if it’s all one-sided, which it must be.
She rolls her eyes and hops to her feet, as agile as ever. How I envy her lithe figure, those long legs and her slender waist and hips. “Do you two really think you can pass off as just friends? Gabe, I see the way you look at her and it skeeves me out. I don’t want to be in the middle of your guys’ sexual dance or whatever.”
Sexual dance? Sydney’s lost her mind. “Seriously, Syd. We’re just friends. We came to that agreement,” I reassure her.
“It’s a bogus agreement and you both know it. You two are going through this exercise deal as an excuse to spend time together.” She holds up a hand when Gabe opens his mouth to speak. “Don’t bother denying it, we all know it’s true. I’ve been playing along with it because it’s nice to hang out with you, Gabe. I never get to anymore, what with you gone at school most of the year. And I really like you, Lucy. I think you’re sweet. But you’re too sweet for my big brother. You’re not good enough for her, G. And you know it. So either stop hanging around each other or give in to your animalistic urges and just do it. Jeez.”
Sydney stomps off before we can utter another word. I’m too stunned, too shocked she would say those things to us. To her brother. I chance a look at Gabe and he looks just as surprised.
“You still had two sets to go,” he says to her retreating back.
“Take my place. Do sit-ups with Lucy. While on top of her or whatever,” Sydney yells at the top of her lungs, making me grimace with embarrassment.
I really hope no one else heard her.
“She’s just saying that stuff to rile me up,” he says, his tone apologetic as he returns his attention to me. “She loves to piss me off.”
“She told us to give in to our animalistic urges,” I whisper. That sounds even worse when I say it because I’m referring to the two of us. Together. I repeat, giving in to our animalistic urges. Otherwise known as sex.
Gabe looks down at the ground, a little smile curling his lips as he chuckles. “Pure shock value on her part.”
“And that we should do sit-ups with you on top of me.” My cheeks warm just saying the words. “Like that’s even possible.”
“She’s giving us a hard time. Specifically me a hard time. You just got caught up in the crap.” He pauses and I pray he isn’t looking at me. “You’re cute when you blush.”
Damn it, he’s looking at me. I glare at him, confused by his words, the flirtatious tone. “I thought we agreed to be just friends,” I remind him.
“Friends who have animalistic feelings toward each other,” he says, sounding extremely amused.
This irrationally pisses me off.
“Look, if we can’t be friends, then maybe we shouldn’t be anything at all.” I snatch the small tote bag I brought off the ground and start to leave. But he won’t let me, grabbing my arm before I can get past him and stopping me.