Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 98

“Sounds perfect. You pick out your bikini yet?” Anson asked.

“Bikini? It’s like fifty degrees out.”

Knox’s lips twitched. “Shifter heat. We can swim any time.”

“Really?”

“Go get that bikini,” Anson said with a light tap to my butt.

I turned to Crispin and pulled him into a hug. “Thanks for helping me. Want to hang tomorrow? Play a little air hockey?”

“Only if you’re ready to lose.”

“I’ll try to prepare my heart for decimation.”

Sarah poked her head in the kitchen. “You done, Crispin? We were going to head into town to the library.”

“I’m ready.” He gave me one more hug and then trailed off after Sarah.

The expression on Knox’s face was so tender, it made my chest ache. “You’re good with him.”

“I’d like to be. I can’t imagine how much he’s hurting right now.”

Anson wrapped his arms around me. “You’re helping to ease that pain.”

I hoped so, but none of it felt like enough. I forced myself to shake off the hurt I felt for Crispin and focus on the day in front of us. I closed the

picnic basket with a snap. “Who’s going to carry this?”

“I’ve got it,” Knox volunteered.

I looked between Anson and Knox. “Think Caspian can convince Vaughn to meet us at the lake?”

Doubt flickered over Knox’s expression. “He can try.”

My gaze swept over the surrounding forest. “He’s not coming, is he?”

Caspian sent me a sympathetic look, but there was a flicker of annoyance in his gaze. “I’m sorry, Ro.”

I let my eyes fall closed for a moment. Giving myself just a second to feel the sting of the hurt. Then I pushed it all aside. I looked around at the guys. “We’ll keep asking him. We’ll keep showing up. But we also won’t let him ruin the time we have together.”

River wrapped an arm around me and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Sounds like the perfect plan to me.”

“Me too,” Knox agreed.

“It really is gorgeous out here.” I looked around the lake. There was a ridge on the opposite side of the shore that made the perfect overlook. “We should go camping up there sometime.”

Knox stiffened and then shuffled his feet. “Yeah, that would be cool.”

River draped an arm around Knox’s shoulders. “Knox isn’t huge on camping.”

“Oh I wasn’t sure if that was really it though.

Chapter 98

Anson finished blowing up a floatie and tossed it onto the lake, “I’m ready,”

Caspian started laughing. “Is that a unicorn?”

“Hey, what’s wrong with unicorns?”

Luc shook his head. “Nothing. You and your unicorn are going to have an awesome day.”

I looked around the group. “Wait. Are unicorns real?”

All the guys froze and then promptly burst out laughing

Caspian wiped under his eyes. “Oh, man. That was good. I needed that laugh.”

I scowled at him. “You are a human that turns into a wolf. I don’t think unicorns are that much of a stretch.”

Knox smiled at me, clearly struggling to keep his laughter at bay. “As far as I know, unicorns do not exist in our worldr

“Bummer,” I muttered.

“I’ll let you use my unicorn.” Anson scooped me up and carried me towards the lake.

“That water’s probably freezing,” I shrieked.

“Good thing you’ve got that wolf warmth now.” He tossed me onto the float, the water splashing up around me.

I braced for the shock of cold to hit me, but it never came. The water felt as if it were the same temperature as the air. I dipped my hand into in watching my fingers in fascination.

“Watch out!” Knox called.

But it was too late. Someone grabbed my hand, and I fell into the water. I came up spluttering for air and cursing River sent me a devilish grin “You wanted to have fun today.”

I sent a splash of water in his direction. “I don’t call nearly choking to death, fun.”

Arms wrapped around me from behind. “You’re all wet, Ro.”

I growled in Anson’s direction. “I’m aware.”

His chuckle skated across my skin, sending delicious little shivers with it. “Have I told you lately how gorgeous you are? His fingers traced a design on my stomach.

My breath hitched. “Never hurts to hear it again.”

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