Magnificent Ruin (Everlasting Series Book 2) Read Free Page B

Adrian?” I ask, honestly curious for the reply. He seems to be very young but at the same time too damn sure of himself.
    “Twenty-three,” he says with a pouty grin. “I grow older.”
    “Older than what?” I say, laughing.
    He looks at me confused. My meaning escapes him. “What do you mean?”
    “I’m your elder,” I say. “Twenty-four and a half.”
    His grin turns into a wide smile that reveals all his teeth. “I like older women.”
    Holy fuck. The asshole just called me old . I should punch that stupid grin off his face. “Well, I’m sorry I can’t be the Demi Moore to your Ashton Kutcher,” I say and enjoy the ever growing confusion on his face. For once I like it that his English isn’t good enough for him to grasp mockery.
    “I like that you are difficult,” he says, walking backward to the jetty with his eyes still on me.
    “That ain’t happening,” I mutter under my breath as I sit down next to Sophia. I’ve had one jerk too many in my life, thank you very much.
    Sophia lifts her sunglasses a smidge to reveal her almond-shaped eyes and offer me one of her sweetest smiles. “Not in the mood for swimming?”
    Among the four, Sophia is the most fluent in English thanks to a summer or two she spent in Oxford, England.
    “Nah, I just want to get a suntan,” I say, taking a bottle of sunscreen out of my bag. “Blondes can’t take that for granted.”
    “Do you need help with that?” Sophia says, pointing at my sunscreen.
    “You could do my back if you don’t mind. And then I can do yours.”
    Sophia chuckles. “You Americans speak so strange,” she says.
    “We don’t talk strange, we are strange,” I say. “You should watch our reality shows. Or have a long conversation with Tomas.”
    “Yeah, Tomas is a strange American.”
    “You know what? I’m not sure he’s American. An alien, maybe?”
    Sophia chuckles before she starts applying sunscreen on my back in slow, circular motions. “Like The Doctor,” she says.
    “What?” I say, totally confused.
    “Tomas. He’s an alien like The Doctor in Doctor Who.”
    Oh lord, she’s a nerd on top of everything. Guys love hot nerd girls.
    The sun beats down with more intensity as the mid-morning turns into midday. I put my wide-brimmed hat on, pulling my hair behind my ears.
    “This sunscreen makes you look like a ghost,” Sophia says. “I can’t get it to absorb in your skin.”
    “You’re not supposed to,” I say. “The main ingredient is a mineral, zinc oxide. It’s supposed to stay on top of your skin to protect it.”
    “Do you like it better?” Sophia says, handing me back the bottle.
    “It’s supposed to be safer for you,” I say. “Less chemicals go under your skin. Would you like me to apply it on you?”
    “Maybe later. I have my sunscreen on already.”
    “Sounds like a plan,” I say, putting the cap back on the bottle and lying back on my towel.
    Sophia presses her palm to her temple as if she’s got a sudden headache.
    “Are you okay?” I say.
    “I’m fine,” she says with a weak smile on her perfectly plump, pink lips. Then, after a short pause, “How did you two meet?”
    “You mean Tomas and me?”
    Sophia nods, taking off her sunglasses and placing her hand on her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun. The expression on her lovely face gets uncannily serious.
    “His best friend, Nathan, fell in love with my best friend, Grace,” I say. “I know, cheesy, but that’s how we got to know each other.”
    Sophia nods again. It’s obvious she thinks Tomas and I share the same bed and I’m not sure I want to correct her. Keeping her away from the sexy, arrogant vulture that is Tomas Keller might be the ultimate favor I could do for her. I marvel at myself for being so level-headed. In all history of my existence on Earth, this could be the first time I’m not encouraging a woman to go after a hot guy who oozes sensuality and confidence. Grace would be proud of me.
    Sophia and I turn our