Vampire Beach: High Stakes Read Free Page B

us.’
    Paige hesitated, then shook her head. ‘I thought it was a little too obvious to date French men in France.’ She tossed back her hair and grinned. ‘If you really want to make them crazy, you have to date an American while you’re there. Or even a Brit. It just baffles them.’
    ‘I’m feeling unwelcome in this conversation,’ Adam murmured to Jason. ‘I don’t think boys are supposed to hear this stuff. Our delicate egos can’t handle it.’
    ‘Paige is just teasing,’ Zach said, coming over to join them. ‘She only says that kind of stuff to get a reaction. Turnball, Freeman, good to see you.’
    ‘What’s up, Zach?’ Jason replied, since Adam was staring in amazement. ‘Big spring break plans?’
    ‘Not yet. But I’m sure something will come up.’ He glanced at Paige, then headed after Brad and Van Dyke.
    ‘I’m sorry, but did Zach Lafrenière just greet us in a friendly manner?’ Adam asked, still staring after Zach.
    ‘He did,’ Jason confirmed.
    ‘Huh,’ Adam murmured. ‘That’s so unlike him.’
    It was true. Zach tended to be standoffish in general. Not that he was ever rude or anything, but he didn’t usually go out of his way to be friendly.
    ‘I think Paige brings out the best in him,’ Jason commented. ‘He’s just happy she’s back. So is Sienna.’
    ‘Yeah, Paige is fun,’ Adam said. He nodded toward the girls, who were still grilling Paige on life in Paris. ‘They’re all happy she’s back. They adore her. It’s like watching Yoda with the younglings.’
    ‘I heard that!’ Belle called. She gave Adam a mock-stern look.
    ‘Oops.’ Adam turned bright red. ‘The movie refs, they just come pouring out of me without any warning.’
    ‘Well, admitting you have a problem is the first step,’ Jason told him. ‘Besides, everybody references Star Wars . I don’t think that should count.’
    ‘You should take that up with Belle at the next meeting of the Make Adam Cool Club.’ Adam sighed. ‘I guess I might as well play volleyball. Harberts is hogging my towel, anyway. You coming?’
    ‘Yeah,’ Jason said. He shot Sienna a smile, and she smiled back.
    ‘Hold up!’ Paige cried as he and Adam turned to go. ‘Are you getting a game on?’
    Jason nodded.
    ‘Then I’ll come with you. I haven’t even said the words “beach volleyball” since I left for Paris. I want to play!’
    She bounded down the steps and over to the net. ‘Boys versus girls!’ Paige yelled. She grabbed the ball and executed a perfect serve right into the middle of the boys’ side. Zach leapt underneath it, smacking it up just before it hit the sand. Jason swooped in and spiked it over the net … and Sienna spiked it right back. This time it hit the ground.
    ‘One-nothing!’ Paige called with a wicked grin. She and Sienna slapped each other a high five, and the game was on.
    It wasn’t until the girls had slaughtered the guys 10–7 that everybody collapsed onto the sand to catch their breath. But even then, Paige seemed full of energy.
    ‘You know what’s the weirdest coincidence?’ she asked.
    ‘That you and I wear the same shoe size?’ Adam joked.
    Paige peered at his feet. ‘You do have itty-bitty tootsies,’ she teased, ‘but I was talking about the fact that my parents are off on their cruise to Alaska this week. The very week that I get home. Isn’t that weird?’
    ‘I think what you’re trying to say is, “isn’t that cool?”’ Zach told her.
    Paige giggled. ‘You got me.’
    ‘Are you thinking party?’ Maggie asked. ‘Please tell me you’re having a Paige Party!’
    ‘It’s up to Sienna.’ Paige slipped her arm around Sienna’s slim shoulders. ‘What do you say, SiSi? Should we disobey the no-parties-in-the-house rule?’
    ‘You have a no-parties rule?’ Jason asked, surprised. ‘I didn’t know that.’
    ‘It’s my fault. I had a Halloween party my senior year that got a little out of control,’ Paige admitted.
    ‘It made the news,’