Temporarily Mine

9

JOSEPHINE

"Josephine, wait up!"

I pause mid-step, my head snapping over my shoulder to find Andrew jogging toward me, just as Hero said he would.

That alone is almost enough for me to be instantly annoyed.

Almost.

Andrew grows closer, so I spin to face him better.

"Hey." He grins, running a hand through his blond hair.

"Hey." I laugh, pushing my sunglasses up on my head.

"Didn't see much of you last night," he says as his hands find his hips.

A slight frown takes over - clearly my efforts were more than lost on him.

I brush it off, allowing a smile to take over. "Me and the girls hung out on the beach before dinner, then the dance floor called my name."

His grin deepens. "You like dancing, huh?"

My mouth opens but nothing comes out.

Is he for real?

He has to know I'm on the dance team at the very least. I mean... right?

"So uh..." he begins, pointing to the barstool area of the coffee hut I was headed toward. "I was about to eat, are you grabbing something, too?"

"Just a coffee to bring me back to life. I'm gonna lay out a while, I'm exhausted."

He chuckles, but it's quickly cut off when his eyes fly over my shoulder.

"'Course you are."

My muscles lock with Hero's intruding voice, and I'm stiff as a damn board as he wraps his long arms around my middle, not so gently tugging me against him in a way that can only be his show of dominance. He kisses my cheek and my skin tingles in embarrassment.

I stand frozen, too shocked to do or say a damn thing.

Course, Hero has to go for that extra point.

"If you weren't, that would mean I didn't do my job last night," he mumbles near my ear, his face dipping into my neck and my stomach muscles grow tight. "And we both know that's not true."

What the hell is he doing?

I chance a glance at Andrew who eyes me curiously. He pointedly looks from Hero to me and I so badly want to tear myself away right now, but the quizzical glare suddenly taking over Andrew has me stuck.

No way Hero was right...

"Yo, Andrew!"

We both look to the side to find a few of our classmates standing at the top of the small sand hill.

"We're going for breakfast at the cafe," our mutual friend, Frankie, announces, examining me and Hero while speaking to Andrew. "You coming? Wait, that you, Fiennes Tiffin?"

The merriment in his tone has me considering elbowing Hero in the gut.

Hero lifts his head, nodding in their direction.

"Mornin', Josephine," another guy from school sing-songs.

I offer a flat smile.

"Andrew," Frankie prompts again.

Andrew swings his gaze back to Hero, then me as he nods. "Yeah. I'm coming." He gives me a smile. "I'll find you later, Josephine."

"She'll be busy," Hero tells him.