Chapter 23

Selene was nervous as she joined her brother and friends outside again. She feared they'd be able to tell all the naughty things she had done in the bathroom with Ben. She blushed while thinking about it all. Ben was showing her a brand new world she didn't know existed. There was no denying she wanted more of it.

"Relax." The blue eyed man in question whispered as he walked past her and joined Tim and Luke at one of the picnic tables.

"Hey." Carrie grabbed her hand and tugged her to a different table where they could talk alone. "Where've you been? You just disappeared."

"I decided to do a little unpacking." That lie sounded about right, plausible. "I figured one of us would come up with something for tonight and I'd have no time."

"A vacation is not the time to be boring!" Carrie laughed, slapping her friend's hand as she teased her. "It's time to have some fun. What happened with you and Brandon? You guys got pretty cozy at his party." Everyone knew by now for a fact Brandon and Jane were in the cabin next door with a few more of their own friends.

Selene shrugged. "I was drunk that night. Brandon is a nice guy but there's just nothing there." She explained truthfully as her mind drifted to what she and Ben had discussed on this same subject.

"That sucks, he's so cute."

Selene literally felt a light bulb go off in her head. "He's staying in the cabin next to us, why don't you hang out with him a little bit?" that was her subtle way of saying Carrie should bark up Brandon's tree and stay far from Ben's.

Carrie's lips twisted into a frown. "You wouldn't mind?"

"No!" Selene jumped to say. "Nothing happened, I swear it on my parents. It wouldn't be weird at all if you guys ended up liking each other or something." She didn't want to lay it on too thick.

Carrie laughed. "Are you trying to tell me something? Have I gotten boring and I need a guy to tune me up?"

It was Selene's turn to laugh. "No. I just know how boy crazy you can get and we are going to be here for awhile."

"Is this about Ben again? Is there something I should know?"

"No. Why would you mention that asshole to me?" Selene's heart raced so fast she feared it was going to jump to the floor.

"Nothing. Sorry. We're best friends and I know better then to try and get involved with your mortal enemy. I love you too much for that." Carrie promised before throwing her arms around her friend.

Selene returned the hug. "Thanks." She felt guilty, worse than guilt, she felt like a piece of crap for lying to her best friend.

Tim whistled from behind them. "Kiss! Rip off her shirt!"

The girls pulled away from each other, Selene turned toward her brother's friend. "If you're that bored why don't you grab one of the guys and give us a show? Kiss him and rip his shirt?" she took enjoyment from ruffling Tim's features.

The guys around him laughed while Tim turned a bright shade of pink. "Way to ruin a fantasy Sel." He tapped his finger to his chin for a short moment. "Oh no there it is again." A perverted smile formed across his face.

Selene rolled her eyes and decided to go see what Scott was up to. It didn't take this long to grill burgers. There was already a plate done next to the grill and he was still making more. "You're going to use all our food supply in one day."

"Luke eats like a horse."

"Listen, Gillian is alone in our room upstairs and I think she's finally calming down. Why don't you go talk to her, make up or something and leave this to me?" Selene wanted to be the supportive little sister but at the same time she wanted to wrap her hands around his neck and shake him until he snapped out of this funk.

Scott handed over the spatula. "Ok. If Tim makes anymore perverted jokes feel free to throw some of this grease at him."

"Yes!" Selene gave such a big smile that Scott walked away laughing. She hoped he could resolve some of his women drama so they could have a decent spring break.

Ben wasted no time coming to stand by her. "What'd you say to him?"

"I mentioned that Gillian is alone and now is the perfect time to try and talk to her."

"Yeah, right, talk." He had a talent to make anything and everything sound very sexual.

Selene elbowed him in the gut. "Tim is enough of a perv for one day. In my mind they are going to have a nice long talk and nothing more. He's my brother, remember?"

"Yeah, I can't forget it." a silent agreement passed through them; if Scott wasn't her brother this relationship between them would be much easier. "Are we still on for talking later?"

Selene tried not to laugh or blush, it was a hard feat. "I thought we got our talking done in the bathroom." As much as she was coming to like him she couldn't shake the need she had to taunt him in some form.

"No, that wasn't nearly enough. I have so much more to say."

"Shut up please." She struggled to say, she dropped her head forward and hoped her hair covered the crimson red across her fact. He had pulled it down in the bathroom and she had no idea where the hair tie went. She'd die right now if one of their friends noticed Ben managed to get her to blush. She'd never hear the end of it.

"I need an answer."

"Yes. By the lake after everyone goes to sleep." She hadn't stopped thinking about it or fearing this trip was going to get her into trouble. She and Ben had to be careful and in barely a day they had taken a lot of risks.

"Don't wear much." He whispered before walking away back to his table.

Selene felt her knees weaken. How the hell was she going to survive this trip? He said a few words and she was ready to melt into a puddle. If they weren't careful they weren't going to make it out of this vacation without everything in their lives changing.

Isabelle A.