Forbidden Attraction (Forbidden Trilogy) (6 page)

Five years are eradicated with a tap of a keystroke. A lone tear slips from my eye and runs down my heated cheek. The saltiness of it pisses me off since I declared he wouldn’t get any more tears from me. Angrily, I click on my photo album and begin to return the sentiment. Jordan picks this moment to come into my room.

“Good for you,” she says approvingly. “You are ready to move on.”

I look up at her and she now sees my tear stained face. “I’m just following his lead. He deleted all traces of me first.”

“He is such a harsh bastard. I would’ve never thought he was capable of being such an ass. I never thought he would be unfaithful either,” she huffs. “Good riddance to that jerk.”

I laugh because it was okay a second ago when she thought I was the one to initiate the deletion. Leave it to Jordan to have my back. “Yeah ... good riddance!” Who says that anymore, but I’ll roll with it.

“Get your swimsuit, were heading to Venice beach. No moping will be allowed.”

I don’t protest. I rush to my room to get ready. I put on my white paisley bandeau bikini top with the matching hipkini bottoms. I throw on a pair of my famous jean cut-offs, a loose fitting tank, and my go-to flip-flops. I stray from my usually messy bun and opt for braided pigtails. Jordan walks in wearing a fire red, barely there string bikini covered by a sheer black tube dress that is meant to be a cover up.

“Let’s catch some rays, chica.”

“Are you going to invite the girls?” I secretly want to have some girl time alone with her since it has been a while, but I refuse to make her feel guilty about it.

“Bailey and Angie are going to join us later this evening, but Meghan has to bartend tonight.” Jordan pulls me in an affectionate hug, and I feel how much she cares for me. It’s always been this way between us. We both read each other well and are in tune with each other’s needs. I am so thankful for her friendship, and I know the feeling is mutual. “Come on. I want to get to the beach before one o’clock so we can find decent parking.”

UPON ARRIVING TO the beach, I feel like I’ve been transported to another world. There’s so much diversity and things to see. I step out of Jordan’s car and island music fills the air. The distinctive smell of salt water and the calming sound of waves crashing lulls me into a state of bliss. Jordan walks around to her trunk and pulls out two pairs of Rollerblades.

“This is the best way to get around. We’ll cover a lot more ground in a shorter time.”

I haven’t put on Rollerblades since I was fifteen. “I am going to break something and then we’ll finish our day in the emergency room,” I whine.

“Come on, Shiv ... live a little. This is going to be so much fun.” She doesn’t give me any more time to think about it. Instead she thrusts a backpack in my arms filled with towels, water, sunblock, and other essentials.

“Hey, if I am going to do this, you need to wear the backpack. I don’t need anymore extra weight while I re-acclimate to these death wheels.”

“Fine.”

I have to admit this trip to the beach is a great idea. As my skates roll along the pavement of the boardwalk, my focus is on the sights and not Liam. There are dozens of people participating or just viewing the vast forms of entertainment: break dancers, people singing for tips, a bodybuilding arena, shops with vendors, and so much more.

The beauty of it all is this diverse culture of people has their own community. You are welcomed with an invitation to see the world through their eyes. It changes my own perspective on how bad I presumed my life to be. I may be hurting now, but the pain will eventually fade. It is a wonderful feeling to be welcomed by these strangers and realize that it is not the end of the world.

AS THE SUN sets, it casts a beautiful orange glow across the ocean. I squish the cool sand between my toes as I sip the last of my water. The night is approaching quickly and I don’t want our time to end. Today has been a rewarding experience. I had a chance to spend some catch-up time with Jordan while we sunbathed for hours. Bailey and Angie were unable to meet us after all, which was okay with me.

We are discussing how much fun we had when a handsome guy wearing board shorts interrupts us. I feel his presence first before he even speaks. “Hi ladies, I’m Trevor,” he says. “A few of my friends and I are having a gathering down the beach and would love for the two of you to join us.”

Jordan glances at me briefly for my reaction before replying. “What’s the occasion?”

“There is no occasion. We’re just going to hang out and play music while we get our drink on. What are your names?”

“I’m Jordan and this is my best friend, Shiv. I guess we could join you guys for a little while if your friends don’t mind.”

“Great. We’d love to have you guys join us,” he reassures. “I’ll see you in a few. I’ll look for you.” He stares at Jordan and gives her a flirtatious smile. She blushes so I know she’s feeling him too.

When he is out of earshot, she fans herself. “God that guy is hot.”

I have to admit he is definitely eye candy. He has a surfer’s body with shoulder-length, dirty-blond hair and gray eyes lighter than mine. He fits Jordan’s type to the letter. “Yeah, well looks like the feeling was mutual. He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

We quickly stuff our things in the backpack before heading toward the small gathering of people.

There is a small glow illuminating from the bonfire. A group of eight people are gathered around as Trevor plays a guitar. “Whenever I am alone with you ... you make me feel like I am whole again,” he sings. I recognize these lyrics as the acoustic version of The Cure’s
Love Song
. My favorite version is still Team Adam’s from the reality show “The Voice,” but his voice is beautiful. Music has always had the ability to influence my mood. For the second time today, my mind drifts to Liam and the love we once shared. Jordan senses my thoughts have headed astray and pulls me into a hug before making me dance with her.

We grab a beer and mingle with the group. There are a total of four guys and four girls, excluding Jordan and me. Everyone introduces themselves, but Justin seems to be the outspoken one. We learn he is Trevor’s best friend.

They’re all friendly and invite us to sit around the fire. Trevor winks at Jordan and takes more requests to play various songs. They eventually get some alone time and he takes her hand, leading her down the beach. I’m truly happy for her. She’s been single since May. Her last boyfriend, Tristan, graduated and moved back to his home state in Florida. They decided they didn’t want to do the long distance relationship thing.

“So it looks like our best friends are hitting it off,” Justin says, interrupting my thoughts.

He scoots closer to me and I really look at him for the first time. He has the same surfer build as his friend, but shorter platinum-blond hair with hazel eyes. He has playboy written all over him. “Yeah, it looks like it.”

“What about you ... are you single?”

“Newly,” I reply.

“I bet you broke his heart,” he says while placing his hand on his chest for emphasis.

“I did not.” I laugh at his antics. “He broke up with me.”

“Well, he’s stupid. His loss is someone else’s gain,” he flirts.

Before he could ask for my number, Jordan is back with a silly grin glued to her face. We bid everyone a goodnight and head toward the car. On the ride home, she tells me all the things she and Trevor have in common and that they are going out Friday night.

THREE WEEKS PASS in a blaze. Seeing Liam in class has gotten a little easier. He still sits in the back of the class with Heather, but I try not to pay any attention to them. All my attention is focused on the hot professor like Jordan once suggested. Since the pool party, he hasn’t given any indication that I’m on his radar at all. It’s as if that day never happened. He has no idea he has the starring role in my fantasies—it’s his name I call out when I find my release during masturbation. Will he be at Drai’s Hollywood tonight? I slip on the dress I purchased for Bailey’s birthday party.

“You look hot, Shiv, so stop fidgeting,” Jordan reprimands.

I look into the floor-length mirror behind my bedroom door and sigh. I’m wearing a black one-shoulder mini dress that has both my front and backside on display. The dress hugs my curves and barely covers my butt so I tug at the hem to give me a little more length. Doing so only pushes my breasts up farther. I give up. This dress seemed like such a good idea at the time. Sexy and confident was the look I was going for so I am determined to pull it off.

I slide on a pair of four-inch black Manolo Blahnik Belta pumps to complete the ensemble. I borrowed them from Jordan yesterday so I could break them in before going out. I glance over at her and she is beaming like a proud fairy godmother. Angie, Meghan, and Bailey are getting ready here as well. We are all wearing variations of a mini dress, but the difference is, they are owning the look. Who wouldn’t with their proportions? The girls take over doing my makeup and have given me a seductress look, making my gray eyes pop. I admit, I do look hot. As I wonder what I am going to do with my hair that has now air-dried into endless waves, Angie speaks up.

“Leave it down, Shiv,” she suggests. “You hair is so sexy. I wish I had hair like yours.”

“I agree,” Jordan states. “It’s not fair really. She has great hair, exotic eyes, and curves to die for—yet she doesn’t see it.” The girls nod their head in agreement.

“Whatever.” They don’t see they’re the lucky ones. “Let’s get going before I lose my nerve and change.”