CHAPTER SONG, Sunroof, Nicky Youre

I grabbed my phone off my bed, clicking the answer button and waited for the screen to load. Once it loaded, at first all I could see was Nike air sneakers, then Ash finally flipped the camera at himself. "Lina!"

I grinned. "Hi." I responded, my cheerfulness kicking in high gear as I tugged my laptop away from myself and sat up more comfortably against my bed-board. I was working on the essay that I needed to submit to the scholarship, and it's been kicking my butt. Too many hard questions, and once I had no clue how to answer. For explain, who is your role model? Well, it uses to be my dad. And how would you change your life, if you could? That answer is, well, are you sure you want to hear my depressing answer? The point is, I have been writing for the past three hours, and I feel like I'm getting nowhere. So, Ash's call was a welcoming distraction.

In the camera screen, Ash's face appeared flushed and red, but his grin brightened it all up. Soft brown eyes wild and full of excitement that felt like it was bubbling something in you. "What are you doing?" he sung, walking through his house.

I glanced around, noting my laptop, the crumbled wrapper from the burrito I ate, and the notebook laying wide open on my bed. "Nothing." I sighed.

He gasped, making me looked back to him. "Oh no, no. That's a terrible way to spend your Saturday. A complete waste. Come boating with us. I'm heading out to kidnap your boyfriend, and Maddox. Full disclosure, they are not aware of this outing, so don't spoil the surprise. They have been such grouches lately, killing all my vibes. No more. I have a plan."

I raised my brow at him in slight concern. Knowing Ash, and his plans, this could either turn out to be awesome, or a completely disaster. Except despite the possible chaos his plan might cause his right, Mateo and Maddox have both been on edge lately. Their mood's always sour and stressed out. I haven't asked why; I think when his ready he will tell me but until then all I could do was be there for him. Still, his been a little darker lately, his shoulder's a little heavier.

To Ash, I responded as I got up. "Sure, Ash. But be careful with your plan, and don't get hurt." I cringed at the thought because I have seen enough of Ash being hurt to last me a lifetime.

I hopped off the bed, knowing I have nothing else to do today. Mom was working, and even if she wasn't, I'm sure she wouldn't want to spend time with me. Emma was busy with her own life. Which left Sara. "Can I bring Sara?" I asked.

Ash stopped walking, camera still facing him as started speaking to someone out of camera view. "Load up the boat, and Jet skis. We are taking it to Travis Lake. Fill it with gas, and a shit ton of snacks."

Someone responded with a, "Yes sir." before Ash turned back to the camera. "The more the merrier. I'm gathering all the funnsies, and then I'm off to kidnap the guys. We'll pick you up after that." he told me, looking behind himself where Lily was walking down the hall. She jumped onto his shoulder and scowled. "Ash, where the fuck did you stick the boating tubes?"

Ash swung out one of his hands to her back and steadied her. His nose scrunched up like he was thinking about it. "The last time I saw them, was in the garage. I was sticking them under the work bench. Ask Kirsan, I'm sure he knows."

She sighed, pushing past his shoulder and looked right into the camera. Brilliant blue eyes landed on me, and instantly I froze up. "Are you coming?" she asked, sharply. And all I could do was nod. The girl still scared the living daylights out of me. Even after we had that little heart to heart in the bathroom, I'm still convinced she doesn't like me. She rescues me, act's kind to me for a moment, and then next I'm a fly that's buzzing to close to her ear. I don't know what I have to do to get on her good side, but for now I'm sticking to my, don't get in Lily's way plan.

She clicked her tongue, hopping off Ash's back before walked off. And Ash watched her for a second before rolling his eyes. "Anyways." he dwelled, "We'll pick you up in like an hour. I am on mission kidnap my brother now, and I'm hoping that he won't rip my head off for this. I'm too young and pretty to be decapitated. On the bright side, having you there is going to chill him out. But still, wish me all the luck." he rambled, and I watched him grabbed the keys off the hook, and walk over to a SUV.

I padded over to my closer. "Wishing you all the luck of the universe. Do you need me to bring anything?" I asked, wondering what to wear.

He climbed into the car, turning it on. "Nah, just your pretty self. Hakuna Matata." And with that he clicked off the phone, ending the call. Did he just quote The Lion King? I shook my head, a grin on my face as I pulled out my box of swimsuit's that I kept organized while dialing Sara at the same time. I stumbled a little, trying to balance the box and my phone. Then, carefully, I set the box down, and the phone clicked just as I was picking up a white top. "If it isn't my best friend in the whole wide world." Sarah sung.

I chuckled, finally finding the matching bottom to the top, and getting back up off the ground. "You busy?" I asked, looking around my closet for something to wear on top the swimsuit. Sara sigh on the other end. "Bored out of my mind actually."

I eyed the long white sheer flannel that I have yet to ever wear. I bought it such a long time ago, and now I feel like it needs some loving. Grabbing it off the rack, I looked it over as I replied, "Come boating with me."

Sara gasped shockingly. "Oh hell, when did you get a boat? Did I miss a big chunk of your life or something? You win a lottery I'm unaware off? Because we always said that if one of us ever won, we split it."

I decided the flannel would work and started looking for some shorts to add on. "Not my boat. Come on Sara, I'm broke enough to look for pennies on the street. But I have somehow made a friend named Ash, and he is rich enough to have a boat or three." I looked up at the camera for the first time, "How many boats do you think they have?"

Sara tapped her chin, lazily hanging out on the couch in her pjs. "Oh, I'm totally going to say at least four." she replied.

I thought about it for a second before sighing. "I bet they don't have to scavenge for pennies in the park."

"You are a total crazy person for that. Even the kids were looking at your weird. One of them called you a hobo and gave you money." she laughed, eye's wrinkling around the edges.

I rolled my eyes. When you find a penny, pick it up. Isn't that the line or whatever? "Anyways." I scuffed, "Ash invited us to come along."

Sara squealed, making me pull my phone away from myself "Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm so down. I'll be at your house in twenty minutes." she chanted, and with that hung up. I rolled my eyes, wondering what's up with people not knowing how to say goodbye. And after twenty minutes I was standing in the mirror with a white bathing top, and a long white loose flannel hanging below my butt. My white swimming underwear were under my olive short's that sat comfortably around my waist with an elastic fit. My hair pulled up into a loose bun, and sunglasses fit on my face to cover my entire eyes. I looked cute, super-duper cute actually.

Grabbing my white sandals, I rushed down the stairs when the bell rung. I pulled the door handle open to find a smiling Sara. She looked absolutely gorgeous in white pants and a white crop tank, her dark hair loosely hanging around her back in beach waves. "I came ready to party." she announced, brushing past me into the house. I laughed as I closed the door and turned to face her. "Ash should be picking us up soon. Mateo and Maddox are not aware of this outing, it's kind of a surprise to them." I told her.

She winkled her nose. "Ohf. Something tells me those two will not appreciate this too much. They aren't the types to like surprises." she said, and she has a point. Something tells me too that they are not the surprises kind of people. I have an odd suspicion that if someone ever throw a surprise party for Mateo, he will turn and leave.

I shrugged. "Tell this to Mateo's very energetic brother."

We lounged around the living room for a while, catching up on random things. It wasn't until thirty minutes later that my phone buzzed on my lap that I slid it on, putting it to my ear. "Hello?"

Ash's deep sigh filled the line automatically. "Save me, Lina. Hurry and come out here because your boyfriend is driving me bananas. His so unappreciative that it's almost heartbreaking. How do you even deal with him?"

I chuckled, signaling Sara to come outside with me, and locking the door after myself. "Easy." I answered Ash, "I just smile, and he appreciates that."

Ash sounded like was chewing on something as he answered, "You must be a magician, Lina. Tell him this is good for him. His been such a fucken prophet of doom lately."

I heard Mateo snap at Ash, just as he pushed the car door open that was sat in my driveway and climbed out. In black short's that stopped mid tight, and a grey tee-shirt with the printed quote of 'no worries' spread across in black letters, he marched up the driveway with a scowl. Sara chuckled at him, but he didn't even look at her as he made his way over to me. Before he was even to me, I was already walking into his arms. And the second I was there, I exhaled so deeply that it felt like someone reached into my chest and untangling my mess of a heart. I felt the great drop of his chest too.

His arm's settled around my curves, and I grinned up at him. "This is good for you." I said, quoting Ash.

He smirked. "Good for me? You think so?"

I lifted up to my tippy toes. "I know so."

Even on my tippy toes, he had to lean down towards me. His soft words brushed against my skin. "You're good for me. That's all I know." he replied before his lips finally met mine. All the sweetness bundled up in a wrapped-up gift and spread across my lips, poured out onto my tongue, and filling my veins with its deliciousness. I couldn't help the smile that sprung to my lips because he did that. With a simple kiss, he melted away all my insecurities, hurt, and instead reminded me of what's like to just crumble under his embrace. I lived for those moment's now. The simple feeling of his soft lips on mine and his mixed eyes glazing over, it just does something to me.

These kisses might be slow, and soft but they made my heartbeat fast, and wild.

Eventually he pulled back to soon if you ask me but the genuine smile on his face did it for me. "So good for me." he confirmed, using one hand to pull out the gold chain that was tucked in his shirt. I know I blushed at him because my cheeks were so warm that I had to exhale softly to try to cool myself. He chuckled at me as he led me to the SUV. "Fucken adorable." he said, as the door opened from the inside. I lifted up, instantly noticing the bizarre scene in front of me. But I didn't ask a single question, even if I had a list full of them now.

No, I won't ask when Lily was sitting in the side seat, wearing a black crop top with bold ruby lettering spelling out DIOR. Her plump lips thinned and bold too as she leaned forward, untucking her legs from underneath herself and reached for me. "Careful. Wouldn't want you to bust your face. Your boyfriend would probably cry." she chuckled, letting go of me once I had my balance. I only gave her a thankful nod, and kept my mouth zipped. I'll ask Mateo all my questions in a second because there was no way I wanted to get any further onto Lily's bad side. Where I was, was bad enough.

In the front seat, I could see Maddox behind the driver seat. Dressed simply, and comfortably like always in a white tee, and army green shorts that were tugged upwards in the sitting position, exposing his thick and masculine thighs. He spun the ring on his pointer finger that he always wore and nodded to something Aster was showing him on her phone. Beside him, Aster looked like an actual sunflower in a fluffy yellow mini skirt, and a white sleeveless tank top tucked in. Smile so bright, I swear each word she spoke bounced on her fluttery voice.

On the other seat, across from Lily was Ash and he was the cause of the bizarre scene I was talking about. In the middle of this blazing hot day, he was sitting unbothered in a tan hoodie, and navy-blue shorts. Except that wasn't what I would call bizarre, it's what he had on his head that did it for me. I tried not to stare, I really tired.

I walked past both Ash, and Lily sitting in each of the caption seat, and took in Kirsan. He lounged in the backseat on his phone. He wore a kaki patterned loose flannel that was unbuttoned at the top two bottoms, showing some of his build chest, that was holy moly. Tugging on his black short's, his eyes slid up to me. And just for a second they stay on me, as if he was trying to analyze me. With a nod, he looked back to Sara who was telling him something, sitting beside him.

Which left one seat open. And two people to sit in it. Before I could sit down, Mateo caught my hip from behind me. "One second, let me sit first." he announced, making me flush deeply. It's not as if it's a big deal, because he was my boyfriend after all, but then again, this was Mateo, and he was my boyfriend. So yes, I still flushed, and he of course noticed, chuckling at me and winked at me as he climbed past me.

I bit my lip, trying not to turn into a tomato here, only to be startled by a black and white husky that popped its head up from the trunk. Tongue dangling, and I swear if dogs could smile, he would be grinning. He pounced up, paws onto the backseat and barked at me. Not a mean bark, but like he was excited to see me, a stranger. Ears perked up, and eye's full of warmth, he waited for me to pet him. From the front of the car, Maddox called out, "Alvin, down dude."

So, this was Alvin, the escape artist. Oh, was he a cutie. Fluffy like a cloud and making me want to just snuggle him. He hopped down, whining from the lack of attention and left his head sticking out. He looked at me with soft brown eyes that I swear were full of bouncing excitement. So big, and wide that I wasn't even sure how a dog could contain that much love in just it's eyes. As Mateo sat down, I reached out to pet him and he instantly started bouncing, licking me like I was the best thing on earth. I smiled at him, chuckling at he pushed my hand a little and tried to lick me, again.

Mateo looked over at me from his seat, jerking his head to come over but I stood there. Alvin was on the other side of the trunk, by Kirsan and I kind of wanted to be closer to him. He was just so cute. I looked back at Mateo, wide eyed for sure and he laughed. "Trading me for a dog? Should have known. But he will come over here in a second."

"Don't spoil him! His already a giant baby." Maddox called out, eyeing his dog in the rear mirror.

I smiled, pulling away and closing the little room there was between Mateo and I. Sitting down on his lap, he helped me adjust myself and get comfortable. I felt his hand slide up my back, on my bare skin he rested it, rubbing circles in a relaxing manner. His other hand was casual settled around my waist, holding me on his lap. If I could choose a seat for the rest of my life, this one sounded like perfection. I have never, I repeat, never been this comfortable. On his lap, in his hold was where I always wanted to end up in. The fact hit me harder than I expected, and I exhaled it softly.

Alvin pounced over, dropping his head on Mateo shoulder and looked up at me with eyes full of so much pleas they looked like they might pop. I chuckled. "Oh his a great beggar, isn't he?" I reached out, petting him again and he whined softly, and happily.

Mateo rolled his eyes. "You have no clue." I had an idea. I mean how can you say no to this precious face.

Maddox turned the car on, starting down the road and I finally found the courage to ask my previous question. "I have a question..." I muttered, leaning closer to Mateo so that he was the only one who could hear me. Sara and Kirsan were in the middle of a conversation about something I had no clue about because I wasn't listening. Lily was leaned forward, talking to Aster and my questions were fully Ash related, who was oddly quite looking out the window.

Mateo's lips titled up. "About boating? Did you research that too?"

I shook my head, still petting Alvin who was now sitting with his head drooped over Mateo's shoulder and happily looking like he might fall asleep. "Not about boating, but yes, I did have time to research it a little bit. You'll have to tell me a little about what kind of boat it is so I can get my facts straight. But right now, I have a question about your lovely brother over there." I jerked my head towards Ash, praying Lily didn't hear me and didn't want to murder me now.

Mateo glanced over at Ash, narrowing his eyes like he too just noticed his being suspicious. He stretched his arm up, to the point that I could see his luring four drags flying up his forearm. "I'm listening, love." he said, returning his attention to me but I was caught in the view of the merciless dragons. Three of them were flying after the first one, who was clearly bigger, with its wing's stretched wider than the rest. As if it was shielding the other three from anything that could come for them. As if it was taking the impact of all the things that could break them.

Clearing my throat I asked, "The ski mask? What's going on there?" Because Ash was currently sitting in a black ski mask, pulling apart string cheese, and popping pepperonis in his mouth like candy. The scene was unlike anything I had ever seen, and he looked completely comfortable. Acted like this was ordinary for him, perhaps for Ash it actually was.

Mateo sighed, letting her arm drop back around me and answered, "All part of his terrible kidnapping plan. He ran in with a baseball bat, and a ski mask. Yelling at us to get up, and go with him, otherwise he would start swinging."

I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh. "Did it work?"

"Nah. I would recognize that kid anywhere. And his the only lunatic who would think that was a good idea."

"How did he get you to go then?"

Mateo leaned in, kissing my jaw and causing me to shiver under him. "He said you would be there."

I smiled, blushing, again and making Mateo chuckle from the deepest of this throat. He raised his finger to my cheek, softly letting it trail down the side of my face. Quietly, he whispered, "When you blush, love, I come undone in unimaginable ways."

I blinked at him, blood leaving my head and going elsewhere, obviously, because I couldn't even come up with a single word to say. His husky voice was sitting on my skin like a breeze and waking something so ataractic inside. I adored this man, with every last cell in my body, I loved him. I had no idea what consuming love was, and now, I feel like I'm drowning in him and all I want to do is swim faster to the depth's so that I could just finally be full of him, and only him.

His watched me, a soft smile on his face. "Any other questions?"