Free Angel Beach (Summer Romance Collection) by Tess Oliver Page A

night air. He was holding a beer just out of Zach’s reach. Zach was jumping like a trained monkey trying to get to it. They were laughing at him, and I wanted to throw up. I badly wanted to march over there, grab his hand, and drag him away, but I didn’t want to make things worse.
    “Damn it!” Reeve yelled. “You jumped on my foot, you little idiot.” Reeve’s big arm shot out and he shoved Zach. The impact sent Zach flying into the side of the next car. I jumped up and ran toward the truck, but thankfully, Jamison beat me there. Reeve had not finished with Zach yet. He picked up Zach by the foot and hung him upside-down in the air. Jamison grabbed Zach before Reeve dropped him to the ground.
    I reached them as Jamison gently lowered Zach to his feet. He held Zach’s arm a second so he could steady himself.
    “Look who’s come to your rescue again, mini man,” Reeve snarled.
    This time Zach didn’t look upset by my interference. He had a cut on his head and blood was dripping down his cheek and pooling on the shoulder of his t-shirt. He shot me a look that said please get me out of here. I took hold of his hand and peered up momentarily at Jamison. The anguish I’d seen in his face earlier, after I’d told him to leave me alone, had returned.
    “Thank you,” I said quietly.
    He nodded but didn’t say anything.
    I pulled Zach away. I glared at Reeve as we passed him. “Drop dead, you ass.”
    Zach stumbled behind. “Slow down, Coco. I’m going to be sick.”
    I twisted around. “Good. I hope you feel like crap for the next three days.”
    Zach’s face paled and his chin dropped to his chest. “I know. I’m an idiot.”
    I placed my arm around his shoulder. “Yes, but you’re my favorite idiot. Just give me warning so you don’t puke on my shoes. I’ll text your mom and tell her you’re staying with us tonight. Then she won’t have a stroke about the fact that you are flat-faced drunk.”
    “You’re the best friend an idiot could have, Coco.”

Chapter 10
    Jamison
    Sunlight was already seeping through the blinds in my room, and I could hear Reeve’s friends packing up to leave, but I had no urge to get up or see them off. I was glad they were leaving. After Echo had made it unbearably clear that she wanted nothing to do with me, I’d stupidly started downing beers and before I knew it I was making out with Courtney. The moment I came face to face with Echo in the parking lot as she’d come to the aid of her friend, I’d regretted both of my decisions. I wasn’t completely sure how long she’d been in the parking lot watching us but I was sure she’d seen enough to turn her off completely. Not that there was much left to blow. She hated my guts, and it was hard to blame her. I needed to get out of this town soon or go mad. Unfortunately, I doubted I could talk Matt into leaving any time soon.
    Matt’s hand slapped the door. “You’d better get your ass out of bed before Reeve eats all the cinnamon rolls himself.”
    A familiar, mouth-watering fragrance floated beneath my door. I hopped out of bed and pulled on my trunks. My head and stomach felt like crap but I was pretty sure I could down one of those cinnamon rolls without too much problem.
    Reeve was leaning over the kitchen counter licking his fingers. He reached for another roll but I grabbed it first. “That was mine.”
    I ran my tongue over the icing and held it toward him. His lip curled up in disgust. “Good thing,” I said, “cause I had no intention of sharing it with you.”
    Matt’s eyes were closed as he savored every bite of the pastry. “Damn, these are good.” He opened his eyes and smiled. “Hey, remember that ice cream shop Mom and Dad used to take us to on our birthdays?”
    “Charlie’s Ice Cream Palace.” Reeve had resorted to licking the tip of his finger and dabbing at the crumbs in the box. “They used to have that giant ice cream platter with a scoop of every flavor on it, and the waitresses