Guns and Roses

09: Beaches and Fights

"Wake up," I heard someone whisper next to me. I mumbled something in reply and snuggled deeper into my comforter. I felt my bed dip and a warm body lay next to me. Their arm wrapped around my waist and I heard again, "Baby, wake up." I instantly knew who it was, so I let go of the gun under my pillow and turned, snuggling into Luca's warmth. He chuckled, "Mia bella, the girls want to go out to the beach and won't stop bothering me." It sounded like he had a slight pout. "They won't wake you up themselves, saying, ′She's a crazy, scary bitch to wake up.′ Their words, not mine."

"That's because the last time they woke me up, they poured iced water on me," I mumbled into his chest. He chuckled and ran his fingers through my hair. "Stop that or else I will go back to sleep," I murmured as I was slowly drifting off.

"Can't have that now, can we," he laughed as he pulled away from me. I felt the bed readjust itself as he stood up and then my body was picked up. Luca held me with my legs wrapped around his waist and my arms around his neck. All I was wearing was his shirt from yesterday and a pair of grey boyshorts. One of his hands was holding my butt and the other was wrapped around my lower back.

I stuffed my face into his neck and whined, "Bring me back to bed." I need all the sleep I can get, considering everything that keeps me awake at night.

"No can do, mia bella," he laughed. "You need to get ready for the beach. The guys and I are coming along, too. Hanna talked Alex into having us come."

"That ho," I said into his neck. I noticed yesterday that she had a little thing for my brother, despite what she says.

He sat me down on the counter in my bathroom and pulled my face away from his neck. "Come on. Get ready so we can go." He kissed my lips and left me to get ready.

:::

"We there yet," asked Sam.

"Oh my God. For the last time, no! Stop asking," yelled Han in the passenger seat. I was driving down Pacific Coast Highway in my lifted white Rubicon Jeep with black rims. The roofs were taken off and the windows were open so our hair was flying with the wind. I had the music blasting with Jay and Ami singing, Sam complaining about the drive, and Han arguing back at her.

We were following Luca's car alongside the beach. If he wasn't going to choose which beach soon, I'm just going to turn into the next parking lot because I'm this close to throwing Sam and Han out of the car.

I saw Luca flick on his right blinker and I sighed, "Finally," under my breath.

I followed him in and paid the fifteen-dollar fee for parking. We went past two parking lots before Luca turned right with me following. He pulled up to a spot right next to the sand and I parked next to him. Quickly shutting off the truck, I jumped out. "See! We were almost here," I heard Sam yell.

"Okay. Like I knew," Han yelled back as the rest of them jumped out.

"You can't do that," I mumbled to myself. "They are your sisters and you need them." I un-clenched my hands and sighed.

I felt an arm go around my shoulders and pull me into a well-muscled chest. "What are you mumbling about, baby," asked Luca.

"Just trying to convince myself that it's wrong to drown Sam and Han in the ocean."

He laughed. "Come on. Let's go put our things down." I nodded and went to the back of my Jeep. I pulled out the remaining stuff that the others didn't grab and slammed the back door closed. I locked the doors and followed the group out onto the beach. Setting up the chairs and laying out the beach blankets, I finally relaxed. When Luca finished setting up the umbrella, he took a seat next to me on a blanket. "You okay?"