Lolly [Sweet Taboo Series]

Prologue | Jellyfish Kisses

14 YEARS OLD

Loletta was sprawled out on her towel, soaking in the sunlight at the beach when Liam first met her. Lollipop in her mouth and feet bobbing to the rhythm of the music blasting through her headphones, she flipped through a book. It was a sight Liam would never forget. Not to say he felt a sexual attraction to her back then. Hell no. She was fourteen and he was twenty, there was no fucking way he'd look at her in that way at her age. He just admired that she looked so sweet and carefree. It was... refreshing.

He'd approached where he saw her, along with Parker settled in a reclining seat looking out at the waves. Upon approach, Parker noticed his arrival and stood up with his arms out-stretched and a grin. "Bring all the gear?"

"The boards are with the car up at the parking lot." He nodded. "Wanted to check that you were here first. No point hiking them if you'd left me hanging."

"The waves look good today. No way would I miss them." He patted Liam on his shoulder and headed towards the entrance of the beach. "I'll go up and get them. Stay here and make sure my sister doesn't get into any mischief?"

"Sure thing, dude."

Loletta seemed to now be aware of Liam's presence and the headphones were pushed down to circle her neck. She swung her heart-shaped sunglasses to the top of her head and took a squinted look up at him despite the heavy sun.

"Hi," she said after popping the lollipop out of her mouth.

"Hi." He gave a small wave and made his way to sit on the seat next to where she lay on the floor. "I'm Liam."

"I know. Parker told me you were coming." The sing-song lilt in her voice made him smile. "I'm Loletta but everyone calls me Lolly."

"Is it just a coincidence that you have a lollipop right now?"

"Maybe some sort of self-fulfilling prophecy." She replied and replaced it back into her mouth.

"Has your brother taught you how to surf?"

She pouted with the stick still in her mouth and shook her head, brunette curls brushing against her shoulders. "He says it's too dangerous."

"If you went out when the waves aren't that strong, I'm sure you'd be fine."

"Tell that to my brother."

He leans down and drops his voice to a whisper. "If we're ever here at the beach and your brother's not around, I'll teach you. You'd be surfing in no time."

This proposal had a large smile spread across her face. He could see the excitement and impatience written all over her face. "Promise?"

"Promise."

He watched as she bit down on her lolly, hearing the crunch as it crumbled into bits in her mouth. She flung the stick down onto her towel, stood up, untangled herself from her headphones then ran towards the open shore.

"I'm going in the water!" She squealed without looking back. It wasn't a question, and he doubted he would've been able to stop her if he wanted to. He could see where Parker was coming from about little Lolly getting into mischief.