A TASTE OF CANDY POISON

CHAP 20🌸

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The sun was high overhead, casting a bright glow over the beach, and we were surrounded by the laughter of Kayce and Micky as we huddled by the half-finished sandcastle.

They were still deep in conversation about how to decorate the sand walls with more shells when a sudden thought struck me—a crazy, spontaneous idea that made a grin spread across my face.

I stood up abruptly, brushing the sand off my legs. Both of the twins looked up at me in confusion, their heads tilting in unison.

“What are you doing?” Kayce asked, squinting up at me, her little brows furrowing.

Even Justin, who had been lounging nearby, looked up at me with mild curiosity. He raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing that I was up to something. The grin on my face only grew wider as I took a few steps backward, watching them all with a mischievous gleam in my eye.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Justin asked, pushing himself up slightly from where he was lying on the sand, his expression suspicious.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I took a few more steps back, feeling the cool sand shifting under my feet. Then, without warning, I turned and sprinted toward the water, my laughter ringing out over the sound of the waves.

“Whoever catches me first,” I shouted over my shoulder, the wind whipping through my hair as I ran, “I’ll spend the whole day with them!”

There was a beat of stunned silence behind me, and then chaos erupted.

“HEY!” Kayce and Micky screamed simultaneously, scrambling to their feet. Their tiny faces were lit up with determination as they started chasing after me, their little legs pumping furiously through the sand.

But it wasn’t just the twins I had to worry about.

The second I glanced back, I saw Justin pushing himself up, his eyes narrowing as a slow grin spread across his face. He didn’t waste a second. In one swift motion, he was on his feet, and then he was running.

And that’s when I remembered just how tall—and fast—Justin really was.

I cursed under my breath, my heart pounding as I tried to pick up my pace. But it was too late. While Kayce and Micky were still stumbling over the sand, doing their best to catch up, Justin was closing the distance between us alarmingly quickly. His long legs covered ground effortlessly, each stride bringing him closer and closer.

“Uh oh,” I muttered, a nervous laugh escaping as I pushed myself to run faster.

But I was no match for him. Justin was gaining on me, his grin widening as he realized I was struggling to keep the gap between us. I tried zigzagging through the sand, hoping it would slow him down, but he just adjusted his course, moving with a smoothness that made my efforts look almost pitiful.

“You really thought you could outrun me?” he called out, his voice laced with amusement.

I shot a quick glance over my shoulder and instantly regretted it. He was almost on me, just a few feet away. The look on his face was pure, playful determination, and I could see he wasn’t planning on letting me get away easily.

“Come on, Justin!” I shouted, still laughing despite my predicament. “Give the twins a chance, would you?”

“Not a chance,” he shot back, his grin turning into a full-blown smirk. “You said whoever catches you first, right?”

I barely had time to process his words before I felt his hand wrap around my arm, pulling me to a sudden halt. I let out a surprised yelp as I stumbled, trying to keep my balance, but Justin was already there, his grip firm and steady as he tugged me back against him.

“Gotcha,” he murmured, his voice low and triumphant.

I looked up at him, breathless and a little dazed from the sudden stop. His face was flushed slightly from the run, his eyes sparkling with victory. I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say a word, Justin swung me around and tossed me over his shoulder effortlessly.

“Justin!” I shouted, squirming in his grasp. “Put me down!”

He just laughed, the sound deep and genuinely amused. “Nope. You made the rules. You said whoever catches you first, and that’s me. You’re mine for the day.”

I groaned, trying to wriggle free, but he just tightened his hold, his hand pressing gently but firmly against the small of my back to keep me from slipping. I could feel the heat radiating from him, his strong arms holding me securely in place.

“Come on, this isn’t fair!” I protested, though I couldn’t help the grin that tugged at my lips. As much as I hated to admit it, there was something thrilling about the chase, even if I ended up losing.

“Life’s not fair,” Justin teased, turning us both around so we were facing the twins, who were still struggling to catch up. He raised his voice so they could hear us. “Better luck next time, kids! I’ve got him!”

Kayce and Micky skidded to a stop a few feet away, their faces flushed and sweaty from the effort. They both looked up at us, panting, their expressions a mix of disappointment and determination.

“No fair!” Micky cried, stamping her foot in the sand. “You’re too fast, Justin!”

“Yeah, you cheated!” Kayce added, glaring up at him with her hands on her hips.

Justin just shrugged, looking completely unbothered. “I didn’t cheat. I just played by the rules.”

“Then change the rules!” Micky demanded, her lower lip jutting out in a pout.

“Maybe next time,” Justin said with a grin, shifting me slightly on his shoulder. I gave up struggling, realizing there was no way I was getting down unless he let me. “But for now, I’ve got my prize.”

I sighed dramatically, resting my arms against his back. “Great. I’m your ‘prize’ now?”

“You said it, not me,” he teased, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. “But don’t worry, I’ll be a good winner.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my face. “Sure, whatever you say.”

The twins exchanged glances, their pouts turning into matching smiles. “We’re gonna get you next time!” Kayce declared, pointing a tiny, accusatory finger at me. “You’ll see!”

I nodded solemnly, doing my best to look serious even as I dangled over Justin’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “I’m sure you will, Kayce. Next time, I’ll make it easier.”

“Promise?” Micky asked, her eyes wide and hopeful.

“Promise,” I agreed, giving her a little smile.

Satisfied, the twins nodded and started running back toward the sandcastle, already shouting about what they were going to build next. I watched them go, shaking my head fondly.

“Looks like I’m in for a rematch,” I muttered.

Justin chuckled, shifting me slightly so I was more comfortable. “I’ll make sure to handicap myself next time. Maybe tie my legs together or something.”

“Or you could just let them win,” I suggested dryly.

He scoffed. “Where’s the fun in that?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“And you love it,” he said lightly, the grin still evident in his voice.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, he started walking toward the shore, carrying me effortlessly as if I weighed nothing. The warm breeze ruffled my hair, the sound of the waves filling the air around us. Despite the fact that I’d been ‘caught,’ I felt strangely content, my earlier annoyance melting away.

Maybe I hadn’t stood a chance against Justin, but I had to admit—it was kind of fun being caught. Even if it meant spending the day as his ‘prize.’