“It’s not your turn to ask.” He declined to answer. “I mean if there was a pool. We could do that instead. It’d be warmer.” A mischievous grin spread from cheek to cheek.
“What?” I asked.
He took my hand. “Come here.” We walked slowly down the hall past the utility room, passing through his mom and dad’s gigantic master bedroom. The wrought-iron bed posts were elegant and the bed looked bigger than a king. Then he led me into their bathroom—a room bigger than my great room back in Ashland. I’d never seen a boudet before. He opened a small door, flipping on a light.
“Steam room,” he said, flipped off the light and pulled the door closed. We moved passed the steam room to a glass door. It was dark inside. We went in and it smelled funny. Chlorine. He flipped on the light. A pool!
“You have a pool in your house??”
He shrugged. “My parents do. My dad’s cardiologist wanted him to swim so… he had it put in.”
I was lost in shock trying to come to grips with his lifestyle.
He squeezed my hand. “I’m not gonna make you do it.”
“Do what?”
“Skinny dip. What are you thinking about?”
I shook away my thoughts. “I think I’d need to finish the bottle of wine,” I giggled. “And the lights would have to be off.” I stuck my foot in the water. It was warm.
I suddenly got the sense maybe he was more interested than I originally thought. “Have you done it before in here? And with whom?”
He tugged me back through the door, flipping off the light. “I told you. It’s not your turn.”
“It is my turn. Truth or dare.”
He lounged on the sofa again, and I planted myself on the hassock in front of him. “Truth.”
I rubbed my palms together giving him an evil look, took a long drink of my wine, thinking of a good one. “Earlier, in your room. Yous said…” I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on speaking. I heard him laugh. “You…said…don’t judge me. What did that mean?”
“Go ahead and finish that glass and I won’t have to play this much longer.” He smiled then it faded. “People here. The Libby’s of Cannon. They know my family has money and word gets around. Sometimes you don’t know if someone likes you for you or for what comes along with that.”
“But I didn’t realize you really had money,” I confessed. “You’ve always just been Austin to me.”
His eyes held mine for a few seconds before he leaned forward. This was it. The moment he was going to kiss me.
“Exactly,” he whispered. “That’s what’s so nice. You like me, not my money.”
I squinted, wrinkles crossing my forehead. “I don’t know…now that you mention it. That crab last night was the bomb. I could get used to that.”
He touched my cheek, and I wasn’t convinced the moment had passed. “See. You would be fun to do things for. You expect nothing, but appreciate everything.”
“True. But the bottom line is…I don’t really like you that much.”
His feet must have been tucked under the hassock because I fell backward as he flipped it, landing on the area rug.
I laughed so hard, my eyes watered as he helped me up. I tried to glare at him but it was useless. I decided he had no interest outside of friendship.
“Truth or Dare?” he asked.
“You don’t play well with others,” I teased shoving him in the arm. “Truth.”
He took a deep breath. “If I could buy you one thing, what would you want?”
Wow. I lay back on the sofa setting my feet next to him. “That’s tough.” My mind wandered. “A car is my gut reaction since I’m sixteen. But I know my dad is looking. If it was purchasable…I’d say health for my family but it’s not.” I giggled as I finished the remains in my glass. “I’m sure you could buy it…but I wouldn’t let you.”
“What?”
“A state championship in cross country. I wanna earn that one.”
He rested his hands behind his head. “You will. After that what?”
I touched his leg with my foot. My red toenail polish stuck out on my pale feet. “It’s kind of expensive,” I warned.
He nodded. “OK. What?
I started giggling again then turned serious. “A kiss.”
He pursed his lips then moved away going to the kitchen.
My head spun or the room did. I’m not sure which as I got up and darted through his parent’s bedroom, past the bathroom, steam room and into the pool room. I breathed heavy and tried to keep my balance as I hid in the corner taking off his shirt and shorts. I’d only drank beer one other time back in Ashland and though I felt funny, it was nothing like this. As I unsnapped my bra, I tossed it and any inhibitions to the side. I submerged myself in the water hoping…praying he didn’t turn on the light but clenched my fists at another check off. It wasn’t the Pacific, but it was skinny dipping none the less.
I waited and became paranoid as small slivers of the night’s light came through the skylights, I hadn’t noticed on the ceiling. It was raining. Where was the light coming from? I avoided it.
A light came on next to the steam room, and I sunk deeper into the water as my pulse sped. Please don’t turn on the light. The glass door swung open and he stepped through. His shadow stood in the doorway.
“Drunk girl?”
Chapter 23—Check 2
I stayed quiet.
His arm reached out for the switch.
“Don’t…you dare.” I said and his arm fell to his side.
The drink he took from the bottle was long. “Tell me you’re dressed.”
“I am. I am.” I lied. “Sam I am green eggs and ham.” The giggles were back.
“Emma Hendricks. You’re going to check off two on your list tonight.”
“It’s our list Austin. Truth or dare?” The room echoed.
“Truth.” His shirt was coming off and he dropped it on the floor.
I swam to his end of the pool not knowing if there was a deep end. “Do you find me even the least bit attractive?” I whispered the words and wondered if he heard me.
His shorts hit the floor. I couldn’t see him…but I could see the shadow of the fabric. He stepped out of them.
“Dare,” he changed his mind.
Whatever! Clearly he’d rather do any dare than hurt my feelings. I was being…stupid. This isn’t what he needed. I went under, pushing off the side and held my breath for as long as I could, swimming underwater. I nearly made it to the opposite end though the lack of oxygen disoriented me for a second. I twisted around and sat on the stair in the corner.
“I said dare.” He was closer than I realized. I strained my eyes trying to see him.
I pushed the wet hair away from my face. “I don’t wanna play anymore,” I whispered. Today had sucked for me and for him. My phone call with Zach. His phone call with Libby. We needed each other, but he didn’t see it that way. I was this young little girl.
I heard a small splash in front of me and I saw him move. “Why?”
I didn’t answer. I wondered where the towels were so I could grab one quickly when I got out.
He was close enough, my body felt the tension. I stayed neck deep in the water and wished I wasn’t naked.
“Yes,” he said in a low voice.
I was puzzled. “Yes? Yes, what?” I pinched my nose and it was numb too. I scrunched it up a couple of times trying to make it move.
“Yes to your question. I do find you the least bit attractive.” I heard the smile in his voice. He was being kind. He sat next to me and his hand brushed mine. “This is so not OK, Emma.”
“Austin. It’s OK. I’m not mad, though I may need your help getting dressed.” I giggled and floated to the top. “I’m sorry for pushing you…me…this.” My words were slow and I think I was officially drunk.
“I’m afraid I’ve misled you,” he said and the words cut deep.
Two rejections in one day were too much to bear. After I turned my back t
o him, I started to stand. He grabbed my hand and pulled me back down.
“Emma,” he said more forcefully and my name echoed off the walls.
“You didn’t mislead me. I understand your feelings. I do. I think I thought that…”
Within a split second, his hands gripped my cheeks and his mouth covered mine. I didn’t kiss back at first. My mind seemed slow to react, trying to catch up with what was happening. But, the inside of his mouth was so warm. His fingers on one hand massaged my scalp as his tongue slowly mingled with mine. He wasn’t rejecting me. Austin Falsone was kissing me. I held his shoulders bracing myself for when he let me go in case my legs couldn’t hold me up. But he didn’t stop…he didn’t let go. One arm wrapped around my neck and the other around my bare waist pulling me into him as one kiss turned into another. Drunk or not, I was very aware of what was happening. Our bodies nearly touched in the warm water and chills shot through mine as the muscles in my pelvis tightened.
“Stop… now,” he whispered.
Chapter 24—Austin
Jesus. What am I doing? She’s Katie and Matt’s daughter. RUNT! Ryan’s sister.
“Why?”She asked, leaning in for another kiss but I held her at bay. A confused look shot across her face. I had to lighten the mood. That’s what we did best.
Suddenly, she ducked underwater then shot up throwing her arms around my neck. Holding her in a tight embrace, I measured my breathing as she rested her chin on my shoulder. Her breasts were smashed against my chest and annoyance crept into me that I was hardening in my boxers. What the hell? I didn’t want this…did I?
As if reading my thoughts, she kissed beneath my ear and the length of my neck. Not realizing my eyes were closed, silently enjoying her kisses, they popped open when her mouth covered mine. I had to find a way to stop this without hurting her feelings. There was no way in hell this could happen. She was in high school for shits sake!
But for the fucking life of me, I couldn’t stop. The warmness of her mouth, the way her tongue moved against mine…searching my mouth for acceptance? I wanted to give her that. Slowly, I slid one arm around her bare waist which only caused the wood in my britches to extend. My other hand tangled in her wet hair and held her head in place so I could return one of the best kisses I’d ever had.
It was when she released a sigh that caught me off guard and reminded me that Emma was likely still a virgin, and I ended the kiss. Our eyes met in the darkness, and I moved from her lips to her ear and whispered. “Emma?”
She shivered then barely giggled. “What?”
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth,” she whispered.
Time for a little dose of reality for my young friend.
“What do you think Zach would think of this?”
“We broke up,” she spoke softly and broke free from me.
I would never admit it but God, I hated the distance she put between us.
“When?” I asked.
“Today.”
“Emma. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was your birthday and your parents had left and the Libby thing. I didn’t want to be the buzz kill of our party.”
“What happened?”
She shook her head.
I reached for her hand and began walking her to the other end of the pool
“What’s wrong? What are you doing?” she asked as I climbed out and grabbed some towels, dropping one into the water, then slid back in, unfolded it and stretched it out.
“Turn around and raise your arms,” I said.
She did and the towel smoothed against the skin on her back.
“Take it.”
She lowered her arms and finished wrapping the towel around her. I stood close behind her, and made an even worse decision when I leaned in and touched my lips to her shoulders.
“Now you’re safe to get out.”
She rotated in the water. “What did I do?”
God, I hated myself in that moment that I heard her ask that. My feelings of wanting to be a good friend, supporting her through this Paul crap and entertaining her on my birthday had gotten carried away. This whole thing started off with me trying to help occupy her time. This was Emma. I couldn’t afford to lapse in judgment again. Never would I let her pay the price for my weakness.
I moved away, heading for the stairs. “You did nothing. It was me.”
Chapter 25—Emma
After I was dressed, I found him in the great room on the sofa. He patted the spot next to him.
I tripped over the leg of the sofa and nearly toppled onto him.
“Easy, drunk girl.”
“Check that off.”
He tugged me down till my head rested on his lap. “You know I’m not big on talking but I have something to say.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Thank you. Whatever I say…you have to hear me out. Deal?”
I bit the side of my cheek thinking about it.
“I’m making you stay so it doesn’t matter.”
“What time is it anyway?’ I asked.
“10:20.” He fingered through my wet strands of hair.
“You are sixteen and I am twenty. If you were to go home and tell your father that you were dating a twenty year old, he would get his gun…”
“He loves you. You know that.”
He cupped his hand down over my mouth. “Can you go twenty seconds without talking?”
I rolled my lips under trying the impossible.
“Whether it’s me or not. It’s not right. I have four years of experiences that you’re just starting. Homecoming, spring breaks, Prom. I wouldn’t go to prom with you. Not because I wouldn’t want to but because it would be weird. I’ve been through it. You haven’t. In two years, when you’re starting college…maybe then we could try.”
He stared at me like I was supposed to talk.
“Mother, may I?”
He smiled.
“I don’t want to go to prom.”
“But you should. It’s a stupid tradition everyone should endure. I wouldn’t want you giving up something for me. You have the right to have it all.”
“I wouldn’t have it with Zach either.” I sat straight up.
“Look. Today has been a long day. You had your…whatever with Zach and I had my…whatever with Libby. Then we came together for my birthday…a little wine…a couple of beers…some skinny dipping…a few kisses…I think we both needed to feel wanted tonight. Let’s talk about this again when we’re soberer.” He laughed.
“Is soberer a word?”
“Just as much as scrog is a word,” he said.
“I’m going to get that put in the dictionary,” I promised.
“Do you love him?” He asked surprising me.
“Yes, but things aren’t what I thought they’d be this summer. Then you…” I glanced up at him as my cheeks flushed.
He stood taking me with him and we walked to the back door. “You couldn’t be more stunned by this than me. I never saw this comin. You were always a little girl to me.”
“You still consider me a little girl,” I jabbed him in the ribs.
He didn’t laugh. “Emma. You’re not a little girl anymore. No where even close. I need to step back and really look at this.”
I slid my shoes on and he did too.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I’m walking you home.”
That made perfect sense; he hadn’t done it before. We were always with the others. I fought a smile.
Thankfully, mom was asleep upstairs when I got home, which meant no questions, which meant not realizing I wasn’t myself. Dad was ‘resting’ in his recliner, mouth open, with a soft snore coming up his throat. I woke him and waved as I headed up the stairs with two things on my mind. First, check for phone messages and second check off two things on my list.
Even though I was alone, I blushed just thinking about the skinny dipping. I couldn’t believe I was that close to him…naked. He’d be
en responsible, keeping his boxers on and I was thankful for that. He knew before he climbed in the water that there was a possibility of us being close. I smiled to myself as I thought about it then placed a checkmark next to number three and eight. My phone, under my pillow, had two new voicemail messages—both were Zach asking me to call.
The clock read 11:30 and I didn’t know whether to call or not. As I thought about it, the phone vibrated in my hands. I answered. My head was spinning.
“Hi.”
“Thank you for answering,” he said sighing.
I didn’t know what to say.
“How was your night?”
“Fun. It was Austin’s birthday. The big two-oh.”
“What all did you guys do?”
Guilt rushed through my body. “Just hung out.”
“The normal…you…the boys…the beach?”
I lay back on my bed. “Nope! Just Austin and me. Grant and Ryan went somewhere and Austin’s folks had to go to Washington so he was on his own.”
“Well, that was nice of you.”
Remorse should have filled my heart but I was so confused…
“Zach. What do you want?”
“I can tell you what I don’t want. I don’t wanna break up. Jaycee means nothing to me and if you let us go—over her…she’s…”
I laughed out loud. “A bitch?”
“Have you been drinking?” he asked.
I didn’t answer. Our conversation was not going in a good direction. The relationship in general needed to find a way back on track from whatever detour it was on…Paul. That’s when things went south. My stomach rolled as his name fluttered through my thoughts. Things had been fine until then.
“Em. What did you and Austin drink?”
What was the name of that? “Red wine. Pinot Nar? I don’t know. It was good.”
“Pinot Noir. What all did you two do?”
“Zachary Owens. Are you jealous?” I teased.
He didn’t answer right away. “I’m not sure yet. Should I be?”
Austin wanted nothing to do with my sixteen year old bootie. I giggled. “Answer me something.”
Finally...One Summer (Just One of the Guys) Page 16