by Blythe Stone
The pool would feel nice; I could float for a while. Disconnect from my body and brain.
“I'll go with you unless you don't want company. I can't do anymore with this today.”
“Of course I want company,” I said standing. “I’m just getting all weepy up here,” I pointed to my now glossy eyes and rolled them. “I like being here too much. You both make me so happy.”
“Then stay forever,” she said, turning to catch my hand. “I don't want you to leave.”
When she said these things I felt my stomach flip. I never expected the words to enter my ears. I teetered a little, swaying away before falling back toward her. “I don't want to leave,” I reminded, staring at her.
“I know you have a whole life elsewhere but you always have a home with us,” she continued.
“But is it a permanent home,” I sighed wearily.
“Of course it is,” Avery said.
“Sorry,” I breathed, rubbing my forehead with my freehand. “It's just. It feels so good here. I'm scared of losing it.”
“You’re not going to lose anything. This feels right, doesn't it? Maybe we all need to sit down and talk about it but I think it works.”
“Yeah,” I said, holding my stomach now. It stressed me out to address my doubts. I just didn't like hiding them from her.
“Hey, it's going to be okay, I promise,” Avery soothed.
“I'm just not used to feeling this happy,” I explained.
I wasn't sure if she could understand it but I felt safer when she tried to comfort me. When she listened and noticed me I felt really soft like she could turn me to powder and blow me away and I'd be overly grateful for just the touch of the air from her lungs.
“It's been a long time but you're here now. We're not going anywhere either. So, let's go sit by the pool or watch something on TV and relax.”
“Okay,” I said, trying to put it behind me. I hadn't mentioned it for a few days. It still simmered though, growing stronger to match my newfound happiness.
Avery led me downstairs. I hung onto her arm, holding her hand and wondering how foolish I was to try to push my own fears away.
I dove into the pool and let the cool water cover me. Maybe if I just swam for a while, then took a nap, my brain would calm down.
35
(Avery)
It was a wonderful spread of weeks where we were all together enjoying this new dynamic but that spell had to be broken by a visit from Olivia’s friend Farrow. I admit that I held it against him. Our little bubble was going to be popped by letting someone else into the house. But, it had to be done.
I was a little afraid that he would notice our situation and not be okay with it. We would deal with that when it came to it. He was worried about Olivia and now he was showing up any moment. Olivia and Nat had gone to get him from the airport and I had stayed behind just to tidy and work out my anxiety over this kind of sudden circumstance.
By the time they pulled into the drive and I heard the car, I was through cleaning the kitchen. I hurried and stuffed the slightly damp mop and bucket into the closet and closed the door.
I heard them come in and stopped to take a deep breath before I went out into the foyer. First I saw Nat, pushing her sunglasses up and winking at me. Then, I noticed a tall, amazingly beautiful, Asian man standing behind her. Olivia came in behind him and I cleared my throat, joining my hands in front of me.
“Glad you’re back safe and I’m glad to finally meet the famous Farrow,” I said, trying out a smile.
“This is Avery,” Olivia said to him, motioning for him to look over at me.
“Avery,” he smiled, reaching out his hand but staring kindly into my eyes. “It's lovely to meet you. Any friend of Olivia’s is important to me.” He bowed a little as he carefully took my hand and held it with both of his. There was something deep and kind about him like he was trying to communicate in his silence. And his hands were so wonderfully soft.
He would be hard not to fall for. I could tell that already. How Olivia managed not to get pulled into his arms was amazing.
But then, I look at Nat and, I get it. She’s even more magical. They’re both special people though. Not like others. I always felt lucky just to be near Nat and to be chosen by her was insane.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” I said.
“You're magic aren't you,” he asked sweetly. His smile so bright and infectious.
“Sorry?” I laughed and looked between him and Olivia.
“Well. I can see that you're exceptionally beautiful. But there must be more to it- to convince Olivia to stay away for so long. You'll have to tell me your secrets.”
“I don’t have any. It’s Nat that’s magical,” I said.
He smells so good and I’m already regretting cleaning before his arrival because I know I look terrible. I push my hair back and glance at Olivia.
“I’m convinced you have magic,” Farrow said. “But, since you won't tell me, I'll have to observe and find out for myself.”
Olivia blushed a little at the expression on my face. Ever since we started things she'd been so unbelievably happy. Any little run-in with someone handsome who flattered always amused her.
“Okay Farrow, come on. Stop making my friends uncomfortable,” Olivia said.
“Okay,” he chuckled, allowing her to pull him further inside. “Whoa, hey, you can’t,” he laughed, stopping Olivia from carrying his fancy duffle bag away.
“Can't?” She challenged.
Nat and I exchanged a look.
“Um. Ah-oh,” he laughed nervously, looking between all of us. “Oh- okay.”
She actually managed to make the charming perfect man flustered.
He stared at me, a blush in his cheeks as Olivia passed me with his bag and led it up the stairs to her room.
“Apparently, she’s taking the bag up herself,” I said with a laugh. “Don’t worry, she flusters me all the time.”
I went over to Nat and put my arm through hers, widening my eyes and jerking my head towards Farrow who was now in the distance watching Olivia try to jerk his oversized back up the stairs one-by-one.
“He’s hot,” I whispered.
“Of course he is,” Nat laughed and groaned. “It’s Olivia.” It stressed her out too, how perfect he was. But she seemed to have expected it, unlike me.
“I need a drink,” I said, leading Nat toward the kitchen.
I let go of her arm and went to pull the fridge open.
“Wanna talk about it?” Nat teased.
I gave her my most withering stare and then took a bottle of tea out.
“No, I want to whine about it,” I said.
“Aww-ha,” she laughed and pitied me. “Come ‘ere,” she said, tugging me towards her. “He’s just a boy,” she smiled, touching me lovingly. Her lips were so plump and fantastic. But she couldn’t rightly cheer me.
I heard Olivia and Farrow laughing from upstairs. It sounded really genuine, sickeningly cute.
Nat pulled me in and hugged me, kissing my shoulder.
“I'm just a girl. He's like a god and you're a goddess,” I griped.
I put my head on her shoulder and sighed.
“I'm being ridiculous.”
“Insecure,” Nat sighed. “Which… Is surprisingly sexy.”
“Why-ever for?” I asked. “You’re mad.”
I turned and pulled her face to mine. I kissed her lightly and tried to smile after.
“Baby…” She sighed, worried about me. “You've seen how happy she's been here.”
The laughter came again from upstairs. Nat took a deep breath in and shut her eyes, trying to shake off any personal doubt.
“Just remember what she was like when she first came,” Nat explained.
“You remember too, okay?” I said.
“I have to,” she laughed emotionally. “For my own sanity.”
Olivia came down the stairs, her fingers tugging on Farrows. They both seemed happy.
“
Sorry,” she said, coming close. “Farrow’s an idiot.”
“Hey,” he laughed, pushing into her carefully. He placed his hand on her waist and she held it, smiling up at him and laughing. Of course he was much taller and larger than her but so clean and pretty like a lot of Natalie’s movie-star friends.
“You're such an asshole,” Olivia mocked. But she didn't push him off. If anything, she seemed happy. “I need a drink,” Olivia said, flaring her eyes in my direction.
The flush in her cheeks had only gotten worse since they'd gone upstairs.
“Yes,” Farrow laughed, his sweet almost shy chuckle was endearing to say the very least. “Let's all have a drink. Olivia is refusing to explain what's so addicting out here.”
“Must be the trees,” Nat droned.
“Ah yes, the trees. I should have known. Olivia does love nature.”
“Okay, it's not a puzzle,” Olivia warned him, giving him a stare.
He loved when she looked at him. I could see it.
“Oh no. It definitely is,” he refused to back down.
“Stop it,” she laughed, staring at him. “You're gonna drive me nuts.”
“What do you want Olivia,” Nat asked, refusing to look at her.
“Oh. Um,” Olivia noticed she’d made her uncomfortable. “Just wine,” she shrugged, leaning onto the counter and staring at Nat’s back.
Farrow moved close behind her, nearly holding himself to her, he was that close.
“I actually brought you your favorite,” he said.
“You didn't!” She got excited, turning and touching his hip bone.
“You know I did,” he smiled down on her, adoration just seeping from his skin.
“You're so sweet,” she said, shaking her head.
Nat had poured a glass of wine for Olivia but now Nat was just drinking Olivia’s glass down and staring coldly at the scene unfolding in our rented living room.
“You two seem married,” Nat spoke, staring them down.
“What?” Olivia laughed, turning to look at her and scowl a little, hurt by the comment.
“That's what happens when you work with someone for several years,” Farrow joked.
I stayed by Nat. That always made me feel more stable. I didn’t want to drink alcohol today. It was too sad.
“You must've dated,” Nat said, laying it out.
“What? No,” Olivia said.
“Wha- ah- a little,” Farrow confessed shyly, steamrolling Olivia’s words and looking to her curiously, as if to ask: why would you be lying about that? Are you ashamed of me?
I suddenly felt a little sick. Yes, of course they had dated at some point. They were well matched. Both gorgeous and a part of the same world.
“Well. Whatever,” Olivia laughed awkwardly. “Ya know what. I'm hot. I'm gonna take a dip.”
“Right,” Nat said, watching her suspiciously.
Farrow watched her leave out the sliding door. It was obvious to me that he was just as confused by Olivia as we were. Once she started to undress, outside on the patio, Farrow turned his attentions back to us.
“She's a little touchy,” he laughed. “I think I might've said something wrong.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Nat said. “Wine?”
“Mm. Yes, please,” he nodded respectfully.
“Are you hungry, Farrow?” I asked.
Might as well be polite to the man who was going to take Olivia away from us. I looked up at him and motioned toward the fridge.
“I know we’ve got a few things in here that would be easy: some fruit and cheese and sandwich stuff,” I said.
“Oh. I am a little hungry,” he confessed. “The plane was all business. Caught up on some emails.”
Nat poured a glass of wine and swiveled it from the base before pushing it over to him.
“How long are you thinking of staying,” she asked.
“Oh. Not long,” he confirmed. “I wanted to get a hotel but Olivia made me promise to stay over. At least tonight.”
“That's interesting,” Nat stared.
Farrow took a sip of the wine and really focused on tasting it. “Mm. That's good.”
“Olivia bought it,” Nat said.
“Oh,” he laughed, shrugging like he was an idiot. “Right,” he laughed a little more, bobbing his head. “Should've guessed that.”
Nat drank a little more wine. “I'm gonna go check on her,” she said. She’d been mainly addressing me. Farrow and I both watched her go.
“Huh, see, yeah, I definitely screwed up,” Farrow said, confiding in me.
“Screwed up what?” I asked.
I busied myself taking sandwich things out of the fridge and going to get the bread.
“Usually when people begin to walk away from me I know I've lost their interest. Not that I'm interesting,” he smiled. “How are you?”
“No, not at all. I’m just doing the hostess thing. You said you were hungry,” I replied.
“Oh god. No. You really don't have to make me food,” he laughed, getting up quickly and coming to help me. “Shit. I think I'm jet-lagged,” he confessed. “Here. Sit. Let me make you something. It might fix my broken brain.”
He moved around me the same way he had moved around Olivia. A little too close but so natural that it seemed effortless.
“She didn't talk about me, did she,” he said, a little depressed.
“She did. She only said good things about you.” I looked down at the countertop. “I'm not hungry but thanks. You make yourself whatever you like. There are some really good salad greens in there from the farmer’s market if you want them.”
This was just awkward. He was being super sweet and I was being a mopey twat. I watched him make a sandwich and pointed to the cabinet behind him.
“There are plates in there. We can go out by the pool if you want. There are tables and chairs,” I said.
“Do you want wine?” He asked, pointing to the open bottle. He licked some mayonnaise off of his thumb and looked at me sheepishly.
“No thanks, not right now. I've got this anyway,” I said, and held up the tea. “You ready?”
I pushed back from the island and started to walk towards the door that led out to the pool.
“Sure,” Farrow smiled, taking his sandwich and wine glass to follow me out.
Olivia and Nat were both in the pool talking very closely. Nat had Olivia nearly pressed against a wall. I could tell they’d been flirting before we came out, possibly even kissing.
Nat wrapped Olivia up in her arms and turned her to see us. Olivia waved. Then Nat pulled her back into the water and when they both came up they were laughing. Olivia hit her hard on the chest and Nat just hugged her close and made them float.
Farrow looked from them to me and gave me a smile.
“They're cute,” he said. “Olivia mentions her a lot. It makes me jealous actually. You must feel really lucky.”
“I am. Nat is the best person I've ever met. It's impossible not to fall in love with her.”
“Seems so,” he noticed, watching the way they were together as we sat down to the side of the pool under an umbrella. Their laughter was addicting.
All I did was watch them and take sips of my tea.
“So what do you do at Olivia's company again?” I asked.
“Um,” he laughed a little. “I uh. I run it. We created it together. Olivia tells me you're a writer. You have her smitten.”
There was pitter-patter, the sound of wet feet running on land. I watched as Olivia launched herself into the pool, rocketing away from Natalie who’d been chasing her ontop of the deck.
A loud splash followed, Nat had run around and gotten close enough to drop right near her and grab her again. From Nat’s weight and force, the two were thrust underwater. Nat held Olivia below just to keep her and pester her. When she came up Olivia gasped loudly and whined.
“Awww,” I heard Nat coo and then laugh. “Come ‘ere,” she said, hugging Olivia with a lot more noticea
ble tenderness. From then on it was just close whispering that I couldn’t hear.
“Oh right! Duh. I don't know what I was thinking. Umm, yeah, I write but it's nothing special. I get pleasure from it though.”