She should have been startled by the body that came up from under her like a surfacing submarine. Hands circling her waist, cheek pressing against her own, Asher lifted his head from the water, an otter snuggling with its mate. Did otters mate like that? Relaxing into him, she succumbed to the deep yearning for the skin-to-skin contact.
Then she was more afraid Pippa would see. What was he thinking? Shifting, she rolled so she was facing him. He was still only inches away.
“Don’t scare your sister like this. I am actually a little terrified of her right now,” Sophie joked. Mostly joked. Undeniably a little bit serious.
Asher slicked his hand through his hair and brushed out a thick spray of water. He whispered back, “She can’t see us.” He nodded his head toward the hot tub.
Huh, fancy that. The sides of the hot tub and waterfall pouring out of it were high enough that the hot tub residents were rather clueless about the pool happenings. Unless they were trying to see over the side.
“We still shouldn’t.” Sophie searched Asher’s eyes, seeking his refute.
Ignoring her thinly veiled protest, Asher leaned in and pressed his cool, damp lips against hers. Testing, teasing, he kissed the corners of her mouth, her lower lip. Fire stirred low in her belly at his feather light touch. Relying on him to keep them afloat, she wrapped her arms around him and deepened the kiss, letting the embers ignite into a full wildfire.
Clinging to him, she devoured him, and he kissed her back with equal fervor. Forgetting to tread water, they slipped carelessly underwater and perpetuated the kiss until they ran out of air.
Surfacing again, both were breathing rapidly, from the lack of oxygen, the kiss, or both. Asher looked to the hot tub, realizing the risk they’d taken if anyone had made the effort to check on them. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… we shouldn’t have. She’s going to kill me.”
Sophie swam a few feet away, needing the distance or she’d dive right back into his arms. “Agreed. We’re not a couple of horny teenagers. We can be more discreet.”
Feeling absurdly sad, her heart shattering a little bit, Sophie swam to the steps. Looking back, she saw Asher watching her distance herself, his face drawn, his misery mirroring her own. She’d never betray her friend, but she wished she could tell her friend what she was feeling, and how much pushing this aside sucked.
Whatever it was brewing between her and Asher, chemistry or something, it was stronger than any crush she’d ever felt. It’s not like she was the type to jump in some guy’s bed because he had a reputation and an incredible body. Concealing her feelings from her friend was downright painful. Foreign.
Pasting on her cheeriest face, Sophie knew she couldn’t go pout alone like she’d wanted, and instead joined the others in the hot tub. She didn’t look back at Asher again, knowing he would be avoiding the crowded hot tub. The four in the tub scooched a bit to make room for her.
Grady made sure there was an open seat right next to him. He was perfect for her; maybe she could muster up an attraction. His interest was clear. “Have a nice swim?”
“Yes, that pool is amazing. Swimming has always been a favorite outlet of mine.” She tried to ignore his arm stretching out on the edge of the tub behind her, his hand grazing the edge of her shoulder. Why didn’t that create any tingles like even a simple glance from Asher? Maybe Pippa was right; her brother was a lady killer and would dump her as fast as he had the rest, once he’d gotten her into his bed.
Pippa nudged her with her foot. “I was surprised you hadn’t been in yet. Asher practically lived in the pool growing up. He’s part fish like you are.” For someone so against them being together, she certainly wasn’t helping by pointing out everything they had in common.
Attempting to give Grady a chance, she politely turned towards him. “You swim much?” Please say yes. It might make him more appealing.
Distracted, his eyes poorly tried to stay on her face, but unmistakably glanced down her top. He hesitated before responding. “Huh? Oh. No, not really. I can, but I prefer relaxing in the hot tub. Horseback riding, or even golf or hockey are more my outlets.”
Great. She hated all three. Not only that, for a decent guy, he sure didn’t seem to realize a woman could tell when he was checking out her boobs. She could tell he was trying to be subtle; he just was failing at it. Didn’t help she was nipping through her swimsuit, transitioning from the refreshingly cold pool to the sweltering tub. And she couldn’t deny the fact that she’d worn her top that hinted she may slip out of it with a deep breath to torture Asher.
She nodded politely, having no idea what more to say. Her eyes wandered in the direction of the pool stairs, where Asher was just coming out and drying off. He looked as miserable as she felt, his movements dragging and lethargic.
***
Pippa hollered to her brother, “You coming in? We’ve got room. I think these boys have the bachelor party planned without you.”
Throwing the towel over his shoulder, he walked over, but didn’t get in. Standing awkwardly at the side, he put his non-towel hand on his hip. “I’m tired, think I’ll hit the rack.” Looking to Lincoln, he managed to smile and a wink. “We hiring a stripper or flying to Vegas?”
Lincoln pulled Pippa closer and kissed her loudly on the cheek. “Hell no. A round of golf at the club–as lawyers we are mandatory members. Then, thought we’d join the ladies at Ahab’s, as neither of us really have any friends outside of you losers.”
Asher spared a glance for Sophie, clearly noting her keeping the maximum distance from Grady, yet Grady’s hand lightly brushed her shoulder. He just barely managed to hide his wince as he restrained himself from hauling Grady’s ass out of the tub and kicking it.
He gritted his teeth to hide the vivid, violent picture forming in his head. So, this is what jealously felt like. A very new sensation when it came to women. He didn’t really care for it.
Poor cavemen were judged rather harshly; not their fault they dragged their women off to where other cavemen couldn’t see them… And drove them wild with pleasure after peeling off their little cavewoman skimpy scrap of leather clothes… hour after hour. Down boy. “Sounds great. I’m a terrible golfer, if it helps. Will there be beer involved?”
Hand now fully on Sophie’s shoulder, Grady pretended he wasn’t doing it on purpose. Asher watched as Sophie struggled to find a polite way to let Grady know she wasn’t interested. She was too dang nice, never wanting someone to feel bad. Of course, she didn’t realize she was torturing the poor guy by not telling him outrightly how she felt.
Lincoln chuckled, “Is there another way to play golf?”
Sophie slowly inched away, but clearly couldn’t figure out how to do it without making it look like a very public rejection. “Why don’t you boys go finish planning in the pool or inside while we girls plan in here?”
Eyebrows scrunched together, Pippa looked at her like she was nuts. Thankfully, she seemed to finally catch Sophie’s dilemma and agreed. “Good call. We’d hate for you to hear about our plans for the stripper we’ve hired for our party before we join you at Ahab’s.”
Lincoln kissed his fiancée sweetly before climbing out. Grady gave Sophie a friendly wink and followed the other guys out. Freya eyed the interaction with curiosity.
***
Watching the boys dry off and wander back into the house, Pippa waited until the door was closed before she drilled Sophie. “What gives?”
Chest rising out of the hot water as she took a deep breath, Sophie didn’t want to completely lie to the best friend she’d ever had. “I’m just not sure I’m interested in Grady.”
Shifting across the tub, Pippa put her hand on Sophie’s forehead. “No fever. You’re not any paler than usual.” She shifted back into her own seat. “What’s wrong with you? You and Grady would be great together. I thought you were into him.”
Sophie pouted pitifully. “He’s gorgeous and funny and decent… if perhaps a bit forward. I’m working on being into him but i
t’s just not happening.”
Finally, Freya piped in, floating just above the jets at her back, her eyes closed peacefully. “You can’t force these things. If the pheromones aren’t there, it just isn’t going to happen.”
Pippa splashed across the tub, almost reaching Freya. Magically, the spray stopped a few inches before her relaxed, jetlagged face. “Don’t encourage her. Sophie will stew and procrastinate and overanalyze every little detail and wind up eternally single.”
Smug grin on her face, Freya didn’t bother opening her eyes or even looking at her cousin. “Maybe it takes an outsider to see, but Sophie doesn’t need any help in the romance department. She’s picky because she’s not settling for anything less than remarkable.”
Pippa rolled her eyes, “You’re a hopeless romantic. You haven’t heard about the many, many broken hearts Sophie left in her wake. All very attractive, good guys that she wouldn’t give the time of day.”
Sophie liked Freya’s description better. “Thank you, Freya. You may be my new best friend. See Pip? I’m selective, not a settler.”
Pippa shrugged. “Fine. As you sent the boys away, now you have to plan the bachelorette party.”
Sophie considered for a moment. “Do you want a bachelorette party before we meet up with the guys? Won’t it just be the three of us?”
“You were kidding about the stripper, right?” Pippa’s distaste was clear.
She considered teasing but was running out of steam. “Yes, totally kidding. How about we just head to Ahab’s after the bridal shower, be silly just the three of us until the boys join us?”
“Perfect. But you still have to wear the hokey wedding party tank tops I bought you.”
Sophie grumbled. Freya scowled but didn’t move from her comfy spot.
“Hey, I got caught up in the moment at that bridal fair. They’re purchased so you’re stuck with them.” This time, Freya sent a halfhearted splash at Pippa.
9
T-Minus 10 Days
Sophie hated bridal showers. Pippa’s Aunt Tammy had required full participation in every ridiculous game. As the maid of honor, it wouldn’t have looked good if she’d bowed out. She made the mandatory toilet paper bridal gown (which she lost), completed the timeline about Pippa and Lincoln’s relationship (which she won), and endured a polite sampling of those nasty pastel mints that don’t quite fully dissolve in your mouth then get stuck in your teeth for hours.
Flashing before her eyes, her future terrified her. “Pip, please don’t let Tammy throw your baby shower when the day comes. I’m not smelling melted candy bars in baby diapers.” Buckling into her CR-V, she ensured Pippa and Freya were settled before she started the engine and shifted into gear.
Groaning, Pippa pouted audibly in agreement. “If you dibs it now, we can hopefully avoid the otherwise inevitable shower games.”
From the backseat, Freya laughed. “They weren’t that bad. We all giggled and got to know Pippa and Lincoln’s magical love life better.”
Turning around in her seat, Pippa shot eye-daggers at her cousin. “You didn’t plan any bachelorette party games, did you? You’re not like your mother with party games, right?”
“Just a few. Not to worry, they’re fun and will help us get to know each other in a less PG way. I did buy you a penis crown as well.” Freya leaned into her purse and withdrew said crown.
Pippa laughed out loud and put on her special crown of phalluses. “This alleviates any guilt I have about the bridesmaid tank tops I’m making you wear.” She gestured to their skintight black tank tops with pink sparkly writing indicating their roles, Sophie as the Maid of Honor and Freya as Bridesmaid. Pippa had worn her own white with gold sparkly letters indicating that she was the Bride.
“These rather announce to the world, look at my sparkly breasts that are trying to bust out of this thin jersey cotton, don’t they?” Freya looked down and admired the sparkles. “Think the boys have similar shirts?”
Rolling her eyes, Pippa snorted indelicately. “Hell no. Lincoln considered it, Grady would have gone along with it if he had to, but Asher refused outright.”
Freya leaned forward and nudged Pippa, “Think Asher’s bummed no stripper? Didn’t he sleep with the stripper at Mark’s bachelor party? What was it, like his first trip home from the navy?”
Pippa groaned, “Why did you have to remind me of that? Mark had a fit. The stripper charged double when she realized Asher had no interest in actually dating her.”
Sophie neatly avoided the conversation. She knew Asher had a history, and she knew it was bad. Had he been some sort of sex addict? Or just a slut?
Still leaning between them from the backseat, Freya whispered, even though it was still just the three of them and Asher wasn’t around to hear, “Is he okay? Mom says he hasn’t been leaving the house much since he got home, what, a month or two ago? Although, consider the source. You know what a gossip Mom is.”
Pippa sighed, her worry unmistakable. “I don’t know. He goes to the VA weekly for therapy; it was twice weekly at first. He tried some of the meds they prescribed but didn’t like the side effects.
“I actually don’t think he’s dated in a really long time. When I threatened him about Sophie, he mentioned he hadn’t even been with a woman in two years.” Pippa shifted to pleasantly disappointed, trademarking a whole new emotion that was uniquely Pippa.
Freya looked shocked. “Two years? Poor guy. I haven’t made it that long since I lost my virginity.”
Snorting, Sophie rolled her eyes. “Perhaps if you two get stuck in a dating rut like I’ve been in, two years might not sound so bad.”
“That is one of the many perks of being engaged. On-demand sex.” Pippa waggled her eyebrows and admired her engagement ring comically.
“My vibrator is on demand anytime and doesn’t get tired.” Sophie couldn’t help but throw that one out. Hard to resist when her best friend was crowned with penises.
Nodding in agreement, Freya added, “Excellent point, if not quite as satisfying.” Turning to Pippa, she asked, back to Asher, “Do you think he’s grown up or lost interest?”
Pippa shrugged. “I couldn’t say. The last few years, really since he joined the SEALs, he hasn’t gone out partying or acted promiscuous. He doesn’t even drink more than one or two drinks in a night anymore, and even that’s a rarity.”
Sophie couldn’t stand it anymore. Did they not know him at all? She knew he had a history, but since she’d met him, what, eleven days ago, he hardly drank, he had a strict daily exercise regimen, ate well, worked on his truck, and was trying to make sense of his future. He didn’t verbalize it, but likely make sense of his past as well.
And very regrettably was not having sex with her. She couldn’t help but defend him. “He is nearly thirty and has lived away from you all for almost twelve years. A lot can happen in twelve years.”
Keeping her eyes on the road, Sophie tried not to fluster when Pippa stared at her suspiciously. “You and he haven’t…”
“Of course not.” She hoped she didn’t overdo the denial. They hadn’t slept together, that was true. Nor did they intend to. Well, not yet anyway.
“He keeps to his room or the garage most of the time, what makes you think you know my brother so well?”
Oh boy, this was getting ugly. Pippa had some serious issues when it came to her brother. Normally she mostly spoke pretty well of her brother, but Sophie suspected the wedding stress was thinning the filter and letting the negative feelings surface.
“You’re right. You know him way better than I do. I share a bathroom with the guy. As they say, you can learn a lot about a person based on their bathroom.” Sophie confidently bullshitted her friend as she pulled into Ahab’s.
“True that.” Freya nodded from the back seat, finally leaning back as they pulled into the parking lot.
Pausing, Sophie added one last defense before getting out of the car, as subtly as possible. Turning toward her friend, she brought her knee up to the
center console. “Pip, just nine years ago I was a freshman in college. I told you about those first few years, before I met you, right?”
Pippa softened. “I know about the tattoo.”
Sophie gestured loosely, “I did a lot of things you wouldn’t dream of trying. The tattoo is a drop in the bucket. I had my share of one-nighters and drinking and smoking. Am I at all like that anymore?”
She hadn’t been stupid though. Experimented with weed and alcohol, but didn’t get into anything heavy. Had a little random sex, but always used protection and only with guys and girls she knew from the dorms, never some random hit from the bar.
Patting her friend on the arm, Pippa pursed her lips in sympathy. “Not at all. You’re ridiculously responsible. I get it. I’ll give him a break.”
Hand on Sophie’s shoulder, Freya halted their progress out the door. “Tattoo? I have several, but the way she said it, yours sounds quite mysterious.”
With an impish wink, Sophie shrugged and got out of the car.
***
Ahab’s was packed with hiking boots and IPAs. A local favorite, from what she had heard. Clearly the tourists loved it too, judging by the sheer number of outdoorsy types mingling, their bikes and kayaks strapped onto mud-encrusted Subarus in the parking lot.
It was clear why it was named Ahab’s when they walked in. Fishing nets, and even the hull of a massive wooden ship, covered most of the ceiling. Model whales and fish, seafaring quirkiness in general, dominated the décor. The far wall of the bar was a huge mural of an old-style maritime scene.
Sophie had to shout to the server that greeted them to be heard over the swarm of summer adventurers scattered around the pool tables, seated at high-top tables, and more crowded several rows deep around the bar itself. “Were you able to save us the table for six? Sutherland?” She’d given Pippa’s surname, hoping it would carry a little weight.
Perky and not an inch over five feet tall, the server was so animated that she danced as she talked. “Sure did, come on back.” Following the bouncy black curls through the crowd, they arrived at the only open table, tucked away in the back corner. Two round, high-top tables were pushed together and decorated with white balloons.
All the Days After Page 9