During my conversation with Max, I noticed Calvin Dungess had taken a seat next to Chloe. As I watched him lean into her, I felt a pang in my chest. I could tell that she was completely annoyed. I continued to look over at her, not able to help myself. She looked up, her eyes making direct contact with mine. I pulled my head away quickly, hoping she didn’t catch me watching her.
When I looked up again, she was looking in another direction. I followed her gaze to Lucas’s face. Watching the silent communication between them, it looked as if she wanted him to come to her but he wasn’t budging. Idiot!
She was fidgeting for a moment and then I watched her pull out her phone. I stood up and headed over. Clearly Dungess wasn’t getting the message.
Chloe
“Mina, we are not going to listen to Britney Spears tonight,” I laughed at her.
She scowled.
“Fine,” she huffed. “Roni would you please acknowledge Max, so I don’t have to watch him pout any longer?” Mina giggled and rolled her eyes. Max had been pouting since Roni sat with us instead of going to him.
“Oh, it’s good for him to miss me. It makes him want me more.” She winked. We started laughing.
“Roni, you are really twisted. You know that?” Mina giggled.
“You keep telling me that, but I don’t have any clue what you are talking about.” She smirked.
“So, what are you three lovelies up to this evening?” I rolled my eyes at the sound of Calvin’s voice.
“Dungess,” I acknowledged without looking at him. He sat right behind me and a little too closely. I looked up toward the fire and sighed heavily, meeting Leo’s eyes. He quickly dropped his head. Was he staring over here?
“So, Chloe…” I knew where this was leading already. “How about we take a walk down the beach?”
“Calvin, you know I’m with Lucas.” I curtly replied.
“I just want to walk, Chloe, and I thought you might like to join me.” I could feel his breath at the back of my neck and wanted to just snap my head back and bust his nose.
I looked around for Lucas and saw him sitting down from me. I caught his attention and gave him a look, begging for him to help me. He rolled his eyes and shrugged. Did he seriously just shrug like it was no big deal? Lucas and I seriously need to have a talk.
I pulled out my cell phone like I had gotten a message and quickly sent a text to Christy to save me. No reply. I decided on another plan. “Sorry, Calvin, but Christy needs me for a minute." I gave him an apologetic look.
"Hey, do you need someone to come with you? I could always keep you company." He still pushed.
"That’s okay. I don’t want to interrupt your fun here." I stood to go.
"It’s fine, really." He stood with me. Shit!
"Hey, Chloe, are you ready to go?" I quickly spun around and looked right into Leo’s smiling face. "You ready to umm…"
"To head over to Christy and Randy’s? Let’s go." I smiled, thankful. "See ya later. Okay, Calvin?"
We started down the beach toward the parking lot.
"Oh my God, Leo, you are a life saver!" I sighed my relief. "Thank you so much."
"No problem. I thought you looked a little uncomfortable with him." He laughed.
"That’s not even close to it. Try annoyed. Creeped out. Yuck!"
He laughed. "Well, you’re welcome."
After reaching the parking lot I headed for my truck but felt a tug on my arm.
"Hey?"
"If you think I am getting in that death trap of a truck, you are insane." He gave me a bone melting, lopsided grin.
"Look, I appreciate what you did, but you don’t have to go to Randy and Christy’s with me, really. I can go from here." I dug my heels into the ground and turned around to face him. Did he look disappointed?
"How believable would it be if I went back over there? Hmm?" He pulled my arm, dragging me to his car.
"Leo, seriously, it’s not a big deal and hopefully it will give Calvin a blatant hint to back off." I smiled and pulled away from his touch.
I don’t know what it was about with him, but I felt so drawn to him. The feeling that consumed me whenever I was around him was strong. Being in a small space like a car, alone, was definitely a bad idea.
"Oh, come on." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me with him. The damn current flowing between made goose bumps prickle my skin.
He opened the door and ushered me into his car. I hesitated but, after gently nudging me, I climbed into the car. Quicker than I thought imaginable, Leo was climbing into the driver’s seat.
"So, where is Randy’s place?" He looked at me grinning.
I gave him the directions and we were off. It was a quiet ride and thankfully Randy’s place wasn’t far, so it was a quick trip. Once we pulled up, I hopped out and headed for the door to the house. I heard the baby shrieking.
"Christy?" I announced as I walked in the door.
"Thank God, Chloe!" Randy exclaimed.
"What’s wrong?!" I hurried to him. He was rocking her and bouncing her, trying to calm her.
"I don’t know. I fed her, changed her and I even burped her. Nothing is helping. Christy went to get some more things that she left at your house and groceries. But, she’s not back yet and I don’t know what to do!” I felt Leo’s presence beside me.
"Maybe you should try bathing her. Doesn’t that sometimes calm a baby? Leo proposed.
"Hand her over" I said and Randy smiled knowingly.
"I was hoping you would say that." He placed Michele in my arms.
I cuddled her and swaddled her up and then pressed her to my chest, snuggling tightly. I walked around for a few Moments and then she was quiet.
"Chloe, you are my savior!!!" Randy exclaimed as he fell back to the couch. "I love that little girl to death but lord her screams are so hard to listen to."
"It’s alright. I got her until Christy gets back." I smiled and patted him on his arm. Randy smiled up at me. "Leo, you don’t have to wait for me. I don’t know how long I will be."
"It’s alright. I can wait. I’m not going to just leave you here to walk back later." He sat down on a chair across from Randy. "So, I take it that she has a thing for Chloe?" Leo asked Randy.
"Not just a thing, man. It’s like a magic touch. Christy is probably the only other one that can calm her better." Randy stood up. "Do you want a drink?"
"No, I’m good, but thank you." Leo replied.
"Chloe?"
"No thanks, Randy." I smiled.
Leo
I couldn’t believe how loud a baby could scream until I heard Michele crying with Randy, but the moment that Chloe snuggled her she was silent. It was amazing. Randy had said that Chloe had a magic touch; I couldn’t agree more.
Chloe sat on the couch with Michele snuggled to her chest and Chloe’s hand rubbing her back. I had never been jealous of an infant until that moment.
Christy walked in the door about twenty minutes later. She paused to take in the room. "Chloe?" "Leo?" "Ummm…what’s going on?"
"Christy, Chloe arrived just in time to save me." Randy walked over and kissed her cheek and grabbed some bags from her. "Michele was in shriek mode and nothing I did was working. Thank God that she arrived when she did."
Christy smiled. "Thanks, Chloe."
"No problem." Chloe smiled brightly at her.
"So, I am still confused about how you and Leo got here to begin with?" She eyed Chloe and then she eyed me closely.
I answered first. "I saved Chloe from Calvin Dungess." I chuckled.
"Ahhh…" Christy answered, still a little confused. Chloe went into a more detailed story about Dungess, Lucas and my interference. "Lucas seriously didn’t come help you out, Chloe?! Are you serious?"
"I know, right! That’s what I thought." Chloe answered her. "You want me to take her to bed?"
"Yeah, thanks." Christy smiled as Chloe left the room.
Christy’s attention turned to me. She was looking at me
intently, like she was trying to figure something out in her head.
"What, Christy?"
"Umm...Nothing." She turned her head quickly but I could see a smirk playing on her mouth.
"Alright, well, we are going to head back to the beach." Chloe announced as she entered the room. She leaned over and kissed Christy on the cheek. "Leo, you should be ready by now, I’m sure." She half smiled.
"If you are ready to go then we can, it’s really been fine." I saw Christy look at me again with the previous expression on her face.
We went back to my car and headed back to the beach in silence. I didn’t know what to say, but I could feel the pull between us. It took everything I had to not touch her. My hand twitched and I gripped the steering will tighter until my knuckles whitened. I rolled down my window a little, hoping that the night air would clear my thoughts, but the air just mixed with her scent and made it dance around me.
Jesus, what happened to my plan on staying away from her? Ugh.
I parked my car and we walked back to the fire. Quite a few people had taken off. I looked to see Eve sitting with Max and Roni talking. Chloe’s voice yanked me out of my thoughts.
"Leo, I am sorry that you got pulled away for so long. Thank you for helping me out, though." She smiled and waited for my response.
"No problem, Chloe, I’d do it anytime." I flashed my crooked smile.
"You know, Mina is wrong about you…" she smirked.
"Wrong? How so?" I inquired.
"You’re not such a bad big brother after all." She smiled and walked back to her blanket where Mina was sitting with that damn ass grabber guy.
I smiled and headed back to Eve, my brain swimming from Chloe’s comment. Big brother? Not such a bad big brother? She thinks of me as a big brother? Or does she think I helped her because I see her as my little sister? FUCK!
Chapter Six
Sleeping with Oliver
Chloe
The weekend following the beach fire was going to be sunny and warm. Finally! We were all looking forward to it and had decided that we would put together a pool party at Mina’s. Mina, Roni and I made some phone calls to invite people over.
"Chloe, quit arguing and just put it on!" Mina was yelling because I didn’t want to wear a bikini. I prefer my tankini; it had more coverage and I was comfortable with it. But, of course, my opinion meant nothing when it came to what I wore.
"Mina, what was wrong with my suit? N.o.t.h.i.n.g." I put as much sarcasm as I could into my words.
"It was last season. Besides, I don’t understand why you would want to hide that hot body of yours from everyone." She leaned out of her closet and winked at me. I sighed and put my face into my hands. "Put the damn bikini on, Chloe."
"Seriously, Chloe, just go put it on, people will be arriving soon." Of course Roni would side with her as she stood in all her glorious curves, wrapped in a red string bikini. Ugh!
I changed into the bikini and put on a pair of boxer shorts and a white tank top over top. I slid on my flip flops and headed downstairs with the girls. Mina passed out the orders of things for Roni and me to do, so we spent twenty minutes finishing the final details. Lucas and Will were the first to arrive, others trailing behind in groups of two or more over the course of 45 minutes.
Mina had turned on the speakers outside so that music was playing while everyone swam, talked and just hung out. Roni decided it was time to start up a game of Marco Polo. I was standing on one of the pool ladder steps while Jay was trying to get his hands on someone. As Jay got closer to me I was prepared to dive over him to get away; however, a group of last minute arrived through the house and caught my attention. I saw Leo, Eve, Max and Oliver walking through the back door and standing on the back patio watching what was going on at the pool. At that moment, I felt Jay’s hands touch my thighs. I snapped my head down and saw his eyes open quickly.
"Hah, Chloe! I got you!" He yelled as he threw me over his shoulder and pulled me down into the water. I could feel his hands wander a little too much over my body, which was a common occurrence with Jay. I pushed off of him, swimming away and back to the surface. I broke through the surface of the water to see Leo standing near the pool looking at me angrily. What the hell did I do to him?
"Okay, Chloe, you are up! Close those eyes!" Mina giggled and splashed me. I closed my eyes and started the routine of the game. We continued to play for a little while longer before our game turned into a splashing and dunking battle.
"Cannonball!" Max yelled as he ran and jumped into the pool. Everyone cleared the way. He emerged from the water with a huge grin on his face.
"You are such a beast." Roni shouted from the side of the pool. Max quickly swam over to her, grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into the water with him.
I climbed out of the pool and headed over to Mina who was lounging on a chair. I rang the water out of my hair onto her back.
"Ahhhh!" She snapped her head around "Chloe, I am going to kick your ass!"
I laughed. "Oooh, I am so scared…" I teased and lay in the lounge chair next to her. Lucas walked over and sat with me.
"Hey, Chloe." He smiled at me.
"Hey, Luke, what have you been up to? We haven’t gotten to talk too much since school ended." It was true. We'd been spending more time apart than together. I knew things with us were going to be over sooner than later.
"I know. I’ve been with my family and friends, mostly." He shrugged. "So, you want to take off alone for a little while." I heard the innuendo in his voice.
"You know what, Luke, I don’t think so." I rolled my eyes and stood up. I pulled on my boxers and headed into the house to get a bottle of water; it was really just my excuse to get away from him.
Walking back to my chair, I noticed a couple of different things. Lucas was gone; not just from my chair, but no longer here all together. Max had Veronica pinned to his chest in the pool; he was definitely taken with her. And, I also noticed Mina looking at Oliver, who was sitting just a few chairs away from where she was sun bathing. I plopped down into my chair next to her.
"You slut." I whispered after watching Oliver and Mina’s silent conversation.
"What?" She looked at me innocently.
"You are completely eye-fucking him." I laughed.
"Shhh! And what if I am?" She shrugged.
"Don’t let big brother bust you!" I teased.
"He can go fuck himself." She threatened then giggled.
"Uh-huh…I think that’s what the red head is for." I whispered to her. We both busted out into hysterics.
We stayed out by the pool until seven o’clock and then headed in for dry clothes and to watch a movie. Most people had left. The remaining people were Mina, Roni, Max, Oliver, Leo, Eve, Jay, K.C., Will, Brent, Carrie and I, of course. After drying and changing we headed to the basement to claim a seat and watch a movie.
I claimed a seat on one couch. Max snatched Roni up as soon as she entered the room, leaving her no choice but to sit in the oversized chair with him. Leo and Eve had a spot across from me on a large bean bag seat for two and Mina was sitting on the love seat where Oliver conveniently sat next to her. When Jay sat down next to me, I knew that this would not be a relaxing movie. I would probably have to fight his wandering hands the entire time. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Will walk in and sit between Mina’s legs on the floor in front of her. I stifled a laugh. Carrie sat on the other side of me with Brent on the floor laying his head on her leg. They were so cute together.
The movie was about half way through and Jay was being the perfect gentlemen. I was relieved, hopeful to make it through the entire movie without making a scene. Unfortunately my hope my shredded into tiny pieces as I felt him move his hand toward my leg, drawing circles on the inside of my knee. I pulled my knee away and looked at him with a scowl. He just smirked back. It had become apparent that my message wasn’t getting through when his hand covered mine. Again, I pulled away, crossing my arms over my chest. I heard him chuck
le. He’s molesting me and thinks it’s fucking funny?! Ugh!
I was trying to balance my attention between the movie and watching out for Jay when I glanced up to find Leo watching Jay and I intently. He was sporting a seriously mean look on his face. What is his problem? It’s not like I am asking Jay to grab at me, I’m trying to give him the hint. This big brother act is really too much. Now I understand why Mina gets so annoyed.
When the movie ended I told everyone good night and headed up to Mina’s room. I changed into a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top and climbed into bed. The slam of Mina’s bedroom door woke me with surprise. I jolted up to see Mina leaning against her door with a guy plastered to her face. I looked to the clock beside her be, it was almost two in the morning.
"Ugh! Mina, can you wrap it up so I can go back to sleep?" I moaned and threw myself back onto the pillow.
"Oh…umm, Chloe, I’m sorry" I turned over to see Mina with Oliver lingering. Holy Shit! She’s making out with Oliver. I grinned knowingly at her and she turned her head down shyly.
Then it dawned on me.
"Uhhggggghhh!" I huffed while standing up and dragging myself out the door. Before leaving, I turned back to Mina who was about to be grabbed up by Oliver again.
"Ahem!"
She turned quickly to look at me.
"You owe me for this, big time! Both of you!" I grabbed my IPod off her dresser next to me and shut her door heading to the spare room that Oliver should be sleeping in. I popped my IPod ear buds into my ears and climbed into the bed. I passed out quickly.
Leo
Walking into the house and hearing the music blaring, a sudden sense of déjà vu washed over me. Max was the first to comment on how it brought back memories of our summer get-togethers, so I immediately walked to the pool to inspect what my little sister was up to.
All Grown Up Page 5