by Laura Clark
Much to my relief, Devon perks up a little at the thought of swimming. The three of us head back to my house. Trevor stays in step with us with no intentions of giving us any privacy. Thank God.
Almost everyone is already in the pool when we round the corner and pass through the gate. Chase and Sam are busy setting up the volleyball net. Avery is perched on the side of the pool dangling her feet in the water. She is wearing her red bikini with a navy and white whimsical bird print, which of course, looks completely amazing on her. As usual, all of the guys are drooling all over themselves as they gawk at her. Avery makes it harder for the rest of us girls to want to be seen in a swimming suit.
"I have to go change into my suit," I tell Devon and Trevor. Devon is eyeing me up and down, making me wonder if he is picturing me in a bikini. This irritates me, but when I look at Trevor's wandering eyes, I realize he might be doing the exact same thing, and that kind of excites me.
I just need to pull myself away so I can clear my head. I think Sam and Trevor are just distracting me. That is why I am having trouble connecting with Devon, right? No, I'm pretty sure I don't want to be with Devon, but perhaps a few minutes away from all of them will be good for me. I need to collect my thoughts and try to figure out what I want.
Chapter Five: Knock Me On The Floor
I am standing in my room staring at my reflection in my full-length mirror. My new purple bikini is pretty revealing. I wonder if I shouldn't just put my old one-piece on instead. A soft knock pulls my attention to my bedroom door.
"Laila, can I come in?" It's Sam and I am standing here wearing nothing but a bikini. Shoot.
"Hang on." I quickly grab one of my brother's old t-shirts that I stole and quickly throw it over my head. It hangs down so low that it almost covers my knees. Sam slowly opens the door and peeks his head inside. His eyes almost pop right out of their sockets when he sees me.
"Please tell me you have a swimming suit under that t-shirt, Laila." The thought of him thinking I am wearing nothing but a t-shirt makes me blush hard. He must notice this because his eyes start to do that smoldering thing again, and I'm pretty sure his cheeks are a little pink, too.
"Of course I do, Sam. Do you really think I'd let you come into my room if I wasn't dressed?" I say while rolling my eyes. My face is still hot.
He looks down at my legs again, and kind of swallows hard, the same way that Trevor did earlier. What does that mean when guys do that? It's almost like they are fighting back something. He makes his way into my room and sits on my bed, as if it is the most normal thing in the world.
"What's up?" I ask while slipping on my flip-flops, trying to ignore the fact that Sam is in my room right now.
"Do you know where your brother keeps his swim trunks? I forgot to bring mine and he seems kind of . . . preoccupied at the moment."
It is strange how MIA Kyle has been all night. It's almost like he is avoiding Sam, or is it the other way around? Part of me secretly hopes that Sam is just trying to find any excuse he can to hang out with me. Yeah right. That seems pretty ridiculous, but a girl can dream.
He follows me into my brother's room. It doesn't take me long to find Kyle's swim trunks because they are in the first drawer I pull open. I am about to toss them to him when I notice him slipping his shirt off over his head. The sight of his bare chest completely paralyzes me. Oh my sweet goodness. College really has been good to Sam. He has been working out and he now looks like he belongs on an Abercrombie and Fitch bag.
The heat is rising in my face again, and I know my cheeks are probably bright red. He pauses for a second, after slipping his shirt the rest of the way off, and just stands there. He is staring at me, with his shirt clutched tightly in his hands.
It's not fair. I hate how he can read my expressions so easily, yet I can't tell what he is thinking. I blush easily thanks to my mother and her stupid blush-prone genes. I toss him the suit, close my eyes, and take a deep breath, trying my best to shake these thoughts out of my head.
"Thanks," he says in a low, smooth voice. He is smiling, but it's in a very sexy, knowing way. It really is as if he can read my thoughts.
I stand up to leave, but he catches my hand just as I am about to walk out the door. He pulls me closer to him, the same way that Devon did earlier. Only now, my heart is so alive it is practically jumping right out of my chest, and I can barely breath. I'm sure my knees are going to give out on me this time.
"Laila, I . . ." He pauses for a moment and just stares at me. "You . . . you have really grown up, haven't you?" He is staring at my lips so intensely that I just freeze. What am I supposed to say? Yes, Sam. When you weren't looking, I became a woman.
His hands are wrapped around my waist and my t-shirt is riding up a little too high. I'm worried if my shirt moves up any more, my bottom is going to be peeking out. I know I have my swimsuit on, but I feel like I'm standing here naked and completely exposed. He takes his hand and runs his fingers across my cheek before he gently pushes my hair back away from my face. This small, simple act sends a fresh flock of butterflies into a frenzy of activity.
His eyes are still focused on my lips. They flutter closed as he leans in slowly, making me hold my breath with anticipation. Just as I feel his soft lips graze mine, we are startled by some noises coming from the stairway. Sam quickly pulls himself away and moves across the room.
Kyle pops into his room and looks at me as if I have two heads. Before he can say anything, Sam jumps in to explain.
"Lil sis was just helping me find a suit." He holds up the swim trunks to show Kyle. "I hope you don't mind, man. I left mine at the dorm and I didn't want to bug you while you were talking to Georgia," he says nonchalantly.
Kyle suddenly looks a little embarrassed. Who is Georgia? She must be someone he is interested in because Kyle's cheeks are about as red as mine. Sam knew just what to say. It is enough to smother any inklings of suspicion that otherwise would be swimming around in my brother's head. I take this as my cue to exit stage left, and make my way back to the party.
Relief and disappointment wash over me as I shimmy down the stairs. I don't want to go back outside. More than anything, I want Sam to pull me back into Kyle's room so he can finish kissing me. From the very little that I got, I am pretty sure I was on the verge of having my first knock-me-on-the-floor, swoon-worthy, romantic comedy kiss.
My stomach is tied up in so many knots right now that I am unsure how I am supposed to go back outside and pretend like none of this has happened. I stop in the downstairs bathroom to splash some cold water on my face.
Chapter Six: Guess Who?
When I finally manage to drag myself back outside, there is a full game of water volleyball in progress. Avery, Paige, and Alley are playing with Chase, Mark, Devon, and Trevor. Oh my. Trevor without a shirt is another sight to see. It almost makes me forget how completely annoying he can be.
He and Avery seem to be extra friendly with each other. They are busy splashing and dunking each other repeatedly, in between exchanging fits of laughter. Avery is being downright flirty with Trevor, which is interesting because she doesn't usually give high school boys the time of day. I don't know why, but this irritates me a little. It's not like I want Trevor for myself, but the thought of those two together bothers me for some reason.
I set my towel down on the chair and kick off my flip-flops. Sam and Kyle are walking down the deck stairs with towels draped over their bare shoulders. Sam looks really good in Kyle's swim trunks. They seem to be made for his gorgeous body. I should convince Kyle to just let Sam keep them.
"I snagged another drink for you, Laila." Sam hands me a fresh, cold, bottle of Smirnoff Ice. I look at Kyle to gauge his reaction. He just shrugs as if he knew I was already drinking. I nod with satisfaction. If he doesn't seem to care, then I shouldn't, either. He used to drink at his parties back in high school, too.
"Thanks." I smile, taking the bottle from him. His fingers don't linger the way they did before. This disappoints
me, but I'm pretty sure it has more to do with the fact that my brother is standing right here than anything else. Kyle tosses his towel onto the chair next to me and dives into the deep end of the pool, causing some commotion with the game. Sam hangs back with me. He seems to be as unsure as I am about how to act after our near-kiss.
I look at the shallow end of the pool again and notice how Avery is tucked under Trevor's arms. I can tell by the way they are looking at each other that there is some definite chemistry between them. It's hard not to notice the way his muscles flex as he lifts and tosses her effortlessly across the pool. I take a deep breath and find myself swallowing hard. So, that is what that means. Interesting . . . .
Devon is sitting on the steps, staring at me in a way that makes me uncomfortable. He probably is trying to figure out how to get me alone again so he can get that kiss. The problem is, his kiss is not the one I want to finish. When I think about how it felt to have Sam's lips on mine, the butterflies start flapping around wildly again.
I notice my mostly-full wine cooler that is still sitting on the side table where I left it, as I take another sip of my cold Smirnoff Ice. I prefer the taste of this over the wine cooler. I think about the irony of this as I glance back at Devon. He smiles really big, and nods his head to the side, as if to get me to come over and join him.
I glance back at Sam, who no doubt, is looking at me to see what I'm going to do. I have no idea how I'm going to get out of this, but I am certain that I do not want to be with Devon right now.
I peel off my shirt and scurry over to the deep end of the pool, being careful not to look like I am rushing over to Devon. I don't want to send either of them the wrong message. I sit down on the side of the pool and dip my toes into the water. I don't even think I'll have to get used to it. It's been so hot all week that it practically feels like bath water.
Sam sits down next to me. Kyle is playing volleyball and flirting shamelessly with my friends. They are drooling all over him, which is pretty normal. The only girl not swooning over my brother, other than myself, is Avery. She hardly even notices him because she is too busy flirting with Trevor. Again, my stomach tugs a little with irritation. I should be happy that she is finally interested in someone who is age appropriate, but I'm not.
Sam playfully kicks me with his bare feet, as if to remind me that he is sitting next to me. I look up at him and smile. His steel blue eyes are sparkling. He is smiling back at me, making me feel positively giddy. His eyes wander down to my bikini top, causing me to feel very self-conscious. I quickly slip into the water in order to avoid further embarrassment.
He jumps in after me and scoops me up into his beautiful arms. He easily tosses me across the pool, as if I were as light as a raft. I scream because I am not expecting it. I like how small he makes me feel. Being in his arms, I feel safe and protected. Sam and I play around for a while, splashing and dunking each other.
I had completely forgotten about Devon until he sneaks behind me and put his hands over my eyes. Having him stand behind me this close when I'm wearing nothing but my swimming suit makes me feel awkward and big. Devon is kind of on the small side for a guy, especially compared to Sam.
"Guess who?" he says in an almost sultry way. If Sam were to do this to me, my insides would be a mess right now. I turn around and look into Devon's blue eyes. They don't sparkle the way Sam's do.
"Laila, are you trying to tease me? Staying away from me, wearing this teeny tiny bikini. It's like you are torturing me. You look incredible." I am surprised by how forward Devon is suddenly being. He gently tugs at the strings and wraps his arms around my waist. I am unsure if it is the beer that seems to be loosening him up, or if it is Sam's overt flirtation that is motivating him. I close my eyes and gently pull away.
"What's wrong?" he asks. I look at Sam and notice how mad he looks. I try to reassure him by smiling at him, but his frown doesn't ease up.
"Nothing. I just . . . um . . . I need to get my drink." It is the first excuse I could come up with. Sam follows me over to the table and grabs his towel.
"So what is the deal? Are you into that guy, Laila?" he asks in an almost accusatory way as he dries himself off. How could he possibly think that after seeing the way I immediately pulled away?
"No. I'm just trying to figure out how to let him down easy. After all, he did come here because of me."
Sam's jaw is still pulled in tight. "So?"
"I don't feel that way about him, Sam. I need to tell him."
"Well, do it soon, because seeing him grab you like that is making me want to pummel him. Plus, I don't like the way he looks at you."
Just knowing Sam is not impervious to jealousy makes me feel a little giddy. It also hints that Sam may just want to finish that kiss as badly as I do. Part of me was worried before that the moment had passed, and we would simply continue on as if it had never happened.
I look at Devon again and sigh. I can't help but feel a little guilty. Nothing is turning out how I had planned. I pick up my drink and walk back to the pool. Devon is busy tossing the ball back and forth over the net with the guys. I have no idea how all of this is going to play out. All I can think about is figuring out how I'm going to get Devon out of the picture, so Sam and I can figure out whatever this is between us.
Chapter Seven: Don't Call Me Lil Sis
Devon must have gotten the hint when I left the pool because he avoids me the rest of the night. Actually, we have been avoiding each other. Unfortunately, Sam is keeping his distance, too. I spend most of the night watching Avery and Trevor flirt. I don't think either one of them even notices that I am still here.
Every time I hear her laughing, I want to gouge my eyes out. Normally, I love her laugh. She has one of those distinct, infectious laughs that forces people to smile even if they don't know why she is laughing. I really should be happy for my friend. She seems to be clicking with this great guy. Wait a minute. He's not all that great. In fact, when you think about it, he is downright annoying. However, I suppose it is, in a sort of sweet and charming way.
When the party starts to fizzle, I decide to clean up. I need to make sure all evidence of alcohol disappears before my parents see it. Devon must have slipped out earlier without saying goodbye. I sure hope Sam checked to be sure Devon was okay enough to drive, before relinquishing his keys.
As far as I know, we are down to five people. Kyle and Sam are hanging out on the deck while Trevor and Avery are in the pool talking. I grab a trash bag and start tossing empty bottles and cups into it.
I am pouring out the last of the half-empty bottles over the fence, when I feel his strong arms wrap around my waist from behind. I drop the bottle into the bag and turn around. Sam is looking at me so intensely, it feels like his eyes can see right through me. I can't believe he is being so bold right out in the open. I look around to see if anyone notices us.
"Don't worry. Kyle already bailed and your parents went to bed crazy early. Kyle said they are getting too old for these parties."
I laugh because it's true. They used to stay up really late, but now, they can't stay up past midnight.
"I've been waiting all night to get you alone, Laila. You are driving me crazy. Is that a new swimming suit you have under there?" He tugs lightly on the hem of my shirt.
I am instantly regretting my decision to not change into my old one-piece earlier, when I had the chance. I'm not so sure I am ready for Sam to be noticing just how much I've grown up. I have a lot of lumps, bumps, and curves that I didn't used to have, and my bikini just highlights all of that.
I don't know why, but I can't seem to find any words to say out loud when Sam is this close, and yet he seems to read me just perfectly. It's almost like we are having a silent conversation with each other.
"Patterson, do you need help cleaning up?" The sharp tone in Trevor's voice makes my stomach drop. I puff up my cheeks and let all the air out in frustration.
Seriously? Could his timing be any worse? Trevor walks towards us
holding an empty trash bag. Does he not see that I am a little busy? I was happy to have him save me earlier with Devon, but not now. I certainly do not need to be rescued from Sam.
Trevor's lack of consideration is really starting to piss me off. He doesn't seem to have any respect for my privacy. "You didn't see me trampling all over your starry-night moment with Avery in the pool," I want to scream at him. Instead, I bite my lip and try not to grimace. Why does this guy get to me so much? He looks at Sam, who has made no attempt to break away, and then back at me. His eyes are very curious. "What happened to Devon?"
"It turns out she's just not that into him." I am surprised to hear Sam speak. He is clutching me tighter than he was before. I swear guys can be so territorial. I feel like a tree that Sam is trying to pee on, so the other dogs will leave me alone. This is definitely a testosterone thing that I will never quite understand.
"Oh," Trevor says, while scratching his head. "It didn't really look that way when you guys were out there, Laila, but what do I know?" Trevor emphasizes my name as if to tell Sam that I can speak for myself. Oh. My. Gosh. I am going to murder him and his gorgeous green eyes. Why is he trying to mess things up for me with Sam?
Sam looks at me hesitantly, as if he is about to pull back.
"No. Actually, I should be thanking you for coming out there and rescuing me when you did. You kind of saved me from having him try to kiss me. I am not interested in Devon. I mean, I thought I was before, but not anymore." I look up at Sam and smile as I say this. He relaxes a little and tightens his grip on my hips.