The Space Between

by Victoria H. Smith

  It really was bad, like elevator music bad. I guess only the pre-approved stations were allowed for the junior members. This event was going to get dull very fast.

  Gazing about, I saw my sister on her own lawn chair in her yellow swimsuit. I let out a sigh of relief. She was wearing a one-piece, so I didn’t have to threaten any junior members. I’d still keep a watchful eye on her though, just incase.

  She was surrounded by a few other girls who looked to be around her age, and those girls were not wearing one-pieces. I shook my head at the scraps of material they wore. They get younger and younger. Glancing past them, I searched out Lacey, but didn’t see her. Maybe she went to the bathroom or something.

  “Drake!”

  I turned. The buxom Goldie Locks known as Ashley Jameson waved her tan little hand at me; faked-baked for sure. She sat at a table with two other guys and three girls.

  Before I could even step that way, Ashley leaped from her chair.

  I couldn’t help but think: thirsty much? These girls really did try too hard.

  Her breasts bobbed about as she practically skipped over to me in her polka dot bikini.

  “Drake, you came.” She wrapped her arms around my neck like I was her long lost lover.

  I gave her one of those friendly pats on her back—the one where you barely touched the other person’s back.

  Finally letting go of me, she grabbed my hand. “I’m so glad you came.”

  “I told you I would,” I said.

  “I know, but you seemed a bit distracted at the fundraiser. You were probably just overwhelmed with your father’s debut and all, right?”

  Yeah, that was it. “Right,” I lied.

  “My father made sure to give a big donation. Tell him, he’s got The Jameson Family’s endorsement.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell him.” That was if I ever saw him. I made sure never to cross any unnecessary paths with my father; something I knew for a fact neither of us minded.

  “Well, come on. You have to meet the gang.” She dragged me over to the table with her friends.

  “Guys, this is Truman Drake. He goes by Drake, though.” She grinned at me. “Drake, this is Brittany, Jolene, and Mackenzie.” She pointed to the girls, and they all waved at me. “And this is Cooper and Logan.” She pointed to the guys.

  “Nice to meet you all,” I said.

  She pushed me down in a chair and took her seat next to me.

  “So Drake, how are you liking the Windy City?” The guy Ashley introduced as Cooper took a sip of his cocktail.

  “Definitely living up to its reputation,” I said, thinking about the cool summer breezes. “Didn’t expect its beauty, though.”

  Ashley scooted closer to me when I said that, so I felt the need to continue my sentence. “With its historic landmarks and all.”

  Cooper pushed his sunglasses up onto his dark buzz cut. “Yeah, those buildings are something, aren’t they? Where did your folks come from?”

  “St. Louis, East St. Louis area.”

  “Been down there many times. Great music scene.”

  Leaning back in my chair, I crossed my leg at the knee. “Yeah. Dying for some of that in here.” That elevator music was getting worse and worse.

  Cooper chuckled. “Yeah, Dad likes to keep these things very PG at the club.”

  Ashley leaned into me. “Cooper’s dad owns the country club.”

  She put her hand on my thigh after she said that. I believed she meant the action to be friendly. But friendliness required a touch and release, not a touch and death grip.

  Cooper gave me that oh-so-knowing eye when I glanced around for back up, that “watch yourself that one has marriage blinders on” look. Ms. Jameson obviously was seeking her match. Since she wasn’t technically hurting anything, I let the hand stay, but only because physically prying her fingers off my leg in front of everyone would be rude. I decided to shift the conversation to distract myself. “Are you all going to Northwestern in the fall, too?”

  Cooper glanced around the small group. “I believe most of us are.”

  “I’m going to Stanford.” Jolene, the girl with the short blonde bob, leaned forward.

  “Princeton for me.” Mackenzie raised her hand.

  Everyone else stated Northwestern, but Ashley was the last to speak. I hoped she’d state some place off in Timbuktu, but that thought fizzled when she said, “Northwestern.” She pursed her ruby lips at me.

  This one was going to require some clearly blatant “no way in hell” signs. I’d have to keep an eye on her.

  “What’s up with that? She can’t be a new lifeguard. She looks like she stepped out of the hood with that wild hair.” Ashley pointed behind us.

  Turning my head, I blinked my eyes like active shutters.

  Lacey walked down the poolside in a red bikini, two triangles up top, and one below to hide her treasure. The suit clearly wasn’t made for someone of her. . . The first word that came to mind was: stature. She had tight curves and perfect, supple breasts, completely natural. Her bellybutton ring from the night we met was absent, but that didn’t take away from that amazing torso of hers.

  Breaking my concentration from her waist, I took in the rest of her curves.

  Her bottom bathing suit piece held snug to her ass, accentuating the tone, and the two triangles that covered her breasts, just barely concealed them. The material strained across them. A wrong shift and she’d be flashing a nipple. I found myself shamefully wishing for a gust of that summer breeze.

  A turn of my head showed me the men of the table were also praying for that same sudden change of wind pattern. The women, on the other hand gave short, little tsks with their tongues.

  “What is up with that?” asked Mackenzie. “Cooper, did your dad hire her?”

  All eyes went to Cooper who’s eyes were anywhere but the group. They still hung on Lacey. I shifted in my seat, trying not to let his extremely detailed analysis of her body bother me.

  “I think she’s a member here.” His words came out on autopilot.

  Ashley leaned back. “No way. I don’t believe it.”

  As the group continued to watch Lacey, I could see why he jumped to that conclusion. She went toward Adele and her scandalously dressed posse and took a lawn chair two chairs away from them. Lying on her back, she propped one knee up and sunbathed. It was quite a sight to see.

  “I guess they let just anyone join up here. Did your dad start a scholarship program or something?”

  I snarled at Ashley’s words. The girl was snob and half, and I couldn’t believe I was forced to associate with these people.

  Cooper didn’t say anything, and the way his eyes continued to study Lacey made me clinch my fists. I had no intention of hitting him, but a face slam to the table would have done the trick just as well to make him stop looking at her. I was actually glad Ashley sat next to me now. Sitting between Cooper and myself, she kept his face from meeting the table.

  “See something you like, Cooper?” asked Jolene, her look smug.

  He better not.

  Cooper shrugged his shoulders. “Just admiring a fine piece of art. Nothing wrong with that.”

  My nostrils flared.

  “Well,” Ashley said, crossing her legs as she studied Lacey again, then turned to Cooper, “she seems perfect for you. You should ask her out.”

  With Ashley’s prolonged study of Lacey and Cooper, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what she meant by her comment. Cooper was black, and apparently, Ashley believed that single commonality made them compatible.

  Shifting, I moved my leg from under her hand. The abrupt action made her turn her head, but I refused to make eye contact with her.

  “Maybe I will.” Cooper scratched his chin.

  There was no way in hell I was even letting Cooper talk to Lacey let alone date her. To ensure that, I’d have to give my secret away, but at the moment, I didn’t care. “She isn’t a member here.”

  All eyes went my wa
y.

  Ashley’s brow twitched up. “Do you know her, Drake?”

  “She works for my family.”

  “And what’s she doing here?” she asked.

  Grabbing the glass pitcher of lemonade on the table, I poured myself a glass. “She’s my nanny.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lacey

  I pulled my hair away from neck, attempting to get some sun there. I couldn’t believe this was actually my job. I was being paid to just lay here and sunbathe. Well, I guess technically I was supposed be around for Adele and keep tabs on Drake, but they were well old enough to take care of themselves. Not to mention, neither one of them wanted the personal assistant to assist. This was, by far, the most interesting job I’d ever had. I couldn’t wait to tell Margot. She’d flip.

  “Hey there.”

  With the familiar velvet words, I smiled, turning my head to the right. Drake approached in his navy trunks, with a stamped country club towel draped over his sculpted arm. He really did have a swimmer’s body. Long and hard, he was cut in all the right places. Quite a sight for a girl to see.

  This was my job? I had to be dreaming.

  I rose up, hugging my knees. “Hey.”

  He smiled that heartbreaker smile, pushing his aviators into his jet-black hair. “You should probably cover up that suit before you start a riot, Lace.”

  My cheeks went warm. He probably shouldn’t say such things to me, but I couldn’t bring myself to scold him. The comment definitely didn’t make me feel bad that was for sure. “Really funny, Drake.”

  He handed his towel out to me. “No. I’m being serious.” He nodded behind him.

  Gazing around his long frame, I saw the table he referred to. A group of kids our age went instantly back into their conversation like they weren’t just staring over here.

  My face blazed now as I grabbed his towel. “Sorry. I told Adele this one looked too risqué. She said it looked the least lame.”

  Chuckling, Drake sat on the chair next to mine. “Those definitely sound like her words. Where did you two even get the suit?”

  I tucked the towel around my body. “It’s one of the lifeguards. I think it’s still in beta testing, though. No one else is wearing them.”

  “I think once the owners see you in it they probably won’t be going into regulation anytime soon. People will be trying to drown themselves on purpose just so the guards will save them.”

  I laughed.

  “Anyway, I mostly came over here to tell you I’m about to head out. The party is not really my scene. I was wondering if you had Derrick’s number.”

  “I do. But why do you need it?”

  “He was cool the other night. I just wanted to see if he wanted to hangout.”

  The uneasiness built inside my chest. “Drake, you’re not going back over to the West Side are you?”

  He sighed. “Space, Lace.”

  I let out a breath. “Sorry. Yeah, I have it.” Reaching into my satchel, I found my phone. “When will you be back?”

  “Before 2:00 a.m. I can’t guarantee how long Mom and Father will be out, so I have to abide by the ‘rules’.” He air quoted.

  I displayed the phone number, and he typed it into his own phone.

  “Thanks, you’re a doll.” He kissed my cheek.

  I froze.

  When he pulled back, he had an uneasy look on his face. “Sorry. It, uh, felt natural in the moment. Won’t happen again. I promise.”

  Finally, my lungs took in air. “No big. See you tonight? I’ll wait up.”

  He nodded once. When he got up and left, I got a full view of the table he referred to earlier. That kiss definitely didn’t go unseen.

  Glancing away from the blonde’s eyes, I lay back down on my lawn chair.

  “Ooh, hottie alert. Too bad he’s leaving.”

  Turning just slightly, I saw Adele’s redheaded friend was the one who spoke. The girl’s bikini was smaller than mine, and I couldn’t understand why a mother would let her child go out like that. We lived in different worlds I guessed.

  “Who are you talking about, Abby?” Adele rose up.

  Wondering who myself, I followed their stare. Drake was the only guy out of the pool in that direction, and he was headed out the door.

  Snickering, I turned my head back. Hottie indeed.

  “Ugh! Are you talking about my brother?” Adele asked, face mortified.

  Fighting a chuckle, I closed my eyes under the rays.

  “That’s your brother?” Abby asked.

  Not liking the girl’s tone, I gazed her way. All of the girls sat up now. Each one had shock written across their faces.

  “But he’s Asian,” Abby continued.

  Clenching my teeth, I fought hard not to give the girl my death stare. What the hell did it matter that her brother was Asian?

  “My parents adopted him from Korea,” Adele said in a quiet voice.

  Why was she being so timid all the sudden? Where was the girl’s snip when she actually needed it? If someone said that about my family, I’d have been hitting them where it hurt with my words.

  “Oh. So he’s like . . . cultured or something. Hot.”

  The phrase “ignorance is bliss” definitely came to mind in that moment.

  “He was adopted as a baby,” Adele said.

  “Oh, okay. Well, whatever, will he be at the party?”

  “Probably not. He usually stays out pretty late on the weekends.”

  “Oh.”

  Adele’s friends just kind of stared at each other after Abby’s comment.

  Adele’s friend with the short, blonde hair leaned in. “You should ask him if he can stop by. We’d love to meet him.”

  “Yeah, that’s a great idea, Claire,” Abby chimed back in.

  “I guess I can, but I don’t see why him being there should matter. He’s pretty boring.”

  “Doesn’t look boring.” Claire smacked her glossy lips in the direction of Drake’s departure.

  She wishes.

  “I don’t want to bother him tonight, girls. Besides, he’d sour the party. I got my mom to rent us some movies, and my nan—” Adele bit her lip. “My maid is cooking for us.”

  I was apparently the maid now. I guess I’d play along. I knew how important it was to fit in at that age and maid definitely sounded cooler than nanny.

  Abby perked up. “Ooh, what kind of stuff?”

  Adele laundry listed the “snacks” I was supposed to prepare. Just as I suspected her friends looked less than enthused as she was about them. I knew those weren’t foods teenaged girls liked.

  “Actually,” Abby said, grabbing her phone, “I think we should move the party to my house. My dad just got this killer sound system put into our home theater. I haven’t tried it out yet, but I bet it’s sweet.”

  Adele’s expression dropped. “Our system is pretty good.”

  Abby put her hands on her hips. “Do you have a home theater?”

  “No.” Adele rubbed her arm restlessly.

  Abby nodded and typed into her phone. “I’ll tell my mom we’re coming.”

  “But if we move the party to your house, I can’t go. My parents are out, and I won’t be able to ask them for permission,” Adele said.

  Abby put her phone to ear. “There will be other parties, Adele.”

  “Wait.” Adele bent over, rustling in her swim bag. “If I get my brother to come can we still have it at my house?”

  Abby looked at Claire and the blonde sitting next to her. The blondes both shrugged, then Abby said, “I guess.”

  Without another word Adele stopped rummaging in her bag and came over to me. I glanced away quickly, so she wouldn’t know I eavesdropped.

  “Lacey, can I borrow your phone? I accidentally left mine at home, and I have to call Drake.”

  Not hesitating, I gave it to her.

  She quickly dialed and put the receiver to her ear.

  When he didn’t pick up, she bit her lip.

  �
�Come on. Come on. Pick up. Pick up.” She bounced on her legs restlessly.

  She ended the call and stepped away from my chair.

  I grabbed her arm. “Wait. Where are you going?”

  She moved away from my hand. “I’m going to see if I can catch him.” She turned to leave again.

  “Adele, he is long gone by now.”

  “You don’t know that, and I didn’t ask you.”

  I sighed. “I know you didn’t, but either way I don’t think you should bother him. I overheard what you girls were talking about, and I don’t think your friends have your best interest at heart—”

  “You were listening to us.” Her eyes blazed.

  “Yes and I’m glad I did. I know how important it is to fit in, but you don’t need to feel like you have to impress them.”

  She pointed at me. “I didn’t ask you, and stay the hell out of my business. I’m going to get Drake.”

  As she left, her friends all snickered in my direction.

  Lying back, I put my arm over my face in mental exhaustion.

  What am I going to do with that girl?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Drake

  I pulled my Jag into the urban neighborhood. A group of kids playing ball in the middle of the street scattered when they saw me. They eyed my car warily as I drove through, and after I cleared, continued doing so for a few moments before getting back into their game. I cursed under my breath for not driving something a little more discreet. My car stood out like a Pinto in a Mercedes dealership.

  Shaking my head at my own ignorance, I drove down to the house at the end of the block. This one stood out because there were happy children playing in the yard as they ran through water that sprayed out from a lawn sprinkler.

  I found that interesting since I’d never done that before. It looked like fun.

  When I got out of my car, Derrick was already heading down the green porch steps.

  With a grin, he grabbed my hand, pulled me into a hug, and slapped my back. “Driving the Jag into the hood I see. You know I’m taking this baby for a spin before you leave.”