by Paige Steele
“Who’s the flavor of the week?” she very sarcastically asks me.
“Haha, very funny, lady. Right now I’m enjoying the summer. Maybe I’ll find one at the party.”
We are at her back steps. I start to walk away as she jumps up on the first landing. She turns and yells over to me, “Thanks again, Coop.”
“He’s the stupid one and doesn’t know what he’s missing out on, Peanut.”
“Ugh, enough of the Peanut thing, okay?
“Not a chance,” I yell back and wave, as I walked up my back deck. I laugh, as I hear her grumble something loud enough for me to hear but not make it out.
Over the next few days, we all meet at my house to plan the pool party I want to have on Saturday. We’re going to do it later in the day, that way people can still swim, but then we can hang by the fire at night. First thing that’s on the to-do list is the invites. Ryan shoots out several text messages to friends, letting them know. Of course, the four new hotties we met at the race are invited and also several others from school. We’re friends with a lot of people there, some are pretty cool and some are just friends by way of what classes we have with them, but we still sent out a text to them, too.
“So, how many people do you think are really coming tonight?” Ansley’s worried about it getting out of hand. I assure her that I don’t care, and my parents won’t even be in town. Dad went to Miami for a business meeting, and Mom joined him to meet up with some other wives to discuss the fundraiser they are all organizing.
“No worries, Ans. I promise, I got it all under control.”
“Yeah, Peanut don’t stress.” I see Ansley look over at Ryan and stick her tongue out at him. He just smirks back at her and then sticks his out, too.
“You know Ryan, someday, I’m going to come up with the perfect nickname for you and see how you like it.”
“Haha! Oh, I’m so worried, Peanut.” He barely gets the sentence out of his mouth, when she runs and jumps on his back as he bends over to pick a Coke out of the cooler. He stands up like she isn’t even there. She’s so tiny compared to the both of us. He starts walking around with her hanging there.
“So what are you trying to do, Peanut?”
He loves to get her all riled up, just like I do.
Just then, Country Girl by Luke Bryan, comes on the radio. Ansley jumps off Ryan’s back and starts dancing around, singing the song as loudly as she can.
“I love this song. Don’t you guys?”
“I know why I do, what about you Ryan?” I know it is going to annoy her. I laugh at how easily we can piss her off. She hates it when we make references to girls being like toys; toys you like to play with, when they are shiny and new, then get rid of when you see another toy that you might have more fun playing with.
“Yeah…they can shake it for me, any time they want.”
“Dorks,” she shouts at both of us, as she continues to dance, while setting things out.
Ansley starts laughing back at us because she knows, deep down, that the girls want to be on our arms for the same reason. I don’t like to sound like a jackass, but let’s put it this way, there’s not a short supply of ladies for us to choose from. The list is long and we really don’t mind it at all. And if the girls do, they don’t show it.
We have been running around all day getting things we need for the night. Dad left money for anything I needed for the weekend, so we went to the grocery store and bought all that we had put on a list earlier in the day. It’s a good thing my parents always keep the fridge stocked with beer and wine coolers. People will be coming over between four and five, so we have about an hour and a half before they’ll arrive.
“Guys, I’m going to run home to shower and change. I’ll be back in about forty-five minutes.”
“You staying here tonight since your mom’s working an overnight shift?” I need to make sure she’s okay. It’s something I do and always will.
“I don’t know, we will see how the night goes. I’m not staying if you two idiots decide to invite guests to stay over, too. I’ll just head home…no biggie.”
Ryan looks at me, then over to Ansley. “You can stay no matter what. Coop’s got extra bedrooms.”
“Really? Like I want to see or hear you two.” She rolls her eyes and starts walking toward her house.
“Well, I’ll be quiet but there’s no guarantees our guests will be.”
“Shut up, Ryan,” she yells over her shoulder, as she walks up her back steps.
“What, I’m being serious,” Ryan yells back. I laugh at the both of them and Ryan chuckles, too.
We set up the grill and get the food out that we are going to start cooking. I run inside, take a shower and change. I throw on a pair of board shorts and a t-shirt. Ryan doesn’t go shower at home. He already has a bag he brought with extra clothes. You’d swear he doesn’t live just two doors down. He loves to make a statement with his clothes, so when he comes back after his shower in my house, he walks out wearing bright pink board shorts and a white tank with a pink FOX logo on the front of it. Ryan’s dad stops over to make sure we are going to behave tonight. He makes sure we know, even though they are going out to dinner, they will be home in two or three hours, and if we need anything, to call them. He really does have the best parents.
I’m sitting on the deck steps when Ansley starts walking back. What the hell is she wearing? A bikini top and a short skirt is a bit much, doesn’t she think? I mean yes, this is a pool party but really, she could have thrown a tank top on. I catch Ryan staring at me, out of the corner of my eye, while I evaluate Ansley’s outfit.
“Dude, she can wear what she wants.” Ryan’s eyebrows are raised.
“I didn’t say anything…did I?” I’m annoyed that he looks at me like that.
“You didn’t have to, it’s written all over your face. Quit trying to hover over her. She’s a big girl and can handle herself. Besides, we’re here if anything happens that she can’t take care of.”
“Yeah.”
“Soon this place will be swarming with hotties for us. Let’s make it a night to remember.”
I stand up, fist bump him and decide he’s right. But I’m still going to make sure she’s ok during the party. I know Ryan will be looking out for her also.
“Hey guys, what else needs to be done before the crowd comes?”
“Nothing, Peanut, relax…grab a drink and go sit by the pool.”
“You’re lucky I love you, Ryan.”
He walks over and hugs her. “Yeah, I know. We don’t have to tell Coop you love me more. We can keep that our little secret.”
“Nice shorts, by the way,” she says, laughing at him. She pinches his side and takes off running toward the lounge chair when he let go. I don’t know what I’d do without these two in my life.
Ansley
THE PARTY IS IN FULL SWING, and I can see both Cooper and Ryan are having a great time. There are a ton of people here. Honestly, I think more than what Coop even thought would come. Thank goodness they are all outside and not going in his house. There have to be twenty people in the pool and fifty out. It is crazy. I look over to see Coop smiling as he looks around. His party is a success.
I’m talking to a few friends from school when I turn to see Riley has come with a few others. Oh, this isn’t going to be good.
He has a couple bottles of liquor of some sort, and starts filling the cups of anyone who wants any. Cooper doesn’t care if someone drinks, as long as they stay or he knows they have a way to get home safely. He’s good about making sure of that and between himself and Ryan they keep track. They don’t drink when there are a bunch of people to babysit, but they both will, once the party settles down to just a few left.
I hear Riley yell over in my direction. I can’t make out all that he says, but I can certainly tell it isn’t nice. Then, I see Cooper’s face and I immediately know this probably won’t end nicely. I can see rage in his eyes. Once his eyes connect with Riley’s face, I can tell he
is going to connect his fist, next.
I run in his direction. “Don’t Coop, he isn’t worth it. Don’t ruin your party.”
“Nope, he can go and take the douchebags he brought with him, too…fucking asshole!”
I yell over to Ryan as I stand in front of Cooper, pushing against his chest so he won’t do anything stupid.
Walking over to us he says, “Let me take care of it, Cooper. I got this.”
Ryan is trying to be level headed, but I know if Riley says one thing stupid, he’ll throw punches and Riley will still be leaving with a broken nose. “No, I will go tell him to leave and take his friends with him. Please, let me have the pleasure of kicking him out.”
I don’t want the party to be ruined, so I calmly walk up to Riley and his friends. “Riley, could you please leave and take everyone that came with you?”
“What, baby girl, you don’t want me to stay? I thought now we could party together, so you wouldn’t be so mad when you saw the pictures.” He and his friends start laughing.
“Riley, just please leave. And who’s driving, because you’ve clearly been drinking?” He is being an ass, and I know things will end badly if he doesn’t leave soon.
“Don’t you worry your pretty little face about me, I’m always taken care of.”
He leans close to my face and touches his finger to my nose as he speaks to me. I lean back as he leans forward, and I think I’m going to fall backward. Just as I go to turn away from him, he grabs me by the waist.
“Let go!”
“Give me just one kiss and I will.”
“No, I’m not going to kiss you.”
He starts laughing and gets about an inch from my lips and says, “Kissing me was always the best part of our date, because let’s face it…it wasn’t going any further. You are such a little tease, not letting anyone in those panties of yours.”
I have had enough at this point. I bring my knee up square in his groin and make sure I connect. He doesn’t see it coming. He is always such a charmer at school. The rich kid that everyone wants to hang with. Well, he drops to his knees and screams, “Bitch!” on his way down.
Cooper and Ryan are by my side in a matter of seconds. Cooper speaks through gritted teeth, “Look, Jackass, you have about a minute to get off my property, before I throw you out myself. You can also take the trash you brought with you. Oh, and one more thing. If you ever call her that again, I’ll personally kick your ass and I can promise you…you won’t be smiling so pretty…as I can promise you, you will be missing a few teeth.” Riley staggers to his feet, still bent over as he walks away.
Shortly after Riley leaves, the party starts settling down with only a couple dozen guests left. Now, the three of us can have our first drink together. The boys have a beer and I grab a wine cooler. We toast to a great summer and the start of our senior year. Ryan now has his arm around a pretty blonde that doesn’t go to our school. He says she’s one of the girls they met at the track last weekend. While Cooper seems to be engrossed in a conversation with two of the other girls that came with her, I walk away and up to a group that’s talking near the pool. They talk about going in and I’m game for it. Backwoods by Justin Moore comes on over the speakers and I immediately start to sing with one of the girls as we walk back toward the house.
While I grab the towels off the porch table, I pass by the boys again. They are both pretty hot and heavy with the girls that they picked for the night. I notice as Coop slips his hand up the back of her shirt, and then slides it back down to the waistband of her shorts as he kisses her. Just then she moves and straddles him. Cooper’s hands are everywhere. Ryan’s laughing as his girl is whispering in his ear and licking his neck.
I take the hand of one of the other guys I noticed checking me out all night as I pass by him. He smiles and follows me back to the group next to the pool. I want to have fun, too. “Come swimming?” I ask, as I let go of his hand and shimmy out of my skirt. I’m wearing my favorite bikini: white with black FOX racing logos all over it, with a couple of hot pink ones scattered on it. Thanks to my best friends, I’m in love with everything racing. Just as I do, I catch Cooper looking my way. I immediately turn my attention to the group I’m now standing with, as the girls start taking off their shorts and tank tops to reveal their little bikinis, as well.
While we’re swimming in the pool and enjoying the warm night, I look over to see both Cooper and Ryan missing with their new friends. I just shake my head. Even though I knew it would happen, for some reason, tonight it bugs me. We all decide to get out of the pool and go sit by the fire to make s’mores. I put my skirt back on and grabbed a hot pink tee from my bag, it hangs over one shoulder. Everyone else was throwing clothes on, also. It’s getting late and soon everyone will be leaving. I know Ryan made sure everyone has a safe ride home because if not, he’ll call his dad over. He knows he’ll get into trouble, but he’ll take his chances verses having someone get into an accident.
I grab a couple drinks and sit in between two guys. After discussing our senior year for about twenty minutes and how it’s going to start really soon, out walk the guys, both smiling ear-to-ear and laughing. The girls aren’t with them, so I assume they snuck out the front door and left. It’s so disgusting. I won’t say a thing about it, I don’t want, nor need to know about their conquests. But they certainly can tell by the look on my face that I think it’s gross. I turn and start talking again to the group I’m hanging out with. I started to laugh out loud at something someone said, just as Cooper walks up, and his eyes immediately go to mine.
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough, Ansley?”
“Umm, no, I don’t, Dad. But thank you for asking.” I’m irritated with him. He treats me like I’m a child, yet he was fine with his ‘date’ drinking as much as her and her friends wanted to. Then, taking her inside to screw her brains out. But I can’t have a few drinks? Please.
“Really, Ansley?” He says it with a sharp tone to his voice.
I stand, not even looking in his direction and walk over to the table where the food is. I take the bowl of chips, also bending over to snag another wine cooler. Just as I come back up and turn, I bump into him.
“What the hell, Coop?”
“I could ask you the same thing. You never drink this much. What’s up?”
“Maybe I just had a bad night and I wanted let my hair down. Is that a crime?”
“No, I guess not. Just watch yourself. I don’t need to be picking you up off the ground later.” Taking a beer himself, he walks away.
His voice tells me that he’s pissed, but I don’t understand why. Why does he care how much I drink? Why does it bother him I’m drinking at all?
Going back over to the group, I go to sit back in my same spot. That’s when Ryan shouts at me and tells me to come sit over there. I ignore him and do just what I want. Hell, they just had some fun, so why can’t I? Just then, Eight Second Ride by Jake Owen comes over the speakers. Having just enough alcohol in my system to make me want to shake it, I turn and reach for the blond’s hand that is sitting next to me.
“Come dance with me?” I ask, trying to sound a little flirty with him.
“Sure thing.”
We go over behind the chairs and start grinding, just a bit. My back is to his front and his hands are on my hips; let’s just say, I can tell he’s enjoying the dance. I turn around and throw my arms over his shoulders. At this point, he’s just about to lean down to kiss me when Cooper comes over and tells the guy to remove his hands and to beat it. He stands there staring at us, and I can’t pull my eyes away from Cooper. What is wrong with him? I know him to be protective of me, but he’s taking it a bit far. I don’t have that much alcohol in my system, I still know right from wrong.
As the blond walks away, I push Coop’s shoulder, shouting. “What the hell, Coop?” Turning, I walk away from him as quickly as I can. He’s fast on my heels. Once we are far enough away from the group, he reaches out and turns me back around to f
ace him.
“He was getting a little too touchy feely for my liking. He knows you’ve been drinking!” He raises his voice back at me.
“Clearly, it’s okay for you and Ryan to bang anyone you want. But when I want to have a little fun, you pull us apart and tell him to beat it,” I lower my voice as I speak.
Ryan walks up just then. “Peanut, he was just looking out for ya. That guy had his hands all over you.”
“I don’t care…maybe I wanted him to. Did you ever think of that?”
“And I don’t care either, I will always make sure you are safe.”
“Enough, Coop…I’m going home to bed.”
“No, you are staying here with us.”
“Where would you expect me to sleep…in one of the beds you two were just screwing your new friends in?” I ask, putting quotes around the word friends.
“Well, I didn’t use a bed.” Ryan says chuckling. Cooper swats him in the gut and Ryan bends over, laughing still.
“Really, Ryan? This isn’t funny. I’m just going home.” As I start walking away, Cooper is right behind me, again.
“What are you doing?”
“Since you are being a pain in my ass, I’m going to make sure you get home okay.”
“It’s next door, Cooper…I think I can manage. Go back to your party.”
He catches up to me, walking side by side but nothing is said between us. I step up my back porch stairs and let myself in, shutting the door behind me. Cooper immediately opens the door and walks in. I just stare at him. I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but really, he needs to get over it.
“You can go now, I’m inside and I’m fine. My buzz is gone already. I’m just going to go upstairs to bed.” I try to walk away when he pulls me to his chest and hugs me.
“I just worry, that’s all. I need to know that no asshole ever tries anything that you aren’t ready for.”