Twelve Years

by S. L. Adams

  “Um. Sure.” Gretchen tucks her tongue in her cheek.

  “Great! Oh my God. He’s so cute.”

  Chapter 3

  Alex

  The treadmill pounds under my feet as I break into a run. There’s not really any good running trails around the lodge. Uneven paths, holes and tree roots make it too risky. Not to mention that damn mountain air. But I have to work out. I’m heading into my final year at The University of Michigan. If I want to make the pros, I’ve gotta have a great year. Football players need to stay in shape. It’s not an option.

  I’m in my cool down when Blake hops on the machine next to me. I pull out my earphones and run the back of my hand across my sweaty forehead. He’s grinning like the cat that ate the fucking canary.

  “Guess you got some mud for your turtle last night?”

  “Yeah. We had to sneak into an unoccupied room, but totally worth it.”

  “You’re so gonna get busted,” I say, shaking my head.

  “Nah. My Dad is away for a few days. His wife has no fucking clue what goes on around here. If it wasn’t for Bart, I could have snuck Gretchen into my bedroom and my darling step mommy wouldn’t even notice. Too wrapped up in herself.”

  “That little bugger doesn’t miss a thing, does he?”

  “No. He’s a giant pain in the ass.”

  “Which stepmother spawned him?”

  “Number two.”

  “And which one is your dad on now?” I laugh, jumping off the treadmill and heading to the weights.

  “Number four,” he groans, following me and perching on the edge of the bench next to the free weights. “At least she’s a little older than the last one.”

  “Oh yeah? How old is she?”

  “Twenty-eight,” he sighs. “Anyways, as much as I love talking about my father's wives, tell me what you thought of Shelby.”

  I shrug, not wanting Blake to know that I’m interested in her. Very fucking interested. Shelby is hot. Pretty face, a perfect set of full round tits, and legs that go on for miles. Sexy legs holding up a rockin hot body. But beyond the fact that she is totally fuckable, Shelby is smart. I spent thirty minutes talking to her while we went through the end of night closing chores. She has more intelligence than all the other female guards put together.

  “Gretchen said Shelby likes you. Thought you were hot.”

  “Oh yeah?” I ask with fake nonchalance as I do some arm weights. “What’d she say about me?”

  Blake laughs, pointing his finger at me. “You like her!”

  I try to keep a straight face, but my friend knows me too well. “She’s nice to talk to. She can actually carry on a conversation.”

  He rubs his hands together, grinning like a giddy teenage girl. “Okay. So what are we going to do about it?”

  “We are not going to do anything.”

  “You don’t want my help?”

  “Well, if you want to contribute, how about you get out your lifeguard schedule and make sure I always work with her? I can handle the rest.”

  “You got it, man.” He jumps up. “You are so gonna get laid.”

  I shake my head. “I’m interested in more than just sex with her.”

  Blake stares at me like I have two heads.

  “What? You don’t believe me?”

  “No. I believe you. I’m just surprised. You’ve never shown any interest in having a girlfriend before. I thought you were kind of a love em’ and leave em’ type of guy.”

  “I am. I’m not looking for anything serious. Just a summer fling. But with someone who brings something to the table other than a hot body.”

  “Ok. I won’t tell Gretchen that.”

  “You better not.”

  “My lips are sealed.”

  I mutter under my breath, resisting the urge to curse at a group of young teenage boys that keep dumping buckets of water on Shelby’s head. The only thing worse than working at the wave pool, is supervising the splash pad complex.

  “All right, cool it!” I yell, blowing my whistle before handing her a towel.

  “Thanks,” she says, wiping her face.

  “No problem.” I tilt my head, grinning as she tosses the towel in the bin. “You know why they keep doing that, don’t you?”

  “Cause they’re little brats.”

  “Well, yeah. But they're trying to get your shirt soaked,” I chuckle as my eyes travel down to her chest.

  She follows my gaze. Her wet tank top clings to her bathing suit, hard nipples protruding through the thin material. Her cheeks take on a deep shade of red. “Great. Little perverts in the making.”

  “Nah. Just normal boys.” I push a strand of wet hair out of her face, my finger grazing her cheek. “Can I walk you home tonight?”

  “Okay,” she says in a squeaky little voice, her deep chocolate eyes staring up at me with conflicting emotions. I sense a mixture of fear and desire emanating from her. I’ve worked with Shelby five nights in a row. There’s an unmistakable chemistry between us. I flirt, she flirts back. But she always has a guilty look on her face afterward. It’s strange.

  “Are you ready?” I ask as I put the rope across the stairs leading up to the splash tower.

  “Yep.” She glances around the empty water park. “I guess Gretchen already left.”

  As we stroll down the path, I take her hand, lacing my fingers with hers. Her skin is warm and soft. She gazes up at me, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my dick as it hardens and presses against my shorts. Jeez. I’m worse than a horny teenager.

  “Listen, Alex,” she says, pulling her hand free when we reach her cabin.

  I turn to face her, running my thumb up and down her jaw. Her beautiful brown eyes sparkle in the glow of the moonlight. “Do you want to go for a hike with me in the morning? We could pack a picnic. There’s a nice clearing by the stream.”

  “I can’t,” she says, lowering her eyes.

  “Why?” I tilt her chin up and search her eyes. “I like you, Shelby.”

  “I like you too, Alex.” A shy smile spreads across her gorgeous lips.

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  She chews on her lower lip, her eyes darting around nervously. “Penny has a huge crush on you,” she says with a reluctant sigh.

  “Um. Okay?” I scratch my temple. “Who’s Penny?”

  “My best friend. She works in the kitchen.”

  “I have no idea who she is.”

  “Blonde. Big girl. She always gives you cookies?” She stares at me expectantly, her eyebrows raised as if I should know who this girl is that she’s talking about.

  “Bubba Chunks?” I laugh, realization dawning on me.

  “Her name is Penny,” she says sternly.

  “I’m sorry. I just didn’t know her real name and some of the other guys nicknamed her that. I had no idea she was your friend.”

  “Yep. We grew up together. She’s a very sweet person.”

  I sigh and rub my chin with the back of my thumb. “She has a crush on me?”

  “Yep. And she saw you first. Therefore, you’re off limits.”

  “What?! That’s absurd. I like you, Shelby. I’m not going to ask Penny out, regardless of whether you’re in the picture or not.” Holy fuck. That chick must be delusional. There’s no way some fat girl is going to keep me from being with Shelby.

  “She would be devastated if she knew that.”

  “So, we won’t tell her then,” I whisper, leaning in close, my lips grazing the top of her ear.

  “I’m sorry, Alex. But I can’t do that to my friend.”

  “You’ll change your mind,” I say with confidence. “I'm irresistible.”

  She laughs. “See you later, Alex.”

  I chuckle to myself as I continue on to my own cabin. I've never backed down from a challenge before, and I don’t plan on starting now. There’s something about that girl that draws me to her like a moth to a flame.

  Shelby Richardson is everything I’ve been looking for in
a girl. She’s gorgeous, smart, funny. I could go on all night about the things I like about her. Somehow, I have to convince her to spend some time with me outside of work. I don’t give a shit about her fat friend. But Shelby obviously does. Which, ironically, just makes me want her more. Loyalty is an attractive quality.

  Chapter 4

  Shelby

  I let myself in the cabin. A flick of the light switch reveals that I’m alone. Gretchen must be off somewhere with Blake. I strip off my clothes and head for the shower, eager to remove the stink of chlorine from my hair and skin.

  As the hot water courses over my body, my thoughts turn to Alex. We work together every day. No other lifeguards have exclusive partnerships. Who asked Blake to alter the schedule? Was it Gretchen or Alex? It’s just a matter of time until someone takes notice and complains. I overheard some chatter about Alex in the locker room today. A couple of the girls were very open about their desire to sleep with him.

  I like Alex. A lot. He seems like a really nice guy. But that could just be an act to get me in bed. I’d like to get to know him better. He asked me out and I said no. Ugh. It isn't fair.

  Penny and I have been best friends since my first day of school. She is a year older, but our class was a senior/junior kindergarten. We hit it off, with her showing me the ropes of the classroom and the schoolyard. I sought refuge in her home whenever things got rough at my house. If I was hungry, or I needed clothes or toiletries, Penny’s family provided. I wouldn’t have survived my shitty childhood without her. The girlfriend code clearly states that you don’t go out with your friend’s crush. Penny saw Alex first. Even though she has literally no chance with him, he is off limits to me.

  Gretchen is sitting on her bed when I come out of the bathroom. “Did Alex walk you home?” she asks, looking up from her iPad.

  “Yes. How did you know that?”

  “Lucky guess,” she laughs.

  “Did you ask Blake to put us together every shift?” I ask with a pointed stare as I sit on the edge of my bed and reach for some body lotion.

  “Nope. It wasn’t me.”

  “Did Alex ask him to do that?”

  “I don’t know. Probably. I think he really likes you, Shelby.”

  “What about Penny?”

  “What about her?” she asks, rolling her eyes. “He’s not interested in her. Seriously. She needs a reality check.”

  “She’s been a great friend to me. I can’t do that to her.”

  “If she’s a great friend, she would bow out.”

  “She’s obsessed with him.”

  “If she wants to get a guy like Alex, she needs to take a long hard look at herself and get serious about her weight.”

  “I don’t want to hurt her.” I rub the lavender scented lotion into my legs. “But I really like Alex.”

  “If you like him, you should go for it. Penny will get over it.”

  “I wish you would change your mind about Alex,” Gretchen says, staring into the mirror as she wipes some lipstick from above her lip.

  “Penny would never speak to me again.” I zip up my jeans and pull on a hoodie.

  “She’d get over it. He really likes you, Shelby.”

  “How do you know that?” I cross my arms and glare at her. She means well, but the constant nagging is getting on my nerves.

  “Well, let’s see. He asked Blake to schedule you with him every shift. He told Blake he likes you. And he asked you out!”

  “So, what am I supposed to do? Pick a guy over my best friend?” I sigh and shake my head. “I’m not a douche bag.”

  “Do you like him, Shelby?”

  “I like him a lot,” I whisper, pulling my hoodie zipper up and down.

  “Then you need to go for it. Hide it from Penny if you have to. If it works out, then you can tell her later.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Please do. Now let’s go. The night isn’t getting any younger.”

  The lifeguards are having a bonfire get together tonight. Remington’s Reindeer Lodge is a great place to work, with encouragement of socialization among employees. Snacks and beverages will be provided. But no booze is allowed. A lot of the guards are under twenty-one. If we get caught consuming alcohol, we will be fired.

  When we arrive at the party Gretchen goes off with Blake, leaving me to fend for myself. I know most of the lifeguards from last summer. There aren't too many new faces. After chatting with a few people, I grab a soda and sit on a big rock. The orange and yellow flames from the bonfire climb high into the sky, a kaleidoscope of colour against the dark night, the heat warming up my cold cheeks. The intoxicating smell of musty smoke and pine needles fills the air.

  “Hey there, beautiful.” Alex approaches, wiggling his eyebrows before sitting next to me.

  “Hi, Alex. How are you?”

  “Better now that you’re here,” he says with a charming grin that brings out his gorgeous dimples.

  I laugh. “You’re a pretty forward guy, aren’t you?”

  “You betcha.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders. “So, have you thought anymore about you and me taking that hike?”

  I gaze into his panty dropping eyes. Alex is super sexy. And he really is a sweet guy. Why should I miss out on a possible relationship just because Penny saw him first and developed a delusional fantasy that he would actually go out with her? What if Alex is the one? I deserve the chance to find out.

  “Yes. I will go. But I don’t want Penny to know about it.”

  “A secret rendezvous,” he whispers. “I like that. My lips are sealed.” He moves in closer, his arm dropping from my shoulders to encircle my waist as his thigh rests against mine.

  “Have you ever worked somewhere before that lets you have parties and supplies the food?” I ask. “The Remington's are great people.”

  “No. I can’t say I have.” He takes a swig of his soda. “But I’m not surprised. Blake is a pretty cool guy, so it stands to reason that he came from a good family.”

  “He’s a good guy. I’m glad Gretchen found him.”

  “Where did they meet?”

  “Driving school.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep.” My voice hitches as his hand gently caresses my hip, sending tingles straight to my core.

  “Hey, guys,” Gretchen says, appearing from the trees with Blake right behind her. “What are you two up to?”

  “I finally wore her down,” Alex says, grinning slyly. “She’s agreed to go for a walk in the woods with me.”

  “Nice,” Gretchen croons. “You should go now. It’s much more fun in the dark!”

  “Gretchen!” I glare at her, my cheeks heating up. What is wrong with her?

  “C’mon, honey,” Blake says, leading her away. “Let’s leave these two alone.”

  “Get up for a sec,” Alex says, rising from the rock and tugging at my hand to pull me up.

  “Okay. Where are we going?”

  “Nowhere.” He sits back down on the flat stone, sliding his butt all the way to the back until he’s leaning against the trunk of the tree behind it. He bends his knees, patting the space between them. “Sit right here, baby doll.”

  My heart flutters as the term of endearment leaves his lips. Baby doll. I like it. A cute guy likes me enough to give me an affectionate nickname. How about that?

  I sit on the rock and push myself back until my body meets his firm chest. He wraps his arms around my waist, his warm breath in my ear as his stubble brushes against my cheek. A torrid flood of tingles rushes through my belly when I feel something hard pressing into the top of my butt crack.

  “There’s lots of stars tonight,” I say, my voice trembling as I try to shift my focus away from his erection.

  “Do you see that thing that looks like a tail?” he whispers.

  I lift my chin, leaning my head so far back that it comes to rest on Alex’s shoulder. “That thing that looks like a box with a tail?”

  He chuckles softly. “Yes. T
he box with the tail. That’s the Little Dipper. The star at the end of the tail is the North Star. It’s almost impossible to find it unless you’re far away from the city lights. And you need a really dark night, like tonight. Technically, it isn’t a constellation. It’s an asterism, which means a pattern of stars.”

  “How do you know all that?”

  “My grandfather was really into astronomy. He had this amazing telescope. One night I was sleeping over. I was maybe five or six. When it got dark, he took me out on the deck and let me look through it. I was fascinated. He taught me how to find all kinds of cool stuff in the sky. When he passed away, he left me the telescope. I even took a couple Astronomy classes for my electives.”

  “That’s a cool hobby.”

  “I enjoy it,” he says wistfully as he continues to gaze at the stars.

  I lift my head from his shoulder and straighten up a bit, mindful of the hard on still announcing itself in the small of my back. My eyes roam the crowd, catching a few curious stares. Shit. What if Penny hears that I was getting cozy with Alex? I pull out of his embrace, putting some distance between us.

  “Where are you going?” Alex asks.

  “People are staring at us.”

  “So?”

  “So, what if someone tells Penny?”

  “I don’t think the lifeguards hang out with the kitchen staff too often.” He smiles and reaches for my waist, pulling me back into his arms. “You worry too much.”

  Alex is probably right. I sink back into him. The feel of his muscular arms encircling me and the smell of his earthy cologne drive all thoughts of Penny right out of my mind.

  I toss a discarded pair of cargo shorts onto my bed, sighing heavily as I change my outfit for the third time. How ridiculous. I’m going for a hike in the woods, not on a date. Or is it a date? Oh my God. I am going on a date with Alex. Man, am I slow on the uptake.

  I finally settle on a dark purple tank top and jean shorts. Grabbing my thin grey hoodie, I glance at myself in the mirror. My shorts barely cover my thighs. Maybe I should change back into the cargo shorts. Or better yet, the capris that I had originally planned to wear. Yep. I’ve officially lost my mind. When did I become that girl? I never worried about my outfit when I went out with Andrew, my high school boyfriend. Of course, we never went anywhere special. He’d take me to McDonald’s or Sonic for dinner. Then we’d go hang out with our friends. Neither of us had a car, so we were pretty limited in our activities. Even if I had wanted to lose my virginity to him, it would have been difficult to find a place to do the deed.