Old Enough to Love... (Just One of the Guys) (25 page)

“Oh, well, then you’re welcome.”

“Ali, how far have you and Ryan gone?”  I removed Zach’s T-shirt only long enough to tie my suit around my neck, then slid it back on. It was his USC shirt, one of his favorites, and I knew right then and there, I wouldn’t give it back.

“Well. Are you wanting details?” There was an embarrassed look to her face.

I shrugged. “Just wondering, I guess.” They had dated about two months and Zach and I were going on five.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to talk about,” she stalled.
“I guess if you compare it to baseball…you know the whole first base, second base thing?” 

I nodded uncomfortably because Zach and I were hanging out on first with thoughts of stealing second but not really budging. I wanted to budge.

“We haven’t made it home.” She said under her breath.

I analyzed her face. Was she saying they’d made it to third? My body shuddered at the thought. “So third then?” I inquired nosily.

“Pretty much.”

OK…she was holding out. “You
have
gone all the way!” I exclaimed.

She shook her head denying the accusation. “No, we haven’t. I swear.” Her soft words led me to believe she was telling the truth. “But.” She bit her cheek.

I raised my brows…waiting…anticipating…jealous…

“He like—did the oral thing…kind of…down there.” She closed her eyes obviously trying to hide her awkwardness.

I smacked her shoulder. “Oh My God! When?” I was so freaking jealous. Zach touched me down there once through my underwear for like ten seconds before I freaked out. I was never going to freak out again.

“Last night,” she giggled. “Don’t say anything.”

“Please, you know me better than that. What was it like?” Curiosity was worse than the jealousy—maybe. My insides flipped thinking about it.

“Well…it was soft and Ryan…he…”

OOHH. She mentioned my brother’s name. “OK. Stop. TMI. Let’s go.”

She giggled as we left the room.

Zach and Ryan were already submerged in the hot tub. Two seniors…two freshmen…the other girls were peeved and moved inside almost immediately to help Estelle’s mom cook dinner. I-5 had been closed between Ashland and Shasta so we were staying one more night. Mom and dad weren’t necessarily upset, but they weren’t thrilled. When I spoke with them, they had asked to speak with Ms.
Downard and she assured them she was here and adequately supervising us. I’d slept in the same bed as Zach last night so I questioned her judgment as to adequate supervision. 

My parents had reason to trust us. Ryan and I had never given them reason not to, and I didn’t intend to start now.

I tried to hide my surprise when I spotted the beer in Zach’s hand—another good indicator of adequate supervision. I noticed earlier that everyone was drinking. Ali climbed in sitting next to Ryan. Physically, my self esteem had never been the best and getting virtually naked in front of Zach was harder than I imagined.

“Nice shirt,” he smiled referring to his USC shirt I wore.

“I’m keeping it,” I threatened.

“You think?”

“I know!”

I dropped the shirt and swung my legs around. The outside temperature was near freezing with snow on the ground and I was in a bikini. The water was hot and it took my breath away as I immersed myself. When I slid into the seat next to Zach, my chin nearly went under.
Crap!
  I was too little for the seat. Figures. Not big enough for the hot tub. When the older beautiful girls lounged in the water, they casually laughed and drank beer and I couldn’t manage to keep my head above water.

“Come here,
shorty.” Zach witnessed my personal struggle and intervened. I’m sure he didn’t want me to drown on his watch. He positioned me on his lap. Even better. I smiled. Maybe I should play the victim more often.

My legs rested between his and his leg hair tickled. He held me firmly around my waist and suddenly I was happy about the bikini—skin on skin contact.

Grant swaggered out the French doors with his newly plastered arm and a bottle of beer in the other hand.  My eyes narrowed as I shot daggers in his direction.

“You are NOT getting in here.” My words were angry.

He chuckled. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. The doctors said with my concussion—that
you
caused—I should take it easy.” He stepped in the water.

Zach readjusted his posture. “Don’t blame her for your inabilities.”

I offered Grant a smug smile after the remark.

“I will do no such thing.” He slid in and his foot touched mine.

“Don’t touch me!” I gritted through clenched teeth. Zach leaned forward and picked me up, pulling my knees in.

“Would you two stop? We’re trying to relax over here,” Ryan complained. “This is a hot tub not a boxing ring.” He took a long swig of his beer. Ali rested under his arm.

Zach found my ear furthest away from Grant. “Do you want to clue me in on what caused this tiff?” He whispered. The steam coming off the water was difficult to see through.

“It would ruin the evening.” My jaw was tight with anger. That didn’t make him happy and he chugged his beer. “Are you supposed to be drinking?” I spoke softly.

“It’s one beer and my PO is in Medford.” He winked.

My mind jumped immediately to our deal. “So, if we’re breaking rules?”

He laughed out loud and I dug my fingers into his side.

“Want to share with the group?” Grant inquired.

“NO!” Zach and I snapped in unison and smiled.

“Grant…go away…you’re like a third wheel…look around.” Naturally, at that moment, Claire made her appearance in a different bikini than before. I was certain there was less material to this one. I eyed Ali who inched closer to Ryan. Claire was the last chick Ryan had dated. God, the list was long and I hoped Ali stayed on it for a while. Claire floated into the water, her boobs three times the size of mine. I was glad I was down under.

Grant welcomed her with open arms and I thought I was going to puke. I nestled into Zach’s arms and kissed his chin hoping to instigate a kiss. He watched me intently but didn’t respond. My lips pressed against his and he kissed back emotionless. I moved closer to nibble his ear.

“Stop,” he said. As I studied his face, I could tell he was serious and his eyes were stern.

“Why?” my voice cracked as rejection settled over me and in front of Grant no less. I prayed he didn’t hear us. The bubbles blowing out of the jets were loud and that helped.

“Because you’re doing it for him. And I refuse to give him the satisfaction.” He wiped a trickle of sweat from my face.

“I’m sorry.” My inadequate words didn’t seem enough. I glared at Grant who seemed hell bent on destroying my night.

Grant and Claire were whispering and my eye roll didn’t go unnoticed because Grant looked at me and laughed.

I jabbed my finger in his direction. “You’re a jackass.”

“Look,
Runt
. Just because you’ve kissed two boys in one day—just like you did yesterday—doesn’t mean you need to get all worked up about it. Don’t make me out to be the bad guy.” His cocky grin was all it took.

I glanced at Zach and shook my head. “He’s lying.”

“Am I…lying? Choose your words wisely. We know how much dear sweet Em hates liars.” His tone was sarcastic and hurtful.

“
Meiers. You better back down.” Zach threatened, his body tensed under the water.

Ryan spoke up. “Come on Grant. Knock it off.”

“He totally tricked me.” My voice was loud. “Blood was oozing from his
brainless
head and I was feeling all guilty. Then he was like ‘oh Chloe, I’ve missed you and I need you to kiss me’…so I friggin did…like an idiot.”

Zach’s nostrils flared. His grip tightened on me. “It’s so sad that you had to resort to tricking her.”

Grant chuckled.

“Man, just stop. What are you doing?”  Ryan asked his best friend.

Grant shrugged his shoulders and kissed Claire’s cheek.

“And that’s not the worst part. Do you want to tell him about the hospital?”

He rubbed his forehead. “They’d just given me some drugs.” He laid his head back and rested it on the fiberglass pillow. “I was so out of it. What are you talking about?” he asked, and when everyone looked at me, he winked.               

I surprised myself when I actually snarled and a growl rose in my throat.

“Let’s go inside,” Claire said in a seductive tone and emerged from the water, her body steaming.

Grant ran his hand up the back of her skinny thigh stopping shy of her butt cheek. She oozed out a suggestive laugh and gracefully climbed over the side—Grant in hot pursuit.

I let out a sigh of relief. “My apologies for my behavior,” I said to all three of them. Ali smirked.

“What the hell happened between you two?” Ryan asked with a slight insinuation that maybe it wasn’t all Grant’s fault.

“He’s just an ass,” I responded and nestled closer to Zach.

His skin was cold above water and felt soothing to my hot face. I relaxed fully in his arms as his hand raked up and down my back.

Both boys drank another beer offering Ali and me small sips. The taste was repulsive just like before. I didn’t like the feeling, but the older girls were drinking, and, well…they weren’t legal either. After finishing his bottle, Ryan stood.

“We’re out of here. Ali’s a raisin,” he said holding up the hand he held.  She smiled and followed behind him.

“Goodnight, Em,” she said.

“Hey. We need to be on the road by eight. Dad’s order,” Ryan added handing Ali a towel.

I nodded. “I’ll be ready.” A sudden sadness hit me about saying goodbye to Zach.

“Don’t start thinking about it,” he whispered reading my mind. In response, I kissed him to stop the thoughts from coming. His mouth seemed as hot as the water and a groan escaped my lips. After a short minute he pulled away.

“Do me a favor?” he asked softly.

“Anything.”  I couldn’t think of a thing in this world that I wouldn’t do for him. He swung me around so my back was against his chest.

“Promise me, you’ll do it.”

“I promise. You have my word.”

“Lay your head back.”

I did and I felt his collarbone behind my head.

“Close your eyes.”

“They’re already closed.”

“Good, keep ‘em closed.”

I smiled. “I might fall asleep.”

“Then I’ll put you to bed.”

I giggled.

“Now…don’t move…just breathe and relax.”

I took a long, deep, premeditated breath and let it out slowly.

“Good,” he said. His mouth skimmed my ear as he spoke and his breath was warm. I felt his body slide forward forcing me to lay back. The water inched up the back of my neck. I was really starting to worry about falling asleep.

Then, he kissed the area right in front of my ear. My teeth bit down on my bottom lip as his tongue lightly touched my ear lobe. Both hands circled my waist, then skimmed down my outer thighs.
OH!

His hands slid easily through the hot water over the tops of my thighs. My breathing was uneven and I gasped as he grazed my bikini bottoms. I jolted forward instantly bringing my legs down off his.
              “Ah! Ah! Sit baaack.” His arms wrapped my waist tugging my body back.  “Put your legs back where they were.”

“Zach. What…”

“You promised.” He reminded me in a gentle tone.

But I was thinking more along the lines of ‘promise me you won’t get depressed tomorrow’ ‘promise me you’ll marry me.’ This hadn’t even crossed my mind. I reluctantly put my legs back on his.

“Now. Close your eyes.”

I swallowed hard. My lungs tried to keep up. “Closed.” My heart raced at an uncontrollable speed.

“Relax.”

“Trying! What if someone sees us?”

He was by my ear again. “It’s dark out here and no one is looking. If they do, they’re going to see the back of my head.”

I took a slow breath. His hands were there again. First my stomach, then my thighs…a nibble on the ear…I rolled my head over and leaned back for a kiss, but he only pecked my lips then turned away.

“You’re supposed to be relaxing, not thinking about me.” It seemed like an order.

He rubbed across my suit and my stomach trembled. “I can’t…” I moaned.

“You can. Please…just…calm…down. I won’t hurt you.” He caressed my stomach, up both arms, over my throat. My breathing stabilized for the moment. Why was this so hard for me? I didn’t understand my body. It craved his hands…his touch… but my mind told me no.

He kissed my collarbone and I felt an overwhelming need to reciprocate so I moved my hands up his legs.

“No,” he whispered. “You’re being difficult. Please follow directions.”

I smiled though I was sure he couldn’t see and kept my arms still.