Vicious Circles (9 page)

Right around nine that evening, when the sky should have been dark, fireworks lit up night as everyone in the neighborhood tried to outdo everyone else.

Col in lit a fire in the fire pit and we al scooted our chairs in a circle to watch the show. I maneuvered my chair as close to Owen as possible.

Someone needed to keep an eye on him.

After the fireworks died down, our party continued. It seemed the more alcohol consumed, the more people wanted to talk. Especial y Lucas.

“Hey, bro,” Lucas said, his eyes twinkling in the fire light. “Grab that bottle of mescal. Let’s finish it off.” Col in’s eyes whipped around to me, brimming with horror. Smiling, I gave him a shrug. “Get it, Col in. Let’s see if I can drink the other Newton brother under the table.”

Col in’s face relaxed and his answering smile was grateful. But Tori was stil too close to him for my liking.

“Lucas, I swear if you drink that stuff and puke al over the apartment, you’re cleaning it up,” Irelyn threatened.

Lucas kissed her softly. “You know you’l take care of me, love.”

“Aren’t they sickening,” Owen whispered as he bent his head close to my ear. “She needs a good, hard lay by a real man.”

“So that doesn’t mean you, right?” I said as I pushed his head away from me.

He chuckled as he reached out to stroke my cheek. “Want to find out?” I batted his hand away. “Not particularly. I do have some standards.”

"That's al right," he said, his lips stretching into a creepy grin. "Maybe I'l take a shot at Morgan. Those shy, innocent types real y get my blood pumping."

Rol ing my eyes, I moved closer. "Morgan has too much class for the likes of you."

“Bailey,” Col in cal ed, stil ing my heart. “I don’t remember where you put the bottle.

Come help me find it.” I lifted a nonchalant shoulder at Owen as I got up to fol ow Col in into the house. As soon as we reached the kitchen, he spun and grabbed my shoulders.

“Stay away from him, Bailey,” he warned, his voice low and his eyes narrowed.

“He’s bad news.” Sure, he can dictate my love life while he has a girl hanging on his arm al day – a girl waiting for him to rejoin her.

Sighing, I twisted out of his hold and opened the cupboard above his head. Rol ing to my toes, I fumbled around until I found the bottle. I shook it in front of him, making the little worm dance, then opened it. I took a long swig and winced before handing it to him.

He eyed me curiously as a slow smile graced his face. My heart warmed and it wasn’t from the liquor. He took a drink and grimaced. “This shit is nasty.”

“Yes, it is,” I agreed. I grabbed his shirt, yanked him closer, pressed a hard kiss on his mouth, then took the bottle from his hand. He was frozen – stunned.

I pecked his lips again. “And I can take care of myself.” Turning on my heels, I bounded down the stairs, to the yard, and handed Lucas the bottle.

Chapter 7

I settled in the lifeguard chair, adjusted my sunglasses, and watched as the kids splashed each other with as much racket as they could muster.

It was mostly younger children with their parents in the mornings – the older kids didn’t show up until the afternoons and I was usual y done with my shift by then.

The Fourth of July party had been a total flop – in my humble opinion. No one else was brave enough to admit it. But it didn’t matter, real y. It was over and done with and time to focus on what to do next.

As I sat in my chair I did wonder what to do next – and not with parties or get-togethers. I wondered what to do about the Tori-Col in-Morgan love triangle.

I probably should have thrown myself into the equation but I didn’t think I real y factored in there. I didn’t stand a chance with him – not with Morgan crushing on him.

Another nagging little worry decided to join the rest of the mess in my head and that was Owen's remarks about Morgan. Was he al talk or did he actual y think he could get Morgan to go out with him - or any other nasty thing he had in mind? I didn't think it was possible as according to Irelyn, Morgan was in love with Col in.

But what if she got desperate? What if she decided to try to make Col in jealous?

I shuddered at the thought.

My first impulse was to talk to Spencer but he seemed to be drifting farther and farther away from me. It bugged me - hurt, too - because he said we’d always be friends. And he'd broken up with me before - it's not like it was the first time this had happened.

Maybe it just wasn’t possible for us to be friends. Maybe we were the type to either be on or off - nothing in between. Maybe he was real y into me and I'd tossed him aside like yesterday’s garbage.

Everything began spinning and twirling inside my head to the point where I wanted to climb down from my chair, sprint to the end of the diving board, scream ‘what the hel is going on?’ and jump.

Of course that was a terrible idea for not only would it not solve anything but it would most likely get me fired and possibly committed in the local mental institute.

With a yawn, I shifted in the chair, trying to get more comfortable. It would have been so easy to doze as my eyes were hidden by my sunglasses, but I was actual y serious about the responsibility of my job. What if a little kid fel in the deep end and no one noticed? I would not be the one to let something that horrible happen.

Ever.

As my short shift approached the end, someone came to visit me – nearly shocking the hel out of me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. “How’d you get in?”

“Morgan let me in,” Col in grinned as his eyes quickly grazed my bare legs.

Smugness raided my heart. “She was on her way out.”

“Oh,” I said, trying to think of something clever to say but my mind refused to help.

His presence was affecting everything. “I see.” His grin turned into a smirk as he glanced at his watch. “How much longer are you on duty?”

“About a half an hour,” I said as I turned my gaze from him to watch a little boy toddle near the edge of the pool. I started to get out of my chair to direct him to the kiddie section but his mother got to him first. I sat back down and raised a brow at Col in. “Don’t you have to work?”

“I went in this morning but the boss let me leave early,” he said mysteriously. “Hey, I have something for you. Do you mind if I hang out here and wait?” I lifted my glasses from my eyes to glare suspiciously at him. “What is it Col in? I swear if it’s mescal I’m going to tie weights to your body and throw you in this pool.” He laughed, his entire face lighting up. “No, I promise.” I nodded and jammed my glasses back on my face.

He slipped off his shoes and socks and sank to the edge of the pool, dipping his feet in the water. “So, if I fel in, you’d have to save me?” I snorted and held back my smile. “No. I’d let you sink and have the maintenance guy fish your dead body off the bottom.” His eyes grew as he gaped at me, mouth wide open. When my smile escaped, he relaxed and laughed.

“You’d rescue me,” he said with confidence. “You know you’re dying to do the mouth-to-mouth thing on me.” My heart froze along with my face as it was my turn to gawk. “And I thought Lucas was the arrogant one. What happened?” Col in kept his eyes on the water as he shrugged. “Maybe I’m tired of being the good twin.” My heart skipped a beat as I stared at the top of his head. “Col in?” He jumped to his feet, pul ed his shirt over his head, and winked at me. “Sure hope I don’t drown.” Bending his knees, he dove beautiful y into the pool. I watched as he swam the width and surfaced on the other side. Water flowed effortlessly down his chest as he pushed his wet hair back. My heart could hardly take it and nearly jumped in the pool after him.

He heaved his body on the edge on the opposite side of me and leaned back, propping his body with his arms. He winked at me and nearly finished my heart.

Why did Morgan have to love him?

My relief came only a few minutes late and I was final y able to climb off the chair.

Col in had stuck around, goofing off in the pool while he waited for me.

“Done?” he asked when I stood beside him. He’d been watching a couple middle school kids show off their newly found swimming skil s.

“Yes,” I said with a grin. “Want to go get drunk?” He removed my sunglasses as he edged closer. My heart thumped wildly.

“You look hot today, Bailey,” he whispered, indeed raising my body temperature. He touched my cheek, a smirk lurking in the corners of his mouth. “Very hot. Let’s cool you off.”

He pushed me into the pool before I had a chance to recover from his touch.

Shrieking, I cursed him when I surfaced but couldn’t find him anywhere until his head popped up closer to mine.

“You’re dead, Newton,” I threatened but it did no good – he just smiled.

“Come on, Bailey,” he said as he hands gripped my waist under the water. “Just having a little fun. It is hot, you know.” I wound my arms around his neck and pressed closer. A smug smile fil ed my lips when I caught his eyes darting down to check out my breasts that I had smashed into his chest. Yes, Col in Newton was indeed a boob man.

“I forgive you,” I whispered as I inched my face closer to his.

His pupils dilated as I grew nearer. I brushed my lips very lightly on the corner of his mouth and, grinning, I hoisted my body up and forced his head underwater, very effectively dunking him. I swam to the side and hopped out before he could exact revenge.

He climbed out after me and I cringed.

“We’re even,” I declared.

He approached me slowly and when he was close enough, he spit a stream of pool water in my face.

I held my hands in front of my face. “Col in, you’re an idiot.” He chuckled and grabbed my waist again, pul ing me gently to his chest. He gazed into my eyes briefly, sighed, and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

He released me and ran to fetch his shoes, socks and shirt.

“Now come on – I told you I have something for you.” I ducked into the pool house to grab us some towels that were technical y supposed to stay in the pool area. I wrapped one around my waist as Col in did the same before taking him back to the main building.

“What do you have for me that’s so important?” I asked.

“You’l love it – trust me,” he said.

As I unlocked the condo door, I paused. “Hang on. You have something for me and it’s in my condo? Wouldn’t it technical y be mine already?” Laughing, he ruffled my wet hair. “I told you, I ran into Morgan and she let me in. I brought the …thing…here before I came down to the pool.” I shrugged and pushed open the door. Instantly, a whine rent the air and I stepped back into Col in. He wrapped an arm around my waist and his laughter tickled my ear.

“Relax, it’s fine. Stay here.”

He slipped away from me and marched into the kitchen as I shut the front door.

“I know that’s an animal, Col in,” I cal ed after him.

The whine turned to excited squeals and I wondered if he had a pig in my kitchen.

“You’re right,” he said as he returned to the living room with a large box. “Sit,” he ordered.

I sank to the floor as he set the box down and produced two squirming brown and black furbal s. He placed them both in my lap and they immediately jumped at my face, their little tongues licking my skin. My heart swel ed as I wrapped them in my arms.

“They are …so…adorable,” I cooed. “Why are they here?” I stil ed as I eyed his smug face. “Oh, no, Col in. I can’t have two puppies.”

“Oh, I know,” he said as he scratched one of the puppies. “I’m taking one.”

“No, you’re taking two,” I said. The smal er one sat on my leg, his little black snout pointed up at me and his big brown eyes so expectant. “And that’s so not fair,” I said to the puppy. “Do not look at me like that.”

“That one is Otis,” Col in said as he lifted the lighter colored one out of my lap. “This is Milo.”

“Milo and Otis?” I asked as I tickled Otis’s ear. “Original. Watch children's movies much?” His cheeks pinked. “It was a good movie. And I thought the names fit them.”

“Where did you get them?” I asked as I scratched Otis’s chin. He eagerly stretched his neck out so I had better access and promptly fel off my leg. I giggled and picked him up, holding him in front of my face. He licked my nose and I was in love.

“We found them out behind the shop,” he explained, referring to the auto body repair shop where he worked. “There were three but one of the other guys took one. My boss was going to cal Animal Control but I told him I’d take them.”

“And you immediately thought of me?” I asked, lifting a brow at him. I cuddled Otis to my chest and he didn’t seem to mind the wet bathing suit. I kissed the top of his furry head.

“Yeah,” he said gently as his soft eyes found mine. “And look at you.”

“What about Irelyn and Lucas?” I suggested, ignoring the frantic pounding of my pulse.

“They can’t have dogs in their building,” he said.

“Tori?” I asked weakly, although I knew I wasn’t giving the little guy up anytime soon.

“She’s more of a cat person,” he said sourly.

“Yuck,” I said. “Fine, I’l keep him.”

Col in kissed my cheek as he scooped the other pup up in his arm. “Let’s take them out to do their business then we’l go shop and buy them al the puppy stuff they need.”

My heart tremored as I nodded at him and carried my new baby outside.

***

I made Col in wait as I showered quickly and changed. When we were ready to go, he placed both puppies back in the box and locked them in the kitchen. They jumped on the sides, whining and yelping and I nearly caved. “They’l be fine, Bailey,” Col in said, amused.

“Are you sure?”

Grabbing me by the arm, he dragged me out the door. “Yes. Let’s go.” We piled into his SUV and I pul ed my cel phone out of my pocket. I cal ed Daddy and told him what we needed – hinting that I should set Col in up with the same kind of account that I had at al the stores. He agreed, natural y – anything I wanted.

“Oh, pumpkin,” Daddy said before I ended the cal . “I’m planning a little party for Steffi this weekend – for her birthday.”

“Kind of waiting until the last minute, huh?” I laughed.