| |
Blakely
––––––––
When I arrive at the pool, there’s at least five more people there than what Allison had originally told me were in attendance. I’m guessing either they arrived after we got off the phone, or she didn’t feel as though they were important enough to mention. Either way, I head straight in her direction, spotting her in the corner of the pool area as I approach. She’s laid back in a lounge chair with her big sunglasses pulled down over her face, even though it’s nearly eight o’clock and what’s left of the sun is hidden beneath a slew of clouds in the sky.
“There she is!” she announces excitedly when she sees me approach.
“Hey Blakely,” Hilary calls from her spot on top of a large inflatable flamingo that’s floating in the center of the pool.
“Hey.” I throw her a small wave before taking the seat next to Allie. Instead of lying back, I keep my legs over the side and my body turned toward my friend. “How’s it going?” I ask, reaching out to pat her bare leg.
“It’s going great.” She holds up her half empty glass. “He,” she points to one of the guys in the pool. “Hey, what’s your name again?”
“Briggs.” He laughs, clearly having answered this question more than once.
“Shit, right. Briggs makes the best drinks ever. You should totally have him make you one.”
“Let me taste.” I take the drink from her hand and throw back a big gulp. The sweet drink slides down my throat easily, but I don’t miss the massive vodka kick that hits me seconds later. “Whoa.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “That is strong.”
“I know. Isn’t it amazing?” She slides her sunglasses down onto her nose and sits up. “Hey Briggs.” She smiles, clearly proud of herself for getting his name right this time. “We need two more,” she tells him, pointing to her glass.
“Coming right up.” He nods, hopping out of the pool moments later. I watch as he pops open a cooler in the corner and pulls out three different bottles.
I’m determined to watch him make them to be sure he doesn’t slip anything into them, but movement by the gate catches my eye and I look to the left just in time to see Mary step into the pool area, Asher following close behind.
“Mary!” Allison holds her hands up and screams across the pool, either not noticing Asher or not caring enough to say anything.
Mary smiles and waves before closing the distance between us, Asher fast on her heels.
“I didn’t know you were going to be here,” she tells me, leaning down to give Allie a quick hug.
“I was worried about this one.” I hitch my finger in Allison’s direction, ignoring Asher’s gaze which I feel burning its way into my skin. “What are you two doing here?” I finally chance a look at Asher, my stomach bottoming out the instant I do.
He’s dressed in light blue board shorts, a fitted white shirt, and a backward baseball cap. I swear I feel the need to wipe around the edges of my mouth out of fear that I might be drooling. I blink once slowly and then a second time before I finally seem to find my bearings.
“I was helping Asher look at houses. We’d just finished up with the last one when Allie called. We stopped, changed, and headed straight over.”
“Yeah, he said you were helping him. How was it? Did you find anything good?” I turn my attention back to him, proud of how easily I handled the transition without giving away how much seeing them here together has thrown me. It’s one thing to think about them spending time together, it’s quite another to have it thrown right in my face.
I’m not necessarily saying anything is going on. I know Mary and I honestly can’t see her doing anything remotely close to what I’ve spent all day fearing she was doing. I’m too much in my head. So much so that I’m starting to question the intentions of one of my very best friends. Seems like Asher showing back up is affecting more than just one relationship in my life.
“It was really good. I don’t think I could have done it without Mary.” He grins in her direction and I swear fire bubbles in my chest. “She asked so many questions I didn’t even think to ask.”
“That’s awesome.” I force a smile, turning my attention to Briggs when he slides up next to Asher and extends me and Allison each a drink. “Thank you.” I smile cheekily up at him, noticing for the first time how good looking he is. Not Asher good looking, but his shoulder length blonde hair and wash board abs are certainly easy on the eyes.
“Anytime, darling.” He winks, turning back toward the pool.
“What are you guys drinking?” Mary sits down on the end of Allie’s chair and reaches for her glass.
“No idea, but whatever it is, it tastes good,” I say, taking a big gulp from my blue plastic cup.
“Give me that.” Asher snatches the drink out of my hand, forcing me to scoot over when he slides down next to me. Taking a tentative sip, he cringes.
“Good, isn’t it?” I ask Mary, ignoring Asher’s reaction.
“It is,” she agrees, licking her lips as she hands Allison back her cup.
“Good? It’s practically straight vodka,” Asher disagrees.
“Yeah, that’s how we like it.” Allison giggles, finishing off her original glass before taking a large drink of her new one. “Okay, who’s ready to swim?” She pushes her drink back at Mary and quickly stands. “B?”
“Maybe after this drink.”
“Fine. Mary?”
“In a minute. I want to talk to Blakely for a sec.”
“You guys suck.” She gives us both an evil glare before her gaze goes to Asher. “I suppose you have some bullshit excuse too?”
“Hell no. It’s hot out here. I’ll get in with you.” He smiles at her reaction, quickly climbing to his feet. He kicks his shoes off and slides them under my chair before pulling off his shirt. I don’t mean to look, but I can’t help myself. My eyes lock onto each inch of flesh as it’s exposed.
Asher has always had a nice body. But nice is not how I would describe it anymore. He used to be lean with a small amount of muscle definition, but now he’s sporting rock hard abs and a chest I seriously have to resist the urge to reach out and touch. And don’t even get me started on his shoulders and arms. I could tell through his clothing that he was broader and more defined than he used to be, but I was not expecting him to look like he just stepped out of a freaking GQ magazine.
When my eyes finally make it back to his face, he’s wearing a knowing smile. Heat creeps up my neck and spreads across my face. I quickly look away, knowing if I don’t I might spontaneously combust at any moment.
He chuckles softly before tossing his shirt in my direction. Because I’m not looking directly at him, I don’t have enough time to react before the thin material hits me in the face, engulfing me in his scent. I’m momentarily stunned, my senses so overwhelmed I can’t form one coherent thought.
I pull his shirt off my head and toss it down on the chair next to me, only then remembering Mary, whose gaze is locked on me.
“He’s such a punk,” I joke, feeling the need to say something.
“Yes, he is.” She smiles.
“You wanted to talk to me?” I remind her, obviously curious.
“Yeah. I just wanted to make sure you were okay with this.” Her gaze goes to Asher before making its way back to me.
“Okay with what?” Panic rises in my chest and for a moment I begin to imagine the worst.
“My being friends with Asher. I hope it’s not too weird for you.”
“Of course not.” I try to mask my relief by taking a drink.
“Okay, good. Because you know if you tell me to stay away from him I will. I just feel bad for him.”
“You’re allowed to be friends with anyone you want. Even Asher,” I tell her, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “But I have to ask...”
“We’re just friends,” she interjects, answering my question before I even ask it. “I would never go there. That’s like the number one rule of girl code.”
I let out a fast breath.
“Don’t get me wrong, Asher is obviously gorgeous and he’s also very charming. But, B, he’s so in love with you I swear he can’t see a woman standing a foot in front of him. When we were looking at houses today he kept asking what I thought you would think. Even with you getting married in a couple weeks, he still hasn’t given up.”
“He wanted to know what I would think?” I ask, surprised by this news.
“Every house.” She nods. “I know y’all are trying to be friends, and I think that’s great, but be careful, B. You two are walking on a very thin rope. That became very apparent to me today.”
“I told him I’d go to the beach with him on Sunday,” I admit.
“Are you sure that’s such a good idea?”
“No.” I let out a frustrated laugh. “But I also can’t stop myself either. I can’t help it. I want to be near him.”
“And Tyler?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, tears stinging the backs of my eyes. “When I’m with him it feels right. But when I’m not, I don’t know. I find myself questioning if it really feels right or if it just feels safe.”
“Sometimes safe is the right choice.”
“Or is it the easy way out?” I question, my gaze going back to Mary.
“Hard to say, I guess. Every situation is different.”
“What would you do?” I ask.
“I’m not going to answer that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can’t tell you what I’d do. I can tell you what I think I’d do, but I can’t have you basing life altering decisions on a hypothetical situation. I’m not in your position, B. I don’t have one man that loves me let alone two.”
“Mary...”
“It’s okay. I haven’t met the right guy and I’m okay with that. I’m only twenty-three. My Mr. Right will come along eventually. Besides, this isn’t about me. It’s about you. And you, my dear friend,” she reaches over and pats my arm, “you have one hell of a decision to make and I don’t envy you in the least.”
“My head says Tyler.”
“And your heart?”
“I’m not really sure what it’s saying.”
“Are you sure that’s it or do you just not want to hear what it’s saying?”
“Maybe a little bit of both,” I admit.
“You’ll figure it out eventually. Something will happen that will force you to see things more clearly and when you do, you’ll know.”
“I hope so.” I blow out a breath. “Because right now I feel so mixed up inside I’m not sure I know which way is up and which way is down.”
“Have you tried talking to Asher about this? Or even Tyler? Maybe that would help. Maybe if you’re honest with yourself and with them about how you’re feeling, maybe you can find some clarity.”
“I want to talk to Tyler. I’ve even tried. But every time I open my mouth the words won’t come out. I love him, Mary. And I’m terrified of pushing him away or losing him because I can’t get my shit together. And then Asher, I don’t want to hurt him either. I don’t want to tell him how I’m feeling because I don’t want to give him false hope. I can’t promise him a future that I’ve already promised to someone else.”
“So then what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.” I drop my face into my hands. “I just don’t know.”
