Jackie cut in, her voice quiet. “I didn’t sleep very well.”
I turned toward her. Her eyes found mine—intense, searching for something.
“Guess my mind was racing. Like always,” she added.
We held each other’s gaze a moment too long. She was the first to look away, turning toward the window as snow kept falling.
“Yeah, she never sleeps well,” Elliott said, missing the moment entirely. “Did you bring your melatonin, baby?”
Jackie let out a sigh. “I forgot it. Of course.” Then she added, more loudly, “Did everyone see this snow? It looks like we’re in the fucking North Pole.”
She was clearly trying to change the subject.
“It’s really coming down,” Jack replied, resting his arm casually along the back of Jackie’s stool. He wasn’t touching her, but it was close, intentionally so.
Elliott turned, his eyes flicking between them. There was no jealousy in his expression, just observation. Was Elliott even the jealous type? Was he open-minded, curious like Jack?
“Looks like we’re stuck here for a while, huh?” Elliott said, his grin easy, his eyes drifting from Jackie to Jack, then finally to me.
I met his gaze and shrugged, letting my lips curl into a slow smile.
“Guess we’ll just have to make the most of it.”
5
Jackie
Icouldn’t stop thinking about what I had seen the night before, and what I had felt. We all casually hung out throughout the day–watching a couple episodes of a new show, playing a card game, having lunch with easy conversation. But I couldn’t help but feel the stares from Hana and Jack, and the way each of their gazes swept over me and Elliott, like they were sizing us up, or waiting for something.
Were they swingers? I would know that, wouldn’t I? No, why would I? Is that why they invited us here? My mind raced as Hana got up and stretched, and I couldn’t help but glance over at Elliott; his eyes swept over her, but then he looked away quickly. Always so respectful. But it was a plain fact that Hana was gorgeous. If they were swingers, and if we did participate in something like that, would Elliott be into that? I trusted him completely. Is that what was needed in situations like this? And I trusted Hana too. I had no idea what the rules in this kind of situation were like.
“The snow stopped a little bit. Anyone up for the hot tub?” she asked, turning around toward all of us sitting on the couch.
My mouth went dry. Seeing Hana in her bikini again? I couldn’t stop staring at her last summer, and the summer before that, seeing her perfect body in a tiny bikini.
I glanced over at Elliott. He lifted his brows at me, as if he wanted to let me decide. I felt Jack’s gaze on me as well.
“Um, yeah. Yeah, that sounds nice,” I answered calmly, though my heart was racing wildly.
Hana gave me her crooked smile. “Cool. See you guys out there in a few?”
I nodded, watching her grab Jack’s hand and lead him down the hallway to their bedroom.
I bit my lip, trying to find the courage to let Elliott know what I was thinking, what my theory was.
“Baby,” I said, taking his hand just as he stood up, pulling him back down to me.
“Hmm?” he asked, a hint of a smile on his lips.
“I have to tell you something,” I said with shaky breath.
His eyes widened, and he shook his head slightly. “What’s wrong?”
I glanced over at the hallway to make sure Hana and Jack had disappeared into their room.
I sighed, turning my body toward his.
“Last night…while I was getting water…I-I, um,” I stammered, then finally spit it out. “I saw Hana and Jack having sex. Their door was cracked open. I heard a sound and I-I just looked in and saw them,” I admitted.
