She found me two seconds later and looked me up and down, wide-eyed. “How did it happen? Are you drunk?”
“Not at all. I knocked my glass into the water, and I lost my balance when I tried to grab it.”
“I don’t know.” She cocked an eyebrow at me. “You look sexy as hell; you should stay in that dress.”
“I’d prefer to not get a yeast infection from wet underwear, thank you,” I said wryly. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
“I don’t know how long we’re going to stay actually,” Meredith said. “Colton went hard right out of the gate, and he’salready pretty wasted. He’s in fun mode at the moment, but that’s just a few clicks away from ‘I’m a golden god’ status.”
Colton liked re-creating the scene fromAlmost Famousany time he was around alcohol and a pool, and he’d miraculously managed to live through all of them.
So far.
“You’re babysitting?” I asked.
“Yeah, but it’s okay. He’s been working hard and he needed to blow off some steam. This is his jam and these are his people.” Meredith leaned closer to me to whisper in my ear. “Speaking of people.Incoming.”
She jutted her chin across the patio and widened her eyes. It was Kai, strolling by solo.
“Oh, not now! I look shipwrecked,” I said, retreating farther into the shadows.
But it was too late. Somehow, his gaze was drawn to me, almost like he’d been seeking me out. He brightened, waved, and headed over.
“Want me to leave?” Meredith whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
“No, that would look weird; stay and talk to him.”
“Uncross your arms.” Meredith giggled. “Show off those nips!”
I glowered at her, then rearranged my face into a smile.
“Hey, what happened toyou?” Kai looked surprised but also not, given the way things were starting to ramp up all around us. “Someone push you in the pool?”
I laughed and hoped I sounded cute and not hysterical. “No, I fell off the dock.” I rolled my eyes at my ridiculousness.
“Maybe it’s time to stop doing shots and switch to sparkling water?” Kai joked.
I didn’t want him to think that I was already so sloppy at the beginning of a long night.
“No, I’m barely tipsy. It’s a long story, but I’m fine.”
Meredith furrowed her brow. “You know what? My ankle is actually starting to ache a little. I’m going to head over there and sit for a bit.” She pointed to an area where there were zero chairs. “Nice to see you again, though.”
Meredith was a lying liar, and I loved her for it. She waved and disappeared.
It hit me that Owen was probably waiting for me in the driveway. I needed to make something happen with Kainow.
“I’m going to run home and get out of this.” I plucked at my dress. “I’m coming right back, but why don’t we exchange numbers just in case, so we can set up a game?”
“Yeah, I agree. We definitely need to,” Kai said as he pulled his phone out of his back pocket. “Who do you normally play with?”
It hit me that not only was I was going to have to fake my way into the Chelsea Pickleball Academy as a member, but I also needed to manufacture a believable pickleball backstory, complete with court BFFs.
“Uh, this summer I’ve actually been spending time on some outdoor courts. Enjoying the weather, you know? And stretching my skill set by playing with different people that aren’t members.”
He snorted. “You’re a glutton for punishment. It’s been hot.”
“I play early; it’s not too bad.” I shrugged.
