"We're going swimming," he announced. "It's hot as fuck here, and you promised the pool was in good shape."
"About the only thing that is," I agreed, tossing the towel over my shoulder. "Let me put on a suit."
He scoffed at that. "We're in the country. Doesn't that mean skinny-dipping?"
"I think I've pushed my luck enough by kissing you. How about we don't destroy my thing with Luke before it even has a name?" And I turned for the stairs. "You need trunks!"
"Means you like this guy," he called after me.
"I think you do too," I yelled back.
He mumbled something, but I couldn't hear it. That didn't mean I'd let him get away with that. It only took a few seconds to pull on a pastel bathing suit, but when I stepped into the hall, I realized Cy was in his room, and he hadn't bothered to close the door all the way. Through the gap, I could see him stepping into his board shorts. His thighs were just as muscular as I remembered, but I turned away before I could see more than that.
I would not think of Cyan like that. Or Ashton. I had Luke. I'd spent too long wanting Luke, and I was going to enjoy this until it flared out in a blaze of glory. Ideally, Cy and Ash would figure their shit out and fall in love again, but that wouldn't be perfect either. It would mean Cy going to New York, and I'd have to find another shrink. Or Ash would fly down for the weekends, which would be better, but I wasn't sure how long Cy could take that.
I'd just reached the bottom of the stairs when Cy hit the top. "Hold up," he said, jogging down to catch up with me. "You ok?"
I poked him in the ribs. "I think you're crushing on my man."
"Maybe a little," he admitted. "Fuck, why didn't you tell me he has green eyes? I about made a fool of myself staring longingly into them over that mower thing."
"Swather," I corrected, having learned the names of a few things. "And I'm pretty sure I did. I mean, at least back when we were kids. Luke and his beautiful emerald eyes."
"They're more beryl, but sure." He draped his arm over my shoulder and turned me for the back door. "He wasn't upset about you kissing me, though. Shocked, but not pissed."
"Yeah, but is that going to turn into pissed tomorrow?" I asked. "Cy, I really like this guy."
He paused to slap his palm over his heart, then gave up and opened the door for me, following me onto the back porch. "I feel so used. You put the moves on me, then say I can't dream of more."
I just tossed my towel onto one of the chairs and kept walking. "I think you like it, Cy."
"Mm, about as much as I like your ass in that bikini," he agreed.
I just lifted my middle finger over my shoulder and kept walking. "Not sure if you're trying to say I should never wear this again or that you want to borrow it."
"I'm saying I like your ass, Violet." He sighed, clearly giving up, and tossed his towel beside mine, only to follow me in. "In case you forgot, I'm not a complete sausage fest."
"Just most of one," I reminded him.
"About seventy-thirty," he grumbled.
"Yeah, and leaning to the men." I pushed myself back a pace, far enough that I could tread water. "And I told Ashton he should come visit."
"I figure that fun will happen this weekend. You gonna disappear with Luke?" He dove under the water to make his way closer, only to surface right in front of me and keep going. "I'd offer to take Ash to a hotel and scream it out there, but not sure he'd agree to that."
We were just far enough apart to not hit each other's arms as we treaded water. The light from the pool made it easy to see his face, but that didn't mean I could read it. Cy was too good at hiding his feelings when he wanted to, and right now, he was giving me nothing.
"You going to try to make up?" I asked.
He laughed once. "You just ignored my question."
I rolled my eyes. "Unlike you, I know this isn't going to be a single fight. It'll be a screaming match, walking out, a flair of drama, then another screaming match. I figure if you two don't break anything, then I'm winning. And if you can at least figure out how to be friends again?"
"Or more," he said softly. "I know. I'm on the rebound, and the chances of me having a successful relationship before I sort my own shit out is not good. I can even tell you why I can't get over Ash. But it doesn't matter. He's the one that got away, and I'm not too proud to admit that." Then he tipped his head toward me. "And Luke is yours."
"Yeah, " I breathed, pushing back so I could reach the wall. The water was just a bit too deep to stand here.
Cy caught my waist and pushed his feet down, proving he didn't have that problem. "Stop running away, Violet. You do that when I'm pushing at something you're not ready to deal with. Tell me to back off if you want, or drop the truth on me. Pretty sure I can take it. I also don't care if you hang on me, because I'm not about to let you drown."
