He’s right in front of my chaise longue and he looks up at me, his eyes tracing my body. His liquid green eyes make my stomach drop, and I’m prayingthat no one notices him. I give him a quick smile but then lean back in the chair and stare up at the salmon-colored sky.
I turn my head to the side and watch Margot. She’s now flipped on her stomach, probably so she doesn’t have to see Brad and Abby together, leg-locked in the pool.
Another squeal escapes Abby and she swats at Brad, who’s tickling her. I forgot just how noisy, and grating, teenage girls’ voices can be.
Not to be outdone, Margot tugs on the bikini strap around her neck. She’s still on her stomach, her legs slightly parted, but she raises herself up on her elbows, and when she does, her top slithers down. I’m sitting perpendicular to her, and I can see the outline of her perfect breasts and the dark pink circle of her nipple, which is hard.
I see Brad notice, too, and watch as he immediately looks to Jamie as if to see if Jamie is watching Margot.
He is.
Brad’s face hardens. He watches Jamie for a second longer and then moves Abby off him. He climbs out of the pool and towels off, water dripping from his moppy hair. Abby clambers out after him, seemingly oblivious to what is happening.
And as if Margot can sense Brad behind her, she rolls over on her back. Her breasts are now fully exposed and she runs a hand nonchalantly through her hair, like being topless in front of everyone is the most natural thing in the world.
Jamie’s eyes are locked onto her, as are Tina’s and Brad’s. Abby puts her hand over her mouth when she notices Margot, and tilts Brad’s head away from the sight with her hands. From where she’s sitting, Callie’s milk-dud eyes betray nothing.
“C’mon, Jamie, we’re leaving,” Brad orders, and tugs on his faded jeans. “Abby’s gotta get home.”
Jamie breaks his gaze and pushes himself up out of the water.
“Bye, ladies,” Jamie says, slinging a towel around his neck and following Brad and Abby into the house.
—
JILL PASSES THEMon their way inside. She’s carrying a freshly made pitcher of margaritas, and her expression twists into confusion at the sight of them leaving.
“But you just got here,” she calls out before setting the drinks down and noticing Margot.
“Margoooot?” she huffs, the second half of Margot’s name rising up in a high-pitched reprimand. “What the hell?”
At this, Margot sits up. My eyes haven’t left her chest since she flopped on her back, and electricity courses through me at the sight of her half-naked.
“What?” Margot asks, annoyed.
Little, whiny sounds snake out of Jill, whose face is beet red with obvious anger. She can’t seem to form words, so instead, she fans her hands around her breasts. “This... this—”
“Oh, for god’s sake, don’t be such a prude,” Margot says, exhaling upward into her bangs.
“Seriously, what did you think you were doing?” Jill seethes.
“What do you mean? And I can promise you, your precious Brad’s seen a lot worse. I’m sure he’s privy to Mommy and Daddy’s sex games,” Margot says with a snort.
“I don’t prance around in front of him topless!” Jill shrieks.
“I wasn’t prancing! I was on my stomach the whole time until a few seconds ago when I turned over to take a drink.”
Jill falters, as if wavering between anger and something else. Regret, it looks like.
“But you know what?” Margot says, refastening her top around her neck. “I’m out!”
Margot rises from her chair, slides her feet into her black flip-flops, and pads to the back door. She yanks it open and slams it so hard behind her that the glass shudders.
“Way to go, Jill,” Callie says, pulling her sunglasses on and swiping her keys off a side table. “Shejusttold us she’s going through a lot and then you laythisshit on her.” Callie shakes her head.
Jill stammers around for a comeback and, instead, settles on an apology. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin our ladies’ day, I just, it was weird, it was... I guess I overreacted. Do you think I should follow her out?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Callie says, an air of disdain on her face.
