It’s dusk when I arrive at the swimming hole.
As I pull into the parking lot, my heart leaps when I spot Luke’s orange Camaro.
My top is down, so I can hear splashing, giggling. Everyone is already here.
My flip-flops smack against the ground; I’m walking so fast down the hill, I feel like I could trip, but I’m anxious to see him. So anxious, my insides feel like they’re gonna burst into flames.
“Ready, set, goooo!” I hear Tommy yell up at Blair, who’s standing on top of the boathouse, getting ready to dive.
Sigh.
She’s topless, and as she raises her arms above her, glancing down at the dock to make sure everyone is watching, I see the profile of her perfect tit.
Then I see Luke grinning, treading water right near where she’ll land.
My stomach balls into knots. I feel like I’m gonna be sick.
Everyone, it seems—including Jane—is skinny-dipping.
Fuck it. Luke and I have a connection, and I’m going for it.
As Blair flies through the air, plunges into the river, I mount the dock.
All eyes land on me, but I just stick my hip out, paste a fuck-you look on my face.
I may not be naked, but I wore my skimpiest Daisy Dukes and my red string bikini. Revealing enough to be hot but withjust enough fabric to cover my scar.
Dustin’s not here for some reason; I am so fucking glad he’s not. We haven’t talked since I shot him the finger at the Circles the other night.
When Luke catches sight of me, his eyes land on mine, and he flicks his chin up, smiles. Waves at me with his dry hand, which is holding one of his clove cigarettes. “Yo!”
“Yo!” I say back, trying to sound cool, but my voice comes out shaky.
I plop down on the deck, screw open the bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 I brought with me, take a huge gulp.
Jane’s back is to me, and she’s holding on to the dock with her arms, head tilted, like she’s high. Her chest is underwater, but I can tell she doesn’t have a top on either. Whatever.
Her creepy sister is sitting on the shoreline, under a bigCypress tree, dressed in one of her hideous prairie dresses, scowling. Why the hell is she even here if she’s not in a swimsuit? Doesn’t seem like she parties. I guess anything’s better than sitting at the fucking farm all day.
“Got a sip for me?” Luke’s voice lands in my ears. My whole body heats up.
I scoot to the edge of the dock, dangle my feet in the water. Undo the top button on my shorts, zip them down. “If you think you can handle it.” I wink at him.
He winks back.
I want to jump in, wrap my whole body around his, and never let go.
But I gotta play it cool.
Even though the sun is starting to set, turning the sky a blazing red orange, it’s still smoking hot out here, the heat roasting me.
He takes three long glugs, shakes his head as if he’s just tasted nasty medicine.
“Jesus, Nellie, that stuff’ll put hair on your tits.” His grin grows even wider.
“Gross,” I say, but smile back at him.
As if she can’t stand me getting attention from Luke for even one second, Blair swims over, splashes him.
