tristan
By the timewe get back to the beach house, we are sweaty and sandy. Even though it was flag football, a couple of us forgot. Mostly Peter. I can’t count how many times he tackled Pierce and Parker. I think it was brotherly fun, but I can never tell. A completely different side comes out when this family plays anything. It’s not just card games where they try to take each other out.
“Everyone needs to get cleaned up while I get dinner started.” Abigail announces before we walk inside.
“I’m not using this outside shower to get the sand off,” Piper says as she opens the door.
“Then you’re sweeping it all up afterward. You know sand tracks everywhere no matter what you do.”
“I’m okay with that. It’s too cold out here to be getting soaking wet.” She walks inside, leaving the door open.
I move toward the outside shower, and Paula places ahand on my arm. “We’ll help her clean up. She’s right about the cold.”
The chill of the evening hits the sweat on my skin and goosebumps form along my arm. “Okay, I can live with that.”
There are only two showers so it takes a while. Hopefully there’s enough hot water for all of us. Both Piper and Paula have long hair, and I know it will take a while for them to get it all out.
Everyone is in their respective areas. Some are waiting on a shower and some are cleaning up. I’m part of the latter. Paula tried to get me to join in the shower with her, but it felt inappropriate with her family here.
I pull the laundry bag I brought with me out of my duffel. Gathering up my dirty clothes is kind of a pain. Normally I would do this as I’m changing, but this weekend has been a whirlwind…both emotionally and physically. But I know the plan is to leave early in the morning, and I want to make sure all of my stuff is ready to go. The only thing I have going for me with this task is my stuff is in one central location.
Paula will have a more difficult time. She has stuff scattered around the room. A part of me wonders if her house is this chaotic, or if it’s only specific areas that aren’t seen by everyone. I’ve only seen her living room and kitchen. I made sure everything else was off limits because I didn’t want to go down that road before I knew her better. One-night stands are something I just don’t do. I’ve never judged anyone who prefers them. Hell, I didn’t say anything untoward to Paula that firstnight. I told her what I was okay with and asked if she was in or not. Luckily for me, she was in.
The door opens and the woman in question strides inside wearing nothing but a towel. Too bad I’m disgusting right now because I’d suggest some things.
“Are you trying to leave early?” She asks while taking the towel out of her hair and dropping it to the floor.
“Nope. I’m getting things ready for in the morning.” I place the laundry bag next to my duffel. “I don’t want to forget anything, or be rushed.”
She looks around the room at her things strewn about. “That’s a good idea, I should probably do the same.”
“Possibly.” I move toward her and begin sliding my arms around her before she slaps my hands away.
“I just finished getting all the sand off me. I’m not letting you put it all back.” She crosses her arms over her chest, defiant. Her being this way with me gives me hope she’ll have the same confidence when confronting her family. “Also, I didn’t tell anyone I was out of the shower, and they didn’t see me. If you want to jump in while there’s still hot water, now’s your chance.”
“Thanks.” I give her a quick kiss before grabbing my clothes off the bed. “I think this proves you like me more than you like your family.”
“Maybe a little.” She uncrosses her arms and pinches her fingers together to show just how much she likes me.
“Keep lying to yourself.” I slip out of the room before she has a chance to make a smartass comeback.
The water doesn’t take long to get warm when I turnit on. I drop my clothes on the counter before undressing and getting in the shower. My main focus is my hair. There’s no telling how much sand is trapped in it, and I want to get that clean first. It doesn’t take long since I have way less hair than the women in this family. I also don’t want to be the jerk that uses all the hot water.
Within ten minutes I’m out of the shower and drying off. Maybe the brothers will be happy I saved them some. It’ll definitely increase their good will toward me. Today was a milestone in my opinion. They acted as if I was a part of the family, and not an outsider. They’ve tried to include me each day I’ve been here, but today I felt welcomed. Even Pierce was nice to me. I thought he was still upset about me going off on him the other day. Hopefully he knows my heart is in the right place but now, I won’t do anything to upset Paula.
When I get back to the room, Paula is shoving things into her bag. “Do you need some help?”
She turns around and one of her braids hits her in the face. She slaps it away, and shakes her head. “I don’t think so. I think I got most of my stuff.”
I grab discarded shirt from the dresser. “Are you sure?”
“Damn it.” She grabs it from my hand and puts it in her bag. “Okay, so maybe I do need help.”
“Make sure you leave your pajamas and clothes for tomorrow out. Otherwise, you’ll have to dig them out later.”
“How are you so good at all this stuff? Any time I go on a trip I swear I leave half my stuff.”
I’m walking around the room, picking up whatever I find. “Traveling with a band can be chaotic at best. When we’re constantly on the move, I have to do what I can to keep organized. I figured that out after I lost a few things when I started working for them. Some of them were pricey items and it didn’t take long to learn my lesson.”
