“Friends can ogle friends that are beautiful and half-naked,” I grumble. “It’s in the friend handbook.”
She pokes her head out from the bathroom and looks down at my crotch. I’m wearing lightweight gray sweatpants and a tank top made of that special, quick-drying material. Then her gaze slowly travels up my torso until we’re staring at each other. “And here I’ve been avoiding ogling you for months. Silly me. I’ll do better.”
And with that, she closes the door.
What the hell just happened? Were we flirting? No. No, absolutely not. Friends don’t flirt. That’s crazy. We were just…teasing each other. Yes, that’s it. Teasing.
I leave the room before my urge to walk into the bathroom grows into an action. Ava is already playing in the pool with Bray and Gray. They have a blow-up beach ball that they are tossing to each other.
“Can we play mermaid princesses now?” Ava asks them as I pass them on my way to the kitchen, and Kasen, who is sitting at the island, typing away.
“Uh, I can’t swim that well, but you know who can?” Gray says to her as he backs toward the pool’s steps.
“Who?” she asks.
“Bray. He loves mermaids,” he says as he looks at Bray. Bray grimaces and discreetly flicks him off before sighing and turning to Ava.
“Fine, but I’m a merman and I’m like the king of merpeople,” he protests.
“Cool. Mom! King Merpurple needs a queen. Can you come play with us?” she asks.
I glance at Carly, who is helping Cam with breakfast. She’s biting her lip to keep herself from laughing. Cam’s whole body shakes with silent laughter.
“How about in a little bit? I’m helping Cam,” Carly manages.
“OK,” Ava whines. “But…” She trails off and swims to the edge of the pool, pulling a tiara out of her bag. “Merpurple’s crown won’t fit. His head is too big.”
Cam loses it. She falls on the floor, rolling around laughing. Carly kicks her hip, but Cam just keeps on laughing.
Even Margie, Al, Piper, and Cornelia, who sit at a small table in the living room, are fighting back laughter. Fletcher walks over from where he sits with them and hauls Cam to her feet.
“Hey, Cam, I think my head is too big, too. Do you think you can help me fit my crown?” he teases.
Kasen, who has been sitting silently, bursts out laughing. “Yeah, Piper, want to see if my crown fits?”
Piper groans. “You guys are such children.”
“No, they’re kings,” Ava corrects, oblivious to the adult conversation occurring around her adorable antics.
“Maybe I should get out some bubbles to blow later,” Cam says as she wraps her arms around Fletcher’s neck.
“For the love of God, go to your room or finish making breakfast,” Roxy protests as she walks into the room.
Fletcher hauls Cam up over his shoulder. “You got this, Carly?” he asks as he slaps Cam on the ass.
Carly sighs. “I suppose I can pull stuff out of the oven in fifteen minutes.”
“Don’t wait any longer,” Cam calls out as Fletcher walks them upstairs.
Carly looks at me. “Find the music now and turn it way up, OK? No one wants to hear what’s about to happen.”
“What’s happening?” Ava calls out.
“Cam’s really loud when she’s helping Fletcher with his crown,” Roxy says, and Carly glares at her while everyone laughs.
“Oh,” Ava says, totally confused. She shrugs and throws the ball at Bray’s head. “Got you!” she yells and tries to swim away.
“Oh, it’s on, peanut!” Bray yells as he lunges toward her, and she squeals in delight.
