Kendall nods along. “Yeah, what she said.”
“Which girls? Do I need to call their mothers? Are they going to make it home okay?” I inject, trying not to let my mind wander to the dark place.
“They left when we did, Mom. They’re fine. Drinking a little and getting blitzed like the In Ring are two totally different things,” Kendall says. She’s told me about the In Ring—the cool kids who have claimed Bronze Bay as their own personal palace. They have parents and grandparents who grew up here. Their Bronze Bay roots are deep, allowing them to rule the high school and get away with almost anything. This is the first she’s mentioned them drinking like college kids, though.
“The In Ring drinks a ton?” I ask.
Juliet opens the fridge and pulls out a soda.
“Of course. I don’t think they own livers,” Kendall says, following her friend’s lead to grab a drink. They go to leave, but I have more questions.
“You’ll tell me when there’s drinking, right?”
Kendall flips her hair and straightens her tank top strap. “Of course. I’ll always tell you if there’s drinking.”
Juliet and Kendall leave the room after that, and I sigh, grateful to have them under my roof, safe, locked away for at least one night. Jenny and I polish off the bottle of wine and retreat to our rooms upstairs. I hear Kendall and Juliet talking as I pass by her door. Juliet says, “I think he really likes you.”
And then Kendall’s reply, “I’m meeting him again tomorrow night.”
My stomach sinks and my heart pounds in excitement for her, but also in fear. This is what I want. For her to form a healthy relationship with a boy. Hopefully he’s a good boy who will treat her right. I don’t want her to keep secrets from me, but I understand her need to be independent. I text Aidan a quick good night and pass out in a wine-induced haze.
NINE
Aidan
I surfaceand grab the pool wall, breathing heavily. I lost count of how many laps I did after three hundred. I never lose count. Thoughts of Magnolia crept in, and I couldn’t think straight, let alone keep track of my workout. I’m beginning to wonder if this is what it feels like to be obsessed. When I eat, I think about her lips. When I go for a run, I think about her body. When I’m listening to my boss drone on and on at informational meetings, I think about her wit and charm. When I’m shooting targets, I think inappropriate thoughts.
It’s all so confusing.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always thought about sex. Daydreams of nondescript, naked women bending in ways that aren’t humanly possible. This specific Magnolia shit, though? Never. Not even once. Not even after having a rocking night with a woman who pushed all of the right buttons. Nope, still a headless person, stored in the spank bank. I spit out a mouthful of chlorinated water. She drowns me.
Hauling myself out of the pool, I rip off my goggles and throw my hands above my head to recover quicker. The indoor pool is attached to our gym on base, and I can hear weight plates clanking through grunts and groans of exertion. It’s good to mix up my workout routine every once in a while to keep all of my muscles engaged. Mercer walks from the locker room, a towel slung over one shoulder. I grin when I see he’s wearing his American flag Speedo and a swimming cap that says “fuck boi.” We got it as a gag gift for him last Christmas, but he likes the combo more than he’ll ever admit.
“How’s the water?” Mercer asks.
I release my stretch and grab my towel off the rack and start drying off my shoulders. “Cool?”
“Cool? You’re a regular old Einstein, aren’t ya?” Mercer laughs as he positions his goggles on his eyes. They are holograms. One eye says “blow,” the other eye says “me.” Those weren’t a gift. He found those himself.
“I zoned out,” I admit, tying the towel around my waist. “The water is water. It’s always the same. They’re right, you know? Some chicks change everything. Even if you try your hardest to keep everything the same.” I lean against the rack and peer at my phone sitting on top of the ledge.
“Are you saying you don’t want change? If you didn’t want change, you’d just move the fuck on. You want it,” Mercer says, sitting on the edge of the pool, dangling his legs in the water.
I brush my hands through my hair, and water flies everywhere. “I don’t think I have a choice.”
“Seriously? You, Aidan Mixx, the elite killer, professional panty ripper, serial dater, don’t have a choice? Bullshit. All you have is choices.” Mercer shakes his head. His Southern accent gets deeper when he gets fired up about something, or when he talks about his home or family.
Leif appears from the same place Mercer did, grinning widely. As if he’s been summoned by implied commitment. “What are you guys doing the rest of the day?” Leif asks. It’s a loose schedule, and we already had our one mandatory meeting early this morning.
“I’m gonna get wet and then go make some lucky woman wet. A day full of wetness, brothers! Is there anything better?” Mercer yells, hopping into the pool with a screech. He starts stroking, heading toward the other end of the lap pool.
Leif shakes his head, but his smile drops when his gaze meets mine. “We still need to get together to talk. Want to grab lunch?” He nods his head to the doorway behind him. “Shower, then head to the diner?”
I nod. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” Leif is married and has a baby. If anyone is going to give me useful, practical advice, it’s going to be him. “How’s the family?” I ask, slapping him on the back to retreat to the shower.
He smiles wide, and a weird dreamy look changes his features when he replies. And I realize it might not be obsession that I feel for Magnolia, it might be what Leif feels for his wife. That is equal parts scary and thrilling.
After lunch with Leif and all of the truth bombs he dropped, I decided to go see Magnolia. It’s early afternoon, so Kendall is still in school, and Magnolia mentioned last night she was going to work at Magnolia’s Steals in the morning and then work on some pieces in her garage at home. I picked up iced coffee, and I’m approaching the garage when she comes flying out, her ponytail falling out. She’s wearing short shorts and a tank top. Iswallow hard. The need for her is greater than anything else. I’m still getting used to it.
