“I’m not wearing your clothes.” Her nose doing that adorable scrunch.
“Aw but how will everyone know you’re my wife if you’re not wearing clothes that smell like me?” I pout.
“Wren.”
“Roo.”
“Be serious.”
“I’m deadly serious. I’ll start rubbing up against you like a cat to make sure my scent is on you every morning.”
Removing her arms from around my neck, she splashes at my face but ends up clinging to me again when I pretend to let go of her legs. “I am being serious. If you need anything, please tell me. I’m sorry I was really short with you last night and it was incredibly unfair of me. Sometimes I just get really overwhelmed and my brain urges me to push people away so I can breathe. I’m aware when I’m doing it, but I can’t stop myself from talking.” I admit with complete honesty, putting on my metaphoric big boy pants. We’re a breath away and if she’d let me, I could kiss her. “I’ve never felt like this with someone, I’m so scared of messing it up.” I whisper. The world around us feels like it's stilling, the lake gently laps at our bodies in silent praise. Our friends fall away and I’m just lost in each fleck of colour in her irises.
“I’m not someone you need to push away. Ok? If you want or need something, you have to tell me.”
Not even waiting a heartbeat, I nod. “Ok. I promise and I am really sorry.”
Sighing she leans her head against my shoulder. “I really wanted to be mad at you for longer.”
“I’m just so irresistible.” I smile into her wet hair, predicting another splash.
“No, you're an insane level clinger.”
“My dick’s an insane level–” I’m cut off by loud stomping down the dock, Lily practically blowing a gasket from her golden head. She’s screeching, causing Robin to let go of me in a panic, nearly slipping below the surface before I secure her legs to me again.
“Rob, get out of the lake this instant. Girls, all of you, we need to get ready and set up all the decorations for tonight.” Hands on both hips she blows loose curls out of her face. “I swear to god if you all don’t hurry up, I won’t do your makeup and you can’t borrow any of my clothes.”
Against Bran whines, the girls waste no time swimming back until they can wade out onto the damp sand. They’re laughing, but the stone cold glare she’s giving us for not moving quick enough confirms she’s against this being a thing. It’s barely been an hour since I saw them together in the woods and she’s barely calmed down.
“We’re throwing dinner in the lake house, Lil.” Phoenix grasps his sister by the waist, but she knocks him away with the side of her shoulder, clearly not in a playful mood. It must be a sibling thing, because he doesn’t even bat an eye at how hostile she’s being. “Here Robbie, take my towel.Youcan air dry.” He points a painted nail at me and holds out one of the large white towels with the hotel logo embossed on the corner.
“That's too much work, bringing it all down here. Why can’t we use the dining room?” She asks, a bratty demand to throw the party where she wants.
Taking this moment to carry Robin over to the dock, I shift her up my body and easily lift her by the thighs till she takes hold of Phin's hand to pull her the rest of the way up. A warm buzz flares in some part of my caveman brain because I love the way I can easily lift her, probably something I should keep to myself, for now. I know I’m on thin ice at this point and by some divine fate she’s giving me another chance.
Planting my palms on the flat wood, I heave my entire body out of the water and Merle helps me stand. Lily’s trying to get him on her side for dinner in the hotel, when a chill licks down my spine and I shiver.
The heavens open and rain starts to cascade from the skies, not in little drips but full pelts that strike our bodies. Everyone gasps and shrieks echo as we all grab our stuff, Bran hauling himself out of the lake and we all run towards the woodland path that will take us back to the house. Phin leaves with his sister and I must have spaced, because Merle is already disappearing into the trees. Throwing my t-shirt over my shoulder and grabbing my shoes in one hand, I wrap my arm around Robin who has cocooned herself in the giant towel.
“Wrap your legs around me.” I say, picking her up so she straddles my hip as I make a run for it and carry my little wife back to the hotel.
Imagine if she was really my wife?
Right?
Robin Ottalie Hastings has the cutest ring to it.
Chapter seventeen
Robin
DESPITEthe unusual tension between us, Lil let me borrow one of her dresses and didn’t make any passive comments.
I let my hair dry naturally into curls and tie it up. The dress is a burnt tone, silk, with a wrap that ties at the side of my waist, leaving a slit running up to mid thigh. Paired with thin golden heels, I feel like someone completely different, someone who can afford a variety of nice dresses in case they don’t want just four options. Unlike the girls, I don’t attend clubs or posh meals, so I’d only buy this type of attire for a wedding nowadays.
I’d voted for my hair to be down and a far more casual look, but Lil had insisted I wore my hair up and she added a golden shimmer to my cheekbones to make them stand out. Paired with my own jewellery, I felt ethereal.
Seeing as all the decorations outside had gotten wet before we were able to put them inside, we left the guys to cook and lay the table. Heading down together, my feet almost falter on the last step as I see both Detective Starling and Goldie, looking a little lost whilst the guys carry plates and bowls of food into the dining room. With their hands aimlessly in their pockets,Starling watches each of us descending the stairs and fixates on Lil’s very short, lacy dress. The black contrasts with her skin and light hair, making her look like a vixen sent by Hades.
