Brody headed for the French doors. “I’m gonna go feel him out. This is so cool.”
The door slammed shut and we watched as Brody jogged to Jacob’s front door.
“Yeah,” I murmured, “cool.”
Kieran rolled her eyes. “Stop with the pity party. This guy likes you!”
“I know.” But the words sounded hollow.
Kieran drained the last of her iced tea. “I need to get home and finish my painting.” She set the glass in the sink. “Word of advice? Grow a backbone. Fight for this guy. You keep second guessing yourself and him…he’ll get away.”
The words stung, but I knew she was right.
***
“Monica?” Mom called out as she opened the French doors and stepped outside. “Are you out here?”
I looked up from my book and groaned. It would be one thing if it was just mom, but following close behind her was Mimi, Gilda, and Ingrid. And all four were dressed in their bathing suits. I’d expected to spend this Sunday evening alone or talking outside with Jacob since Brody had left to go back to Portland, and the sun had come out to shine an hour ago.
“We thought we’d stop by and take a dip,” Mimi said, shucking off her cover up…the whole time looking at Jacob’s door.
“Is that fine specimen around?” Ingrid asked. “I wouldn’t mind looking at him while I do my water aerobics.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m starting dinner in fifteen minutes. I don’t have enough food to feed everyone.”
It was a lame excuse, but I said it anyway.
“Don’t you worry,” Mom said, “we already thought of that. How about we have frozen pizza for dinner?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Frozen pizza? That’s not a dinner. That’s a frat party.”
“Sounds fun!” Mimi exclaimed.
“We need beer!” Ingrid cried.
Gilda dove off the side of the pool into the deep end. She emerged a few seconds later, pushing her wet hair back. “I wanted lasagna, but I was overruled.”
The slamming of a door had us all looking at Jacob’s cottage. “Did I hear the words pizza, beer, and lasagna?”
My mouth watered—and not for pizza—as he strode over in his low-slung swimming trunks, tight t-shirt, and a towel around his neck. “Is it okay if I join you ladies?”
Mimi waggled her eyebrows. “Please do.”
Tossing the towel down onto a lounge chair, he pulled the t-shirt over his head and dropped it next to the towel. If he noticed every pair of eyes on him, he didn’t let on.
I tried not to watch and be amused as all four of the women—my mother included—flirted outrageously with him. He laughed good-naturedly at their obvious antics. They played Marco Polo for half an hour, and it wasn’t until my stomach growled that I realized I should get something around for dinner. And since it looked like the girls weren’t going anywhere, I was going to need enough food to feed everyone.
“I’m going to run to the store to pick up some chicken,” I said. “It’s on sale this week, and it won’t take but thirty minutes to grill.”
“Sounds good, dear,” Mom said from inside the pool.
“I’ll go with you,” Jacob said.
I waved him off. “No need.”
He gave me a wolfish grin. “I want to.”
I sighed. “Be ready to go in five minutes.”
