I can’t be patient any longer.
It’s driving me nuts.
I hear Sophia’s voice, and my attention shifts toward the entrance of the hot tub area. She’s leading Carolina by the hand, and my heart skips a beat. Xander was absolutely right.
That swimsuit is something else. The V-neck is super low, hugging her tits perfectly.
Fuck.
They wade into the water, moving to the opposite side of the pool where there are shower-like mounts designed for a back massage. I can’t help but watch them, observing their shared smiles and laughter.
I love to hear her laugh.
After a while, they come over to where I’m sitting. Carolina tries to walk past me in the water without even glancing in my direction. Frustration wells up inside me, and I decide I can’t take her ignoring me any longer. I reach out, grab her hips, and pull her into my lap.
The water’s deep enough to cover us up to our chests, and Sophia winks at me, making her way out of the pool.
“Can you ignore me while sitting in my lap, please? I’ve missed you,” I plead, resting my chin on her shoulder and wrapping my arms around her waist underwater.
“I’m not ignoring you,” she replies softly.
“Lies,” I accuse, placing a light kiss on her shoulder, and she turns to face me, bringing us nose to nose.
“What if this ends badly?” she whispers with uncertainty.
“What if it’s meant to be?” I counter, my fingers tracing circles on her forearm beneath the water.
“Someone, probably me, will fuck up, and then I’ll lose all of you,” she says, looking away from me.
I reach down to gently grip her thighs. “I’ll stay, even when it’s time to go. I promise.” She still looks sad, so I joke, “It’s okay to be obsessed with me. It’s a safe space. Ask Xander.”
She turns again to look at me, now with a smirk. “You’re so full of shit.”
I give her a peck on the nose. “You have freckles. Fuck, can you get any more adorable?”
“Fuck you,” she mutters.
“It’s okay,” I tease. “You keep pretending to be mean, and I’ll keep pretending not to be in love with you.”
“You are way out of line.” She scowls, but I spy a hint of amusement in her eyes before she turns away.
“Am I?” I smirk, leaning back and pulling her with me.
She rests against my chest, and we sit silently for a while. After a moment, she speaks softly, “I don’t know what to do, think, or feel.”
“Just don’t push me away, kitten,” I tell her.That’s the one thing I truly need from her. “We’ll figure the rest out as we go.”
“Promise,” she murmurs reassuringly, and I finally feel at ease for the first time in two days.
TWENTY
It’s Monday,and college is back from winter break, but I didn’t go. I’m almost positive I am not missing much.
The first day back is always kind of a waste of time.
Instead, I’m heading to the shelter. I need to talk to someone who isn’t involved in all this. Someone who’s on my side.
It’s too early for burgers, so I toss a bag of bagels to Howie, who’s lounging on his bed.
