“Oh, Katie, it's so cute when you let your Florida show,” Mitch said, and patted my head like I was a smallchild.
I playfully flicked him off, but he just laughed. “Stop being such an ass, Mitch. Seriously, how does thisevenwork?”
“Just for that,” he said sounding highly offended, “you have to carry all three of our tubes soaking wet. It’s over amilehike.”
“What?” Was he serious? I loved running and the outdoors, but hiking with a wet bathing suit was not my idea of agoodtime.
“Dude. You’re going to have to relax. Someone parks where we get out of the river and drives us back to our cars. It's so easy, even Gwen candoit.”
“Oh, shut up!” Gwen turned around in her seat and smacked Mitch in the arm but wassmiling.
“Oh, don't get your bathing suit in a wad,” he said and leaned back inhisseat.
I’m sure Mitch would have teased us more if we hadn’t just made it to where we were going. I’d only met him, or rather re-met him, a few weeks ago. But Mitch had one of those personalities that made you feel instantly comfortable. I could see why Gwen and he were such good friends, considering they both had that trait. He would pick on me like I hadn’t been gone the last few years. And I found myself loosening up and giving it right backtohim.
When we pulled up, there were so many cars I struggled to find a place to park. Everyone was taking off their cover-ups and shirts, leaving them in their cars. I decided to follow their lead and took off my own. Bikinis were everywhere. Groups of girls were taking pictures of each other with their phones, making ridiculous faces that were probably already postedonline.
I felt a little frumpy in my retro style one piece while everyone else showed so much. Even Gwen stripped down to a two piece. I had been afraid to wear something that could easily shift if the water was rough, thinking I might give people an unwanted peep show. I guess I’d beenoverthinkingit.
We sat around for a little while, waiting for everyone to arrive. A bunch of guys took the opportunity to show how manly they were. Pushups on the ground, chin ups on nearby trees. Flexing matches ensued. I looked over to Gwen to see what her reaction was to the display, only to notice she had gone off with Mitch. The two were talking next to a tree awayfromme.
I didn’t want to interrupt, so instead I looked back at the boys, the scene so funny I couldn’t contain my giggle. I covered my mouth, but it wastoolate.
“Did you just laugh at us?” One of the boys who had just been showing off walked over. He had a playful smile on his face, but I didn’t know how to respond. I stood there, wide eyed, shakingmyhead.
“Stop it, Josh!” A nearby girl yelled at him. She looked familiar and I thought I remembered her name being Addison. She had long blond hair and her skin was a deep tan that made it clear she spent a lot of time outdoors. “You guys are acting like Neanderthals out here. Of course, she laughed at you,youape!”
He winked at me and gave a little salute in my direction before chasing after her. She laughed and ran, but he caught up quickly. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. “Me, man. You, woman.” He grunted and paraded her around the group much to everyone's amusement. He grabbed a single inner tube from a giant pile in the clearing andstalkedoff.
I continued to watch them as they headed toward the creek, when I noticed a guy who had come to the diner a few times. He was usually with a bigger group of guys. Short blond hair stuck up in every direction. His blue eyes were unnaturally bright. He’d taken off his shirt and was standing near me in just his board shorts. They hung just a little too low on his hips and showed off his muscular form. I didn't even realize I was staring until I glanced back up at his face and saw the expression on it. He was grinning and gave meawink.
Crap. Hetotallysaw.
“Oh, my gosh. Can we please just act like nothing happened?” My face burned and I closed my eyes to avoid seeing hisreaction.
“What? And miss this opportunity to bask in the fact that a hot girl was admiring my godlike physique.Noway.”
Did he just call me ahotgirl?
“I’m Tyler.” He said, still with that ridiculous grin onhisface.
“Katie.”
“Yeah, I remember. I’ve seen you at the diner.” And for some reason it made me blush a little more. “But back to you checkingmeout.”
“I wasn’t checking you out.” I denied and shook my head to emphasize the fact I was absolutelynotadmiring him in hisbathingsuit.
“Really? You wanna playthatgame?”
“What game would that be?” I asked. He crossed his arms across his chest and continued to lookatme.
“Fine. I was checking you out.” I admitted. “But don't let it go to your head. You're a three out of ten, at best.” I said, knowing it wasalie.
“A three? I’m at least a four. Gimme some credit, Katie,” he begged, as he startedflexing.
“A three point five, maybe,” I countered. He was cute, definitely much better than a four. But still not nearly as good looking as Julian. The thought made me feel a twinge of guilt for flirting so openly with another guy, which was ridiculous. “I gotta go find my friend,” I said quickly and left tofindGwen.
“See you around, Katie,” he called out as Iwalkedaway.
