I didn’t have many friends, real friends. It was bittersweet that in a few months I would go to college and I’d have to start from scratch all over again. In the meantime I enjoyed myself, swimming and fooling around with Kara.
We could be as loud as we wanted because the house to the right had been foreclosed and the one to the left was empty, the owners having left with our parents for their golf weekend. There was a protected forest behind. We had music going softly, life was good.
“Okay, guys!” Drake said as he walked around the pool with his drink. “New game. Battle of the Babes: whoever gets the other’s top off is the winner.”
Kara flopped excitedly in the water. “What do we win?”
“I don’t know, winner gets an extra shot of tequila. It’s not about the prize, it’s about the thrill of victory!”
“I’m game!”
The two of them turned toward me and I shook my head.
“I don’t know, it’s not my type of game.”
Sure, I played Spin the Bottle or Seven Minutes in Heaven but I wasn’t in the habit of getting naked in front of people, especially my brother.
Kara’s eyes narrowed and she gazed at me mischievously. “You’d better play because I’m going for it. I’m gonna get your top off whether you try to fight me off or not.”
“You wouldn’t!”
“Watch me.”
And with that, she lurched forward, reaching to grab me. My heart beating rapidly, I threw myself sideways to dodge her. All the while, Drake, who was now on the diving board, was still sipping his drink and looking at us with a big smile on his face.
Kara swam toward me, her feet kicking water high. I weighed my options while I swam away but for such a small girl she was fast! Her hand was on my ankle and I dove underwater.
I turned 90 degrees in an evasive maneuver and broke the surface again, catching my breath. I had to go on the offensive if I was to stand a chance against her. That’s when I realized I was having fun after all.
When she expected it the least, I sprang toward her and made a play for her bikini top. She yelped in surprise and swept my arms away as she turned to escape.
I gave her chase and this time it was my turn to grab her ankle. Once my grip was solid, I pulled her with me underwater to disorient her. However, I should have known there was a reason why this was so easy. It was a ploy.
She had a mermaid’s breath-hold and while I was alarmingly running out of air she was still in control. She even smiled at me, knowing she had me beat. I kicked to the surface and it was the opportunity she needed to reach up and unsnap my top.
I was in panic mode, struggling to catch my breath and trying to beat her back. In all my flailing all I was able to achieve was help her slide the bikini off my shoulders.
“Yeah, I win!” she shouted victoriously once we both broke the surface for good.
I was mad from losing but also conscious that I was topless. I awkwardly swam to the shallow end so I could cover my chest with my arms.
“Good job, baby. Come and claim your tequila.”
She went to the diving board and tilted her head up. My brother got the tequila bottle and poured a sizable shot straight into her waiting mouth.
“Wooo!”
The both of them were laughing and I suppose I would have been just like them if I hadn’t been half naked.
“Can I have my top back, please?”
“Uh-huh, no way. I won it fair and square.”
“Come on, Kara. It’s not funny anymore.”
“It’s not funny but it’s more fun.”
She laughed again.