“You drinking, Ari?” I had another bottle of the sweet pear cider Jay had given me.
“Yes.” I answered, I bit my lower lip and felt guilty. I turned to Jay, “I’m not used to this.” I confessed.
He winked at me and leaned in, “Yeah darling, I know.” I was blushing furiously. “I’ll tell you a secret – nobody else noticed.”
“Oh.” This made me insanely happy and I smiled at him.
“Whoa, keep that killer watt smile away from me!” he joked.
Theo tapped me on the arm, I turned to him. “Cole is on the upper level, Matt’s over at the pool, you coming over?” Oh, well I better, I thought. I nodded and handed my bottle to Jay. He was looking up at me.
“Um…”
“See you later darling.” He winked at me. I liked Jay, he was so laid back he was horizontal.
“Arielle,” I corrected, “See you later Jay.” And I winked at him. He laughed out loud again and saluted me with his glass.
Smiling, I followed Theo over to where Matt was. Matt was in swim shorts and grinned at me. I remembered I was mad at him for dumping me on Colton. Matt’s grin was wider as he realised I had just remembered.
“Uh-oh you’re in trouble!” Theo laughed as I marched my 5’5” frame up to Matt and with a huge unexpected shove I sent him flying backwards into the pool.
He rose up to the surface and I saw him nod. I didn’t even have time to react, Connor tackled me from the side. I yelled as he held me and Theo emptied my pockets of my keys, wallet and phone, then I was picked up and I was flying through the air into the water. Spluttering I broke the surface and I had murder on my mind.
My intent to do damage to Connor was broken when Theo pushed Connor in too, also fully clothed. He held up my belongings to show me they were fine and then after placing them on a table, he dived in and suddenly it was a four-way splash and dunk fest. I finally dragged myself out the water, my jean shorts wet and heavy, my top plastered to me, my hair – God knows what I looked like.
“You’re complete asshats!” I shouted at them. “I look like a drowned rat!” I protested. However, since Connor was trying to chokehold Theo, I knew I didn’t have their attention. Matt grinned up at me. I gave up. They were all incorrigible. I started to laugh at them and three beaming smiles shone back at me. Since Connor was fully dressed, he just looked ridiculous in the water.
“I’m going to get dry,” I said, grabbing my stuff off the table. Theo gave me the thumbs up and I turned into the house. I passed Jay on the way there and he wolf whistled at me.
“Looking real good wet darling!” he shouted across.
“Oh behave, you Neanderthal!” I yelled across at him. A wink was my answer and laughing like an idiot, I entered the kitchen again.
I came to an abrupt halt as my eyes landed on Corey. She took one look and laughed at me. “C’mon, let’s get you dry.” She held her hand out to me.
Feeling very unlike me, I took her offered hand and followed her into the depths of the house. We climbed the stairs and I followed her into a bedroom. I immediately stopped. This was Connor’s room. I knew him too well not to recognise his stamp. Of course, she would lead me here – she wouldn’t know why this was suddenly awkward. Damn it.
She was rummaging through a drawer. Wait she had clothes here? My cheeks burned when I realised how naive I was being. I wasn’t jealous as such – well, maybe a little but more than that, I was melancholy. Connor had definitely moved on and although that was nothing but a good thing, I hadn’t expected to be confronted with how much he had moved on whilst standing in his bedroom that his girlfriend obviously spent a lot of time in.
Corey turned to me; she had a t-shirt and a short denim skirt in her hands. Her smile was genuine as she looked at me.
“I’m slightly taller than you, so the shirt should be a little long, as should the skirt.” I took them off her. “Of course, I need to find you a belt, you are so slim, the skirt may fall off if tugged hard and that blonde boy was looking to tug, I think.”
I blushed furiously. “I just met him.” I mumbled. She was nodding whilst getting towels out of the closet. She rummaged some more and handed me a sports bra and a pair of very short shorts.
“Go shower – my shampoo and stuff are in there. You must be freezing.”
“Um...”
“It’s ok Arielle, I’m not stupid, I was at first, I admit, but it’s so obvious I cannot believe that I doubted myself about it that first day.” She sat down on the edge of the bed.Shit. She knew.Oh God this was going to be awkward.
“What?” I was trying to be evasive. I pretended to look around for somewhere to put my phone and things.
Corey looked at me, her gaze narrowed slightly. “I know you were the girlfriend that broke his heart. The way them boys act around you, it’s so obvious you had a relationship with one of them. I know it wasn’t Matt because he adores you like a little sister. I know it wasn’t Theo, as every time he looks at you like you’re agirlhe looks at either Connor or Colton like he’s been caught. Plus, those boys aren’t very good at being one-woman men; and you are definitely a one woman kind of girl.” Her smile was kind when she said it, taking any pinch out of her words.
“Theo’s in love.” I blurted out. Corey laughed, shaking her head.
“Theo’s a wild buck in a field of willing does. That boy ain’t ever going to be in love anytime soon.” Corey stood up, smoothing her hands over her own denim skirt. “I didn’t think it could be Colton because, well, that man’s as cold as ice, so it had to be my Connor.” She looked out the window. “And heismine. I see how he is with you and I don’t need to worry. It’s obvious you have a past, but he loves you and you love him, just not in the way that I love him and the way he lovesme.”