I finish a hot dog as I process that. “We really are whipped, aren’t we?”
“Why? Do you want to be?” Sophie asks, suddenly standing in front of me, glistening with pool water, dripping wet.
Fucking hell, I want to lick every bead of water off her body right here and now. Fuck who sees. I motion her forward with my finger and she obeys. I take the opportunity. I lick from her belly button to the bottom of her top.
She squeaks and I catch her, holding her in my lap before she can make her escape. “Well damn, if a mermaid is offering.”
“Bad line.”
“No worse than your mother.” I wink at her, then realize she can’t see through the glasses. I push them up and kiss her softly. “You’re fucking sexy.”
She wrings her hair out on my lap and I gasp. “Sophie!”
“Oh, sothat’snot sexy. Got it.”
Roman coughs as he laughs and Sophie goes to him, just like I knew she would. She rubs his cheek and forces water on him. He drinks two gulps and nods. “Thank you.”
“For the laugh or the water?” She runs her fingers through his hair. “You’re okay?”
“Of course.”
I roll my eyes at her worry, but then she drags me to the pool with her. We swim together, play chicken against some others, then sit down so I can finish my food and she can get her own.
Valerie looks at her empty beer bottle and sighs. “I don’t know anyone but Sophie. I’m not usually clingy.”
“Always so quiet then? You did try to strip me last night. I think we’re close enough to have a conversation.” I elbow her.
“You need a drink,” Lief says, making me jump.
I forgot he was even at the table. But he gets up to retrieve a drink for Valerie. She narrows her eyes. “Should I be worried about roofies?”
“From him?”
“Yeah. He’s hella awkward. Stands out like a sore thumb. Hot, but … kind of bland.” She whispers.
“Not at all bland. He’s just … different. Not bad different.” I defend. “Spent a lot of time out of the country when he was growing up so learned a lot of different things socially and it can be hard to figure out what’s expected and a lot easier to just be quiet and observe.”
She considers that and takes the drink he offers her. She looks at him for a long time and it’s like he doesn’t notice.
They’re going to be harder to set up than I thought. At least she’s curious about him. And if she can’t stand Hunter, then he’s at least getting an emotional reaction. She said she’d settle for one of us and maybe one of the three will do her some good.
They’re in D.C. She’s in D.C. There’s no worry about a long distance relationship. It could work, even if Roman doesn’t want me setting them up. Too bad she’s leaving tomorrow.
“Valerie, do you like soccer?”
She thinks about it for a moment. “I guess. It’s better than baseball.”
“Baseball is like golf.” Lief ads in – the third beer must be kicking in. “It’s dull. Takes too long. I think soccer has more promise. Also plays more … directly than football.”
“I used to like football.” Valerie says. “But with all the stops, it’s just about the rules. Might as well watch chess.”
“You don’t enjoy chess?”
Holy shit, a conversation. I thought it wasn’t possible. I sneak away, leaving them alone to talk about the exciting world of … well Chess, but it’s a start. Which means I can devote my attention to Sophie, Holden, and people who don’t need more than one drink to be fun.
SOPHIE
When we finally get to cake, I’ve had to remind my mom she’s engaged to my dad more than three times. Holden blows out his candle as his eyes drink me in. Oh, that candle’s not the only thing getting blown today, honey, don’t you worry.