She’s decided we’re having expensive seafood since Kane lost and has to pay for dinner.
He looks as devastated and annoyed as I feel, but how can either of us tell Abby off for interrupting us without giving away what I know now is our little secret?
My secret crush has just imploded at a nuclear level, and it’s my best friend’s dad.
And there’s no way that Kane isn’t thinking the exact same thing.
“Guys? Jen,” Abby says impatiently, sighing to herself and striding over to flick the switch that turns the pool lights on.
The sudden flash of the outdoor lights overhead as well as inside the actual pool are dazzling, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Jesus, Abs…some warning would be nice,” Kane groans, squinting his own eyes even once mine have adjusted.
“Well, are we gonna get dinner, or are you two gonna just…,” she starts to say. Then, stops and scans both her dad and me.
We’ve moved a sensible distance apart, but Abby has that mysterious, suspicious look in her eyes again.
I know it because I’ve seen it a few times today already.
But it also sticks out because it’s a look that really doesn’t suit her.
“Jen was just helping me take the net down,” Kane says. “You want me to leave the cover off?” he asks Abby.
“I think we’re done with the pool,” Abby clips back.
But Kane’s quick to act like nothing unusual was about to happen, and I guess now that we both know how we feel about each other, it should be just a little easier on us all.
It’s the not knowing that’s been killing me.
And shooting me a smile and a wink when Abby turns and starts to pace, phone in her order, I know he wants me as much as I want him.
The funny part is that it doesn’t feel so unreal anymore.
You can’t fake this feeling, it was out of his mouth before it was out of mine.
“You go on inside with Abby,” Kane instructs me, creasing his mouth and giving an almost pleading look.
A promising expression.
“Later?” I whisper.
Almost squealing with excitement when he grunts in reply, his lip curling as he smiles to himself. “Later,” he says in a deep tone.
His voice is like a sonar traveling through the water, pinging against my slick core that somehow makes the pool of water feel dry by comparison.
That’s how wet the man makes me.
Later it is then…, and I can’t wait.
* * *
I’ve never seen so much food, let alone so much seafood.
Coming back downstairs after showering and changing, Abby’s helping her dad unpack what looks like enough food for ten people instead of three.
“You expecting a crowd?” I ask, suddenly panicked at the thought that Abby or even her dad might have other people coming around after all.
Kane’s just retired. He might be throwing some kind of seafood festival to celebrate. Who knows?