I missed him this week, and he has a rare night off. So, he came over, bringing rum, cola, snacks, and the best part of all, his smile.
He doesn’t hate me. He isn’t all broody and pissed-off. His smile is bright, beautiful, and genuine.
I take a drink of my rum and cola, mixed strong enough to forget about this week and lay back in the lounge chair out by the pool with Sawyer kicked back in the chair next to me. He came over this evening wearing swim trunks and a t-shirt that clings perfectly to his sinewy muscles.
I think I'm staring. I don’t remove my eyes from him as I sip my rum, and a giggle escapes my mouth. He looks at me curiously, his own drink in hand. “What’s so funny?”
I shake my head and take another drink. “I honestly have no idea.”
He laughs, shaking his head at me. “You already buzzed? I told you, you should have had more dinner.”
Oh yeah, he brought dinner too. See? Things with Sawyer are just so damn uncomplicated. Except for the whole “we aren’t in love” thing. I laugh again, light and airy. and he laughs with me, taking another drink.
I didn’t go to parties in high school, and in college, I was a single mom, so I didn’t go to them then either. So I guess a part of me is enjoying letting loose with Sawyer out by the pool. It’s summer after all, and I know Baz is in very capable loving hands. I turn up the music on my phone that’s connected to a speaker and tap my feet at the end of the lounge chair.
“I like you like this, you know?”
I swivel my head to look over at him again. “Like what?”
He finishes his drink and stands up. “Free. Happy. You’re a lot of fun when you aren’t being a tightass.”
I roll my eyes and finish my drink, handing him my cup, knowing he’s going for a refill. “Gee, thanks.”
He chuckles as he takes my cup and his over to the outdoor bar. He hands me my now-full glass, setting his down on the table between us, and slips his shirt off over his head.
My foggy brain, of course, notices he takes his shirt off exactly the same way that Asher did the other day . . . reaching one hand behind his neck and pulling it off effortlessly. He looks good. He always looks good.
He raises an eyebrow, noticing me gawking at him and tosses the shirt at me as he goes back to lounging next to me. I catch his shirt with one hand, my drink sloshing in my glass, and toss it down onto the cement. “What?”
His shoulders lift with laughter as he grabs his drink, taking a sip. “You can touch. You don’t have to just look.”
I smile, taking a drink of my own and feeling my cheeks heat. “I know, but why?”
He looks over at me like I'm nuts, “Because it’s fun.”
I laugh and take a big gulp of my drink, definitely feeling the alcohol in my system. “No. I mean, why aren’t you more pissed-off about seeing a hickey on my neck?”
I guess I shouldn’t have expected him to be jealous, but not even a hint? He shrugs, tucking one hand under his head and looking out at the sunset. “I’m not him, Viv.”
I look at him suspiciously, wondering what the hell he’s talking about. “I know you aren’t. I don’t want you to be Asher.”
His eyes meet mine slowly, the brown near a golden color. “You sure?”
My cheeks are flaming now, and I’m hoping it’s just from the alcohol. “Of course.”
He shrugs his large shoulders, taking another drink and looking out at the sky as the sun sinks down, casting a beautiful purple and orange glow. “Okay. I just mean, I know I don’t own you, Viv. He may not have known that, but I do. You’re allowed to fuck around as much as you want.”
I swallow another large gulp, and Sawyer grins at me before doing the same. When we finish our drinks he stands up, taking our cups and placing them on the table and reaching for my hand.
I take it as he pulls me from my comfy spot on the lounge chair and turns up the music. “You too drunk to go for a swim?”
I shake my head slowly as he lets go of my hand, and I lift my dress off and toss it behind me. Tonight, I'm not wearing a “mom appropriate” suit. Instead, I opted for a teal string bikini top that ties behind my neck and black bikini bottoms, leaving nothing to the imagination. And it’s clear Sawyer appreciates it as his eyes drag over my body slowly. “Fuck swimming. Let’s go to your room.”
I laugh at that and shake my head. “No way. I’ve been drinking, and you might take advantage of me.” I pretend to be frightened of him, and he laughs, picking me up and slinging me over his shoulder.
I like me like this too. The playful side of myself is one I hardly ever let escape.
I laugh and pretend to struggle, even though I don’t mind his arms around me at all, especially with the rum running through my veins. “Put me down, you ogre!”
He smacks my ass with his palm, and I laugh again, still struggling. “Come on, Viv. You know I’ll make you wetter than the pool.”
I giggle at his ridiculousness because I love this playful side of him too. “You keep spanking me, and I will be,” I growl into his ear, and he groans.
“Fine, you win.” He walks over to the steps, and I squeal, still playing like I want him to put me down. He ignores me as we both laugh, and he wades in. Soon I feel my feet go under, and then he slowly pulls me from his shoulder, lowering me into the water before him. I don’t know how to describe what I have with Sawyer. He makes me hot. He makes me slightly goofy, but the best way I can describe what we are is friends that sometimes have really great sex.
“You’re fucking great, Viv. You know that?” He looks into my eyes, grasping my cheeks in his hands as we both stand with our feet touching the cement bottom of the underground pool.
“So are you.” My finger traces the “P” over his chest as he leans forward, and his lips capture mine. The embrace is warm, comfortable, and fully returned by me until I hear the sliding glass door whoosh open.
We both turn in that direction, but Sawyer doesn’t drop his hands from my face. Asher is standing at the pool’s edge, his eyes like hot daggers piercing through me, and inexplicably my heart starts to race.
“Can you guys keep it down? Jesus fucking Christ.” He looks even more moody than usual as his hand runs through his thick brown hair.
I’m frozen in place as Sawyer drops his hands, using one to pull my body to his side so we both face him head-on. “Oh, calm down, Grandpa. Did you really fucking forget how to party?”
“Maybe I’ve grown the hell up, Sawyer.”
“Do you mean you’ve gotten really boring? Because I agree.”
I suck in a sharp breath at Sawyer poking the vicious bear. “Fuck you, Sawyer.”
Sawyer’s large shoulders just shrug before he dunks under the water briefly, leaving Asher’s angry eyes to meet mine before Sawyer pops his head back up. He shakes his wet hair vigorously and splashes up at Asher. “Grab a drink. Get your trunks on and fucking live again.”
There’s no way he’s going to do that.
He’s so furious with the world and with me and Sawyer. His jaw ticks as he watches us, and Sawyer’s arm wraps around my shoulder as he leans over running his tongue over my earlobe, making me shudder. My eyes close as I lean into him, and I hear a growl from Asher.