Page 26 of Girl Like Me

His rapid breathing starts to even out as he pulls me tighter to his chest.

“I will tell you one day.” He whispers into my ear. I'm less shocked when he speaks to me now but my legs still go weak at the sound of his voice.

“I’m all ears when you’re ready.” He nods, that’s all the words I will get from him and that is okay with me. “I love you Maximus and would wait forever if that is how long it takes you to open up. I’m so sorry I left you, I thought it would be easier if I found out what happened to me by myself. You all have so much going on, I didn’t want to burden you with my problems also.” I totally forgot why I came in here with him in the first place, it was to run my idea past him, but I will have to just lay it on the guys and see how they react. They won’t like what I have to say but I hope they can accept it for what it is.

Maximus intertwines our fingers and leads us from the room. I don’t bother trying to talk to him because it mainly involves all the others.

Everyone must be out by the pool already, the closer we get, the louder the music becomes. Rocky must have control of the stereo. “No Diggity” by Black Street, one of his favourites, is playing.

A girly shriek fills the air when we round the corner to the pool, just in time to see Mac throw Chloe in. Mac jumps in after her. I laugh so hard, tears leak from my eyes. It’s good to see her forget about her dick of a step brother.

My thoughts are invaded by the overwhelming feeling of someone watching me. I gaze towards the other side of the pool and four sets of eyes are on mine, three full of lust and that excites me, and one almost murderous. I knew Mercer would find this a bit too revealing. I’m sure the others are currently thinking with their dicks, when their actual brains catch up to where Mercer is at, they’ll feel the same as he does.

I don’t give him a chance to say anything as I make my way to the side of the pool. Mac smiles mischievously, I know he is going to have a field day with the guys. He is a shit stirrer by nature.

Diving into the deep end of the pool, the refreshing water soothes my soul. It's the perfect temperature, not too cold. As I surface I see Mercer coming my way, with a hard glint in his eyes. He didn’t dive in, he used the stairs and is walking slowly through the water. The others start to jump in, but my attention is on Merce.

The butterflies in my tummy do summersaults. His intensity is one of the main things I love about him. “Are you trying to get your friend killed?” He asks, gripping my waist tightly, not enough to hurt, but it has a possessive edge to it.

“You will not hurt him.” He looks at me as if to sayyeah right, he is as good as dead. “Plus you’re forgetting it was Rory who picked out this suit.” His head whips to Rory who shrugs.

I playfully splash Merce, slipping out of his arms and swimming away from him before he can catch me. My suit is quickly forgotten as he chases after me.

We all spend the next few hours swimming, until my pruned wrinkly hands send me out to dry off. Mercer tried to dunk Rory when he realized white bikinis when wet do not leave much to the imagination.

Chloe joins me on the sun chairs beside the pool, her watchful eyes follow Mac’s every move. I know she has questions and we really haven’t had any time alone to talk since we’ve been here. I’m nervous to hear what she really thinks. I know I haven’t known her long or well JD hasn’t but I feel like she’s the only real friend I have from my Bristol life. Even though I used to be a huge bitch to her, she hasn’t held it against me.

Clarissa is cool but friendships are based on what someone can do for you, not if you actually like them. Carissa likes to party, apparently I used to as well, and she seems to be honest but she also may be holding her cards close to her chest. Or maybe I’m just thinking too much into it.

“So Mac, huh.” I say, turning towards her, wiggling my eyebrows. “Pretty hot right.” She nods and smiles as her cheeks flush a rosy pink.

“He’s perfect. He was so sweet last night. He held my hair while I puked my guts up. Pity we live so far apart. He told me about wanting to be part of the Olympics. He said his training is about to get intense, butat least he’s honest about not wanting anything serious.”

“He could at least be a nice distraction until the end of the year. Block testing is coming up soon and after that I know he plans to stick around for a bit. Rocky’s dad is his coach and nothing is set in stone as of right now. He may even stick around if he had the right motivation.” She rotates and lays flat on her stomach and I follow her lead. The sun is beautiful and hot, but not melt your skin like you’re in the fiery depths of hell.

“What about you?” She’s clearly changing the subject. “Five guys, I mean no judgement but five guys, I don’t know how that would even work.”

“Johnny works with five hammers, I’m presuming.” Her eyes go wide, as realisation of that song really hits her. Then she laughs, tears streaming down her face as she flips onto her back. The giggles continue and I can’t help but laugh with her.

“I can never unimagine that now. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to look at you with a straight face again.”

*Ding dong* even the doorbell sounds so formal, another thing we need to change when I move in.

“I’ll get it.” I say to the guys and jump from my chair. I hear Mercer mumble something about over his dead body. I quicken my step and hurry through the house. We don’t need Mercer murdering anyone today. I make it to the door with him hot on my heels. The doorbell dongs again as I pull the massive door open.

I stare at my brother standing before me. A wave of panic washes over me, but I keep my expression neutral so he doesn’t see how much his presence unnerves me. How the hell did he find me? If he can find me, so could my father and mother.

His eyes rake over me, his lip curls up and he wrinkles his nose. Mercer steps up beside me, his arms crossed and a thunderous expression mares his face. He knows Carter is my brother. They met the night of that stupid silent action when he cornered us and dragged us out of the ballroom.

“Who the fuck is this guy?” I startle at the tone in Levi’s voice as he appears to my right. I feel the presence of the others behind me. Carter’s eyes bulge, I know he knows who they are but seeing pictures of them and seeing them in person are two vastly different things.

“Carter, Bristol's brother. Now, is anyone going to invite me in or am I going to stand here until kujo there,” he says pointing at Levi, “jumps out and beats me?” I take a deep breath, centering myself and let my inner Bristol come out. A fake smile spreads across my face and a higher pitch distortsmy voice.

“Of course, come in. I was just surprised to see you.” He laughs and follows me inside. He takes in the house, the smell of bleach is overpowering the first time you step inside. He doesn’t say anything, he’s well trained in making sure to be polite. Just another one of those things our mother must have beat into us.

“Nice house you have here Rory, I believe it all becomes yours when you turn eighteen, impressive. Though Bristol here has a trust fund that could buy a million of these small houses.” Small houses? Is he insane? Wait… did he say a trust fund? It never crossed my mind that I would even have one. I open my mouth to speak but Rory beats me to it.

“How do you know the house is mine?” Carter laughs as if Rory is crazy for asking.

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