Page 90 of Friendshipped
That’s what dates are for, though. You get to know a person and see if they are a fit—like going to the shoe store to try on new heels or asking for the sample spoon with a bite of the latest flavor of ice cream. I’m trying Chase on. Sampling. That’s all this is.
I take a deep breath and look in the full-length mirror on the back of my bedroom closet door. I bought a new swimsuit—one without copious numbers of snags on the rear from sitting on the pool edge summer after summer, and one that doesn’t sag in all the wrong places. It’s a yellow vintage princess-cut suit with a floral print and it compliments my curvy figure, at least that’s what I’m telling myself.
I arrive to Chase’s apartment complex and find parking. He asked if I wanted to meet at his actual unit to come inside before we swim, but since I don’t know his definition of “hook up,” I decided meeting at the pool would be a safer bet.
“Lexi!” Chase shouts as I walk through the gate entrance to the pool area.
I wave and walk over to him. When I come close, he reaches out and pulls me into an unexpected welcoming hug.
Okay, then.
And wow.
Is spontaneous combustion a real thing? If so, that’s about to happen to me. I may burst into a puff of smoldering smoke and ash from the feeling of his arms around me and the hard planes of his chest muscles. An uninvited thought interrupts my testosterone immersed bliss.This is not as comfortable or mind-blowing as Trevor’s hugs.
I silence the pro-Trevor side of my brain and try to stay in the moment—a moment having nothing to do with Trevor. I guess it’s to be expected thoughts of Trevor would naturally intrude whenever I’m with any man. I wonder if thoughts of me intrude on his time with Meg. One can only hope.
I rest my hand on Chase’s chest and I realize he’s going to take this exact shirt off in my presence any minute now. It’s a shirt that clings to him and leaves little to the imagination. I will be face to face with these muscles in mere moments.
Is this what it feels like to have a near-death experience? I may need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The thought of Chase giving me the kiss of life makes my heart rate skyrocket.
We pull back from one another and I can feel a blush creep up my neck.
“I’m glad you could come over,” Chase says in a husky voice, his eyes skating over me with the straightforwardness that comes with being a male model lookalike. He’s used to getting what he wants and being appreciated for his stellar good looks, that much is obvious.
I can get used to this. Yes, I’ll be overshadowed, but I’m not the one who has to look at me. I’ll get to look at him. And, I think I’ll be able to make that adjustment. Actually, I know I will. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.
“Me too,” I say, turning to covertly fan myself a little. “I mean. I’m glad I could come over.”
Great. I’m bumbling again.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you out ever since that phone call,” he says.
“The phone call?”
I’m confused. I haven’t had any phone calls with Chase.
“The one about your thongs.”
“Oh! That!”
I had been blushing a little from our hug. Now I’m sure I’m red enough look like Tickle me Elmo’s cousin or the character who plays anger in the movieInside Out.
“I don’t have thongs,” I say.
What? Chase doesn’t need to know my underwear status!
“I mean, not that you would need to know whether I have thongs or not. … Of course, you wouldn’t. Anyway, I was returning some that accidentally came to me when I ordered salad tongs. For mixing lettuce and dressing, not … you know. So, yeah.”
Does he look disappointed?
Or maybe my verbal explosion rendered him tongue tied.
We look at one another, both seeming to try to come up with something to say after my undergarment overshare.
“Well, let’s swim,” Chase says, breaking the potentially awkward silence.
We lay our towels on two chaise lounge chairs off to the side of the pool and I set my tote on another one. I slip my coverup over my head and notice Chase’s eyes taking in my suit. I feel like covering up again as his eyes freely rove across me even more intensely than the first perusal, but I force myself to be bold.
