Page 20 of Hearts at Seaside
Jenna bit her lower lip, opened her eyes wide, and bobbed her head in the direction of the pool.
“Chunky-dunking? No, I’m too tired,” Bella said. Chunky-dunking was what they called skinny-dipping.
“Piggies only?” Jenna stuck out her toes and wiggled them.
Bella reached for a bottle of wine and cranked it open. “Okay, piggies only.”
At the pool, Jenna unlocked the gate as quietly as she was able, with Bella shushing her every three seconds.
“If Theresa hears you, we’re all in trouble,” Amy reminded her. The pool closed at eight o’clock, and swimming after dark was prohibited. They weren’t sure what would happen if Theresa really caught them, but they didn’t want to find out.
They tiptoed onto the pool deck and sat around the edge of the pool.
“It’s cold!” Amy said, pulling a blanket around her shoulders.
“Oh, it is not.” Bella’s legs dangled in the water. “Pass the cookie dough.”
Jenna tore open the cookie dough, ripped off a chunk, then passed the tube to Bella.
“Why couldn’t you sleep?” Bella asked. “Maybe because the sexual tension between you and Pete was so thick I was afraid it would swallow you whole, and poor Charlie didn’t seem to have a clue.” Bella stuffed cookie dough in her mouth and handed the tube to Leanna. “Besides, you haven’t given us one shred of detail about what’s going on, and if you don’t give it up soon, I’m going to let Leanna loose in your kitchen.”
Leanna batted her lashes. When Leanna cooked, she left no counter, floor, or table untouched. Sometimes even the ceiling was peppered with jam or flour or other ingredients that had no business being on a ceiling.
Jenna took a swig of wine, then an even longer one at the thought of Leanna being set loose in her clean kitchen. She passed the bottle down the line, as the cookie dough made its way back toward her. “My life has turned into a really bad comedy of craziness.”
“Oh, Jen, I’m sorry you feel that way.” Amy leaned forward and looked at her around the others. “You have a great life.”
Bella smiled. “I take it your hot water got fixed. I saw that you used my shower. You lined up everything in my shower by height.”
“Sorry.” Jenna broke off another hunk of cookie dough. “Pete fixed it. You’re not going to believe what I’m about to say, and I can’t even believe I’ve waited this long to spill it, but with Charlie being sweet and sexy all night and Pete stalking me like prey…”
“See? Five bucks.” Bella held her hand out to Leanna.
“I thought Pete was just being sweet.” Leanna took a long drink of wine and handed it to Amy. “I hate that you guys all know and see things about men that I don’t pick up on, like when Jenna was talking about orgasms all last summer and thinking about Pete, and I was clueless.”
“If she’s thinking about orgasms, she’s thinking about Pete. That’s a given,” Bella said.
Jenna pushed to her feet. Goose bumps covered her legs. She hurried behind the girls and plopped down beside Amy, hoping to steal their warmth. “See? It’s all your fault this is even an issue. If you’d stop bringing up Pete and me in the same sentence like I can’t live without him, then maybe I could feel a zing when I’m with Charlie.”
The others shared an eye roll that felt like it shook the earth.
“Ugh!” Jenna clenched her eyes shut and spoke as fast as she could. “I ran into him in the living room and my towel fell off; then I clutched his chest for dear life while he stood there thinking who knows what. Then he promised me erotic sex and told me to tell him what I wanted.” Eyes still clenched shut, she fisted her hands and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Holy cow,” Amy said.
“Naked clutching? Erotic sex?” Bella said. Jenna heard movement in the water, then sensed Bella’s presence behind her.
“Tell him what you want?” Leanna sounded breathless.
“Open your stinkin’ eyes!” Bella shook Jenna by the shoulders.
Jenna’s eyes flew open and was met with Bella’s wide, toothy grin. Jenna couldn’t help but smile, but at the same time, she wanted to cry.
“Oh no. No, no, no.” Bella sat down behind her. “Jenna Jane, what on earth is wrong with you? Please don’t cry. You know I’m not good with tears.”
“She’s overwhelmed. She’s loved him forever.” Amy patted Jenna’s back.
Leanna handed Jenna the bottle of wine. “It’s a lot to take in.” She crinkled her nose. “Are you sure we’re talking about Pete? Our Pete? Quiet guy, tall? I can’t even imagine him saying the worderotic.Sexymaybe, buterotic?”
