Page 33 of Body Check
Bridgette
Sunday afternoons were made for parties like this. The sun is shining on the water in the pool at the hockey house, and half the loungers and chairs on the pool deck are filled with people relaxing and soaking up some sun. We’re halfway through September, but it’s so hot it feels like mid- July.
Ever since I missed Ollie’s party a few weeks ago, my brother has been bugging me to come over and hang with him. He really is the best, and I feel extra shitty because I’ve been avoiding him lately. I have been busy with work and school, but the biggest reason for dodging coffee dates with my brother is that I feel so freaking guilty. I’m dating someone, and I haven’t told him. It’s pretty serious, and Bran has no clue. I’m sleeping with his teammate—the one he absolutely despises—and he’s none the wiser.
I’m the world’s worst sister.
That’s why I had to come today. The salon is closed, so I had no excuse for dodging an invite yet again. And who doesn’t love a pool party? Besides, Dutton’s visiting his parents for the weekend, and he won’t be back until this evening, so there’s no chance of me accidentally running into him and spontaneouslyproposing or catching sight of him in his board shorts and melting into a lusty puddle on the spot.
Nope. There’s no danger of running into my secret boyfriend today, so I can just hang out with my brother and pretend that everything is normal and I’m not morally bankrupt for stabbing him in the back.
Yep. It’s a great day for a party.
It’s also a great day to get some much-needed vitamin D. The not-quite-as-fun-kind. I spend so much time indoors that I want to soak up the sun’s rays whenever possible. I can feel the heat on my back, so I turn over and slip my sunglasses on. I’m one of those lucky gingers who can tan without burning to a crisp first.
“Do you need a refill?”
I look over to see Liza shaking her empty drink cup in my direction. She also has the day off today, and that’s basically a miracle, so when I showed up an hour ago with my swimsuit on, it wasn’t too hard to drag her out to the pool.
She doesn’t look quite so happy now, though.
“Yeah, I thought so,” she says, answering her own question as she picks up my half-full tumbler. I give her a questioning look, and she just laughs. “Okay, maybe you don’t need me to top off your beverage, but I need to get out of here before I grab that volleyball and lob it at Blue’s head.”
I follow her line of sight until I spot the white ball at the pool’s edge. Blue’s careening down the makeshift slide my brother and Ollie constructed. He seems to be having a great time, and I have no doubt Liza could catch him unaware.
Maybe I do need a refill after all.
Liza heads for the house, no doubt stewing about whatever Blue’s done lately to piss her off. I stopped keeping score because it’s impossible with those two. He seems like a good guy, but he gets under Liza’s skin like no one else can.
But since he’s oblivious to his latest transgression and she’s in the house, I don’t need to worry about it.
I adjust my sunglasses as I try to decide between starting a new audiobook and listening to a favorite playlist. My finger hovers over the music icon on my phone screen. I’ve been listening to this mix for years, and it’s one of my all-time favorites. It’s comfortable and familiar.
But the audiobook has sex scenes.
My decision is made because I haven’t had any real-life sex scenes in almost three days. And no, my shower this morning doesn’t count.
I’m scrolling through my available audiobooks, but before I can tap my finger to download the one I want, a text bubble appears on my screen.
Dutton: Jesus Christ, Bridgette
Dutton: Are you kidding me with this shit?
I have to stifle my giggle. I have no clue what he’s even talking about, but his grumpy demeanor makes me laugh.
Bridgette: What do you mean? And yes, I’m having a really good day. Thanks for asking.
Dutton: You’re wearing a bikini.
Bridgette: I’m at a pool party, and it’s a billion degrees outside. A bikini seemed like a good choice. But how do you know what I’m wearing?
Dutton: Look up and to your left.
I do as he asks, and find him waving from the window. It’s giving stalker or serial killer, but he’s so hot, standing there bare-chested, that I don’t even care.
Dutton: My plans changed and I just got back. Ollie wants me to come out and be social but that’s difficult because I’m an asshole and also because there’s a lead fucking pipe in my shorts right now.
Bridgette: Ouch. Sounds painful.
