Page 5 of Constantine: Britain's Story: Part 2
“Oooookay,” I reply quietly, “what should I do?”
“I’m going to get closer to you, and you’re going to slowly walk back towards me. If it starts to move, hopefully, I’ll be close enough to pull you away.” I don’t like snakes. I like the thought of water snakes even less, but I’m not sure this is necessary. It’s not like water moccasins are native to this area. I think if I just take a couple steps in the opposite direction it’ll be fine.
So I slowly take a step back and to the left, but my movement causes the snake to move. Well that’s what I’m assuming happens because before I know it, Matt has pulled me back into him, which would have been fine, except the quick movement startled me. Instead of a graceful drift into his waiting arms, I flail, he yells, and we both fall. Into the water. Off the drop-off. In the opposite direction of the shore.
When I come up from the water, I seeit. A gnarled tree root has floated to the surface in our wake. A root that looks a lot like a snake. I don’t even attempt to hold the laughter in.
From behind me, Matt says in a quiet voice, “It looked like a snake.” His statement only fuels the ridiculousness and makes me laugh harder, until eventually, he starts laughing, too.
Once we’ve swum close enough to the shore that I can walk, I turn back to look at him, andChrist on a cracker. His wet t-shirt should be fucking illegal the way it hugs every muscle in his toned torso. I try to cover my blatant stare with a smile at him, which he returns, and that’s when I feel it. There’s a spark burning low in my abdomen.I want him.
Stop it, Britain.I have absolutely no business wantinghim. He’s Matthias Scala, and I’m me. I turn away from him, embarrassed by my cringey thoughts, and attempt to squeezewater from my dress, but it’s useless. When we get back to the pavilion, I’ll just have to change into my swimsuit and cover-up.
“I’m really sorry about that, Britain,” Matthias says as he walks towards me, shaking out his hair as he does, making my pelvis burn and yearn.I guess that’s what it looks like to hit the genetics lottery. Awesome.
“Honestly,” I clear my throat to regain some composure, “it’s fine. It’s so freaking hot, it felt good to just get all the way in anyways.” I shoot him a soft smile because it’s really not a big deal. I mean, how much worse could this day get anyway? He stares at me for a moment before responding.
“Can I take you out sometime?” There’s that nagging urge to turn and look behind me, again. Surely, he must be talking to someone else.
“Me?” I point with my hand to my own chest. He laughs, and the sound makes me clench my thighs together. I’m fucking screwed.At least, I wish I was.
“Yes, you,” he says with a smile on his face.
“Matthias, you don’t need to ask me out because you accidentally pushed me in a lake, okay?”
He laughs again. “So technically, we bothfellinto the lake, no pushing involved. And second, nobody calls me Matthias.”Crap.
“Sorry,” I inwardly cringe, “just, um, Georgia talks about you sometimes, and she’s always called you Matthias. But it won’t happen again, promise.”If there even is an ‘again.’
“No, you misunderstand. Nobody calls me Matthias, but you can. If you want to.” His mouth tilts up slightly, revealing a single dimple. He sounds so sincere, but I’m still having a hard time believing this is all really happening. This is all just some fever dream, right?
There’s something about his smile though, and if this isn’t a joke, there’s no way I could refuse him. “Okay, I will then.”
“So, does that mean you’ll go on a date with me?”So he’s still on that, okay.
I hesitate but finally answer, “Uh, sure, that sounds great.” When he smiles again, damn, it makes me want to jump his bones, but I don’t. I head towards my sandals, sliding them on and wait for him to do the same. We walk back towards the pavilion with squeaky shoes, and wet hair and by the time we get back, I’m teasing him about the “snake" again.
“It looked like a snake!” He says, exasperated.
I just laugh and say, “Uh-huh.Sure. Well, I’m gonna go find my bag and change.”
I head towards the end of the pavilion, but he keeps walking with me and then extends a hand to stop me.
“Wait, can I have your number?” He asks, his hand resting on my upper arm. I think subconsciously, I’ve been trying to give him an out on this whole “date” thing, but he’s not backing down. Matthias really wants to go outwith me?
“Um, yeah, when we get to my purse, I can write it down for you.” He just nods, moving his hand gently to my hip and nudging me to lead the way. We’re almost to the table where I left my bag when we have to squeeze between two larger groups of people standing in the way. As we pass, I overhear,“I haven’t seen any cute blondes around, man. Sorry.”
“Shewashere! But now I can’t find her. I’ve been looking for an hour now.”
“Hey! Matt!” The first voice calls out. “You seen a cute blonde chick? Liam’s looking for her.” I stop dead in my tracks. Th-they’re not talking about me, though, right? I meanLiam as in Liam Millar? Looking for me? I turn to look behind me at Matthias, and he motions to the two guys to look in my direction.
“Is this the cute blonde you’re looking for?” The first voice and Mr. Blue Eyes turn and eye me up and down. My cheeks turn bright pink under their gaze. I hardly think ‘cute’ is how I woulddescribe myself right now in my soaking wet dress with frizzy, air-drying hair. But as soon as Mr. Blue Eyes looks back up at me, there’s a jolt of familiarity. Mr. Blue EyesisLiam, William Millar. My mom’s other boss.Isn’t that just grand?
Liam slides a hand behind his neck like he’s embarrassed but quickly recovers. “Yup, she’sthe one,” he says in a tone that confuses me slightly. Matthias eyes Liam, not understanding, as well.
“Alright, well, Liam, this is Britain, Georgia’s daughter. Britain, this is Liam Millar and my little brother Niko.” He gestures toward each man respectively.
I extend my hand to Liam first, “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Millar.” He pauses before taking it, but when he does, his touch is just as warm and tender as it was earlier in the bathroom.
