Page 36 of Losing Forever
Grayson’s eyes narrow as he stares down at me like he's trying to see my body through the water.
I move closer to the wall and try to think of a way to get rid of him. “Thanks for letting me know you’re home. You can go inside now.”
He tilts his head enough that I can see his features and the smirk curling his lips. “Actually, I was thinking about swimming.”
“No!”
“No?” He squats near me. “Are you afraid of me joining you?”
I resist the urge to back away because then he could see me through the water, scars and all. Thinking fast, I say, “I thought you meant with your clothes on. If you're going to swim, you should put on a bathing suit.”
At which time, I'll sneak out of the pool and dress before he can see me.
“Are you that desperate to see my bare chest again? If you want, I can skip the bathing suit. You've already seen me naked.”
I roll my eyes, refusing to allow my brain to reconjure the image of his incredible body in the shower. “You need help.”
He laughs. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
With a scoff, I push from the wall and swim away, my body turned to hide my side with the scar.
“Why so pissy?” he asks in a playful tone.
“I’m not pissy.” I stop in the middle of the pool and balance on the balls of my feet, keeping my scars angled away from him. “I’m…tired.”
“But you’re swimming?”
“I know.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m not tired in a sleepy way. I’m tired of how weird things still are between us.” Honesty. Isn’t that what we’d agreed upon? Of course, that was two weeks ago, and he’d just come home from a date with Caitlyn. Maybe he’d been drinking, even though he didn’t smell like alcohol, and forgot what he said. Or maybe Noah hasn’t lifted his threat all the way.
“What’s going on?” His tone is filled with concern. “Did I do something to upset you? I’ve been trying to be…” He rubs his chin, his features pinched with thought.
“Distant?”
“Careful.”
“Why? Because of Noah?”
“That’s always at the back of my mind but not the main reason.” He follows the edge of the pool until he’s standing closest to where I am.
“What is it then?” A thought occurs that I hadn’t considered before. “Is it me? I know I’m not bubbly like Caitlyn, and I have issues after the—after what happened, but I wanted to try to be friends with you. I don't have a lot here, not any good friends besides Noah. But he’s not around much lately.” He’s always off with his girlfriend, Siani.
He frowns and scrubs a hand down his face. “It’s not you. I…” His mouth closes then he blurts, “I don't know how to be friends with a girl I'm attracted to sexually. Okay? There, I admit it.”
I laugh. “Pa-lease. You expect me to believe that? You are attracted to every girl. And you don’t seem to have a problem being friends with Caitlyn.”
She told me about their date when we had lunch one afternoon at work. Noah and Grayson were at the house we’re flipping and then going to Tampa for a double date. I might have pursued the topic of Caitlyn’s date because I wanted verification from her that she and Grayson didn’t have sex.
“We messed around a little,” Caitlyn had said in a nonchalant tone. “Nothing major happened.” Her expression told a different story, though, like something about the date bothered her.
I didn’t ask, and she was quick to change the subject. Good news is she didn’t seem interested in him anymore, or even Noah. She mentioned some guy she met at the beach, another college baseball star who was here on vacation. I have no idea how she finds these athletes to date.
“Caitlyn and you are completely different to me.”
He might not have meant that to be offensive, but for some reason it hurt. He’s friendly with her in a way he isn’t with me. “It doesn't matter. Can you hand me that towel?” I point to the one on the lounge chair, so I can get away.
He glances behind him and then back at me. “You're getting out?”
“I can't stay in the sun for too long.” It's not a lie.
