Page 32 of The Tip-Off
She grabs the tequila bottle and heads to the back door. “Well, come on then.”
Gabby
“I was kidding,” I say when Zeke calls my bluff.
We stand by the pool looking down at the clear water.
“Well, I’m not getting in there without you,” he says as he takes a seat on the edge of the pool. “Then I’ll just be a creepy dude skinny dipping alone.”
“I can’t get in with my new ink,” I say, but the butterflies in my stomach sure wish I could.
We sit together, letting our feet dangle in the warm water.
“You really did the lettering for your tattoo?” he asks.
“I did.”
“Van was right. You’re really talented.” His hand falls to my wrist and he pulls on the end of one of my bracelets. “I know you made these, too. Blair wears hers proudly.”
I smile as I look down at the friendship bracelets on my arms. Blair and I have been making and wearing them as long as I can remember. “I had a lot of time over the last few years to try a bunch of different things. Hand lettering, pottery – that one didn’t work out as well. I like being creative, though, making beautiful things. Somehow it makes me feel beautiful.”
“You don’t think you’re beautiful?” He shakes his head. “You are one of the most beautiful people I know. You’re fun and kind, and—”
I cut him off. “I know, I know. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. I’m so tired of people telling me that. Is it too much to hope that someone will be able to look past the scars and find me beautiful on the outside too?”
His expression tells me I’ve said too much, and I apologize. “I shouldn’t drink tequila. It removes what little filter I have sober. I’m gonna grab a beer.”
Standing, I take the bottle of tequila with me to the kitchen and exchange it for a Bud Light. Clearly, I need to slow down before I get all emotionally slutty. I hear the door open and I turn, expecting Zeke, but instead find my best friend, practically glowing with a golden tan and beachy hair.
“Hey, I thought you weren’t getting back until tomorrow morning.”
She drops her bag and squeezes me hard. “We got an early start this morning. Oh my God, I missed you.” She pulls back. “You smell like tequila. Are you and Nathan getting drunk together?”
“Not exactly. Zeke and I were just hanging out by the pool.”
She looks like she wants to ask more, but I wave her outside. “Come and tell me all about your trip.”
The rest of the group joins us, and we sit outside while they fill us in on their vacation. I steal glances at Zeke and each time our eyes meet my pulse quickens.
“So, tell me about what you guys did,” Blair asks. The insinuation clear in her expression.
She’s sitting on Wes’ lap and he drops a kiss to her forehead before saying, “You mean, besides TPing the baseball house and hanging out with the young guys? What the hell, man?”
Zeke shrugs but doesn’t answer.
“Speaking of,” Joel asks with a wicked smirk, “when do we get more couple pics of Zebby? I’m waiting with breath that is baited to see what my new favorite couple does next. Goat yoga? Priceless!”
I know he’s just kidding, but Katrina punches his arm and gives her boyfriend a look to shut it.
Zeke looks uncomfortable at the attention, so I field it. “First of all, Zebby is a terrible couple name. Try again. Secondly, you’ll have to follow along with everyone else.”
I flash Zeke a smile hoping I haven’t made him more uncomfortable, but he grins back and then winks.
The conversation dies off after that and one by one, the couples announce they’re headed to bed.
Blair hugs me tightly. “I really missed you.”
“Missed you too.”
