“Ew. I look… constipated. Take another one,” she insisted, handing the phone back to me before flipping over onto her stomach.
“Damn, that’s how you doin’ it?” I asked, the swimsuit bottoms she wore tucked in her ass crack putting both cheeks on full display.
Of course I wasn’t complaining, but I was certainly glad Jaxson was keeping busy as I adjusted myself in my swim trunks before taking the picture she was asking for. And when I handed her the phone to check it out, she seemed as impressed with herself as she should’ve been.
I know I certainly was.
My attention went back to the sandcastles as Nova typed away at her phone, setting it down just long enough to put her bun back in place and picking it up again to read what must’ve been a reply the way her face seemed to light up. But just as quickly, her expression fell flat.
“What’s the matter?” I asked as I used a shovel to pat the sand down, not bothering to look at her again until I realized she hadn’t answered me. And once I did, I noticed she still had her phone in her hand with the same flat expression. “Nova, what’s up? Why the face? What’d he say?”
Instead of answering with words she handed the phone to me for me to read it myself. And I did out loud, shocked as hell when I discovered it said, ““Why’d you even send me this shit?” Who the fuck responds to a picture like that with something like this?”
She shrugged, looking out towards the water. “Guess it wasn’t as sexy as I thought.”
“Nova, don’t do that,” I told her, moving in front of her so that I could see her face that was now covered in sadness, completely opposite of the happiness that was on full tilt just a few moments before.
“What? I’m just sayin’...” she muttered, gnawing on her frown.
I kneeled in front of her, putting a hand against her shoulder to get her attention as I assured, “You looked incredible. You look incredible. Don’t let his hatin’ ass get you down. He’s probably just jealous that he’s not out here with you.”
Again, she shrugged. “Yeah, sure. Whatever you say.”
“Nova, I’m serious. That shit was lame as hell. He’s lame as hell,” I emphasized, already wanting to fire off on his ass for messing with her emotions like this, even miles away.
To my surprise, my words actually carried some weight with her, her eyebrow raising when she asked, “You know what? You’re right. Wasting this bomb ass picture on him when I really should’ve been posting it on Instagram.”
I shook my head with a laugh, returning to the sandcastle city as I insisted, “Yeah, go ahead and let some internet niggas gas you up. Set that thirst trap out the right way. And tell ‘em Guy taught you.”
She giggled, back to typing away at her screen when she replied, “I’m so putting that as the caption.”
“Aww shit. Now you gonna have your ol’ man coming at my head,” I shouted over my shoulder with a chuckle of my own, knowing good and well whoever David Anderson was didn’t really want them problems with me.
Nova didn’t seem to be bothered by the idea when she shouted back, “Forget him! He should’ve had better things to say.”
I nodded to agree. “You’re right. He should’ve. And I’m sure he will once all those “likes” pile in. Gonna straight up “baby, baby please” your ass like Carmelo did LaLa.”
She shook her head at me with a grin, pressing a dramatic tap against the screen before tossing her phone to the side. “I guess it’s time to make him sweat.”
“It’s also time to start enjoying your vacation instead of worrying about him. You’re here to have fun, relax, take in this vibrant city which is completely different than…” I trailed, realizing I still hadn’t found out where she was from.
Even though I had indirectly posed the question, I certainly wasn’t expecting her to answer, “Denver.”
“Denver? Seriously?” I asked still surprised, though it made sense considering that was also Kaylin’s hometown and they had supposedly been best friends since the beginning of time.
She came off a little defensive when she replied, “Yes, seriously! Mile High City, baby.”
“See. Coming from a city like that? Yeah, you definitely need to be making the most of this trip while you can,” I teased, immediately dodging the handful of sand she had launched my way when she screeched, “Oh whatever!”
“You’re talking real big to be from…” she trailed in the same way I had, waiting for me to fill in the blank.
And I already knew she would have jokes once I answered, “St. Louis.”
“St. Louis? Like St. Louis, current home of the… nothings?” she asked with a sarcastic smirk, as expected.
I held a hand to my chest as if the thought really pained me. “Come on, man. It’s still too soon. I’m sensitive about my Rams.”
“I would be too considering how trash y’all have been for the past decade,” she replied with a laugh.
Even though I knew she had a point, I couldn’t help but tease, “I see that recent Superbowl done went straight to your Mile High head.”
Instead of being offended, she glanced at her nails, a sign she already had a Grade-A comeback worked up when she finally replied, “Only because I have one in recent memory to talk about, unlike those sorry ass Rams of yours.”
“So you’re really a football fan, huh?” I asked, trying to hide how impressed I was even if it might’ve been a little premature. I mean, the things she knew about the game could’ve easily been picked up from just watching the news or scrolling through Twitter.
But her interest seemed to be legit when she shrugged and answered, “Pretty much have to be where I’m from.”
“Do you actually watch the games? Or do you just use them as an excuse to have people over for food and drinks?” I asked teasingly, knowing the question would more than likely get her riled up.
The way her nose flared up instantly let me know I had hit the exact nerve I was looking for as she snapped, “I have a NFL RedZone subscription and my fantasy team is the reigning champ of the league I’m in, thank you very much.”
A smirk grew on my face at her boasting. “Okay, okay. I see you. Bet that makes ol’ David real happy. No naggin’ during the games cause you’re yelling at the screen right next to him.”
While the concept sounded like gold to me, the mention seemed to make her uncomfortable the way she gnawed at her lip before she replied, “He’s not… much of a football fan. Or a sports fan, in general. Thinks they’re silly.”
“What kind of… nevermind.”
David was already proving himself to be complete opposite of me. And if that was the kind of guy Nova went for, then I definitely needed to be focusing my energy elsewhere. So that was exactly what I did when I asked, “Jax, you ready to play catch?”
Nova’s face scrunched instantly. “Are you trying to be funny by excluding me?”
“Not at all. I just thought… you know… one little jump and your nipples might be set free for the world to see,” I explained, trying to keep my eyes off of that exact place.
But she made it far too tempting when they gave the slightest bounce as she brushed me off and insisted, “I’ll take my chances.” Before turning towards Jaxson to say, “Come on, sweetie.”
She grabbed his hand and led him a few paces down the sand, the sight enough to make my chest swell as she tried to show him different techniques to catch the football. And Jaxson was completely engaged, mocking her hand positions and nodding along with whatever instructions she gave.
I waited for her to wave her hand, signaling they were ready for me to give the football a whirl. And once I did, I aimed it more in Nova’s direction on purpose, bursting with laughter when she dodged it instead of trying to catch it.
“Aww come on, little football head. You can do better than that!” I shouted after her, earning myself the finger as Jaxson chased down the ball before giving his best effort to throw it back to me. And what I thought was going to be another gentle pass,
this time in my son’s direction, turned out to be a pass that brought out Nova’s aggressive side as she knocked him down to catch it.
My first thought was, “Nice hands” since the pass wasn’t the prettiest and she had still managed to snag it out of the sky with ease. But considering my son was in the sand thanks to Nova’s body bump, I couldn’t help but tease, “Goddamn, Odell Beckham! Take it easy on the kid!”
Nova held her hands to her face, mortified as she helped him from the ground and shouted back, “I’m so sorry! Seriously. It was an accident. I didn’t realize he was standing that close.”
“Dust it off, son! You’re alright!” I yelled to Jaxson who looked torn between crying and wanting to play more as Nova dusted the sand off of his arms and legs. Then she reached behind to grab the football and handed it to him before pointing in my direction.
Jaxson took off running with a vengeance as Nova followed him with a slower run as if she was pretending to chase him. And since he seemed to already be in a better mood, I cheered him on. “Run, Jax! Run it home!”
I wasn’t sure what he considered the goal line, but he seemed determined to get there as he continued running past me. And with Nova a few steps behind him, I was able to catch her in an embrace before she caught up to him, lifting her from the ground as if I was an offensive tackle protecting the quarterback.
“You blindsided me, cheater! That’s gotta be holding or somethin’,” Nova squealed as she shimmied against my hold while Jaxson celebrated with a touchdown dance.
His little version of the dab made us both crack up laughing, the moment lending itself to a response I knew I couldn’t give without freaking her out. But I really wished I could’ve let her know, “You just so happened to blindside me too.”
Nova
“Damn, boo. Your tan is really poppin’. I’m a little jealous.”
The basketball game was over and won, Lamar inviting Guy and Jaxson to join him inside the locker room while Kaylin and I waited outside. But being away from them gave me the space I needed to really process all that had occurred, from the morning’s embarrassment to the afternoon of pure bliss at the beach and now an evening spent the way real families would, Jaxson nestled in the seat between us in the stands as we all shared a bag of popcorn and cheered on his Uncle Lamar.
I shouldn’t have been reading so deeply into the circumstances, it was purely a coincidence that we had gotten stuck together thanks to Kaylin and Lamar’s poor planning and were now making the most of the situation. But it felt as if I couldn’t help myself, Guy dropping sign after sign that he, maybe, felt the same way. Then again, it could’ve simply been part of his demeanor, part of the same ploy he used with every other woman he came across.
With that on my mind, it was easy to brush off Kaylin’s compliment. “Being out at the beach all day will do it to you.”
“Had a good time with your boys huh?” she asked teasingly, her eyes twinkling as if she was implying more than what she was verbalizing.
I attempted to shut down her twinkling eyes with my tightened ones when I warned, “Don’t start, Kay.”
She only shrugged, scrolling through her phone as she insisted, “I’m just sayin’. According to Guy’s Snapchat, you all had a really good time.”
“His Snapchat? I don’t follow him. What’d he post?” I asked, instantly becoming concerned since I couldn’t remember Guy even having his phone out.
She clicked on his profile before handing her phone to me so that I could watch his story. The first video was selfie style, Guy laying out on the beach towel as he said, “Out here beach bummin’ it with Young Jax. Say what’s up, son.” Turning the camera towards Jaxson as he gave a shy wave. The next was a picture of the sandcastles we had worked on with the caption, “#SandcastleGoals” going across the screen. And just when I thought things were innocent enough, there was a video of me as I made a slow stride up the sand from the water Baywatch style.
“Oh my God. I didn’t know he was really recording that,” I told her as I caught the heart-eyed emoji he had added to the corner.
Thankfully, my face was only slightly visible, though it was clear Kaylin knew exactly who it was as she gushed, “Slow motion and everything, girl. You looked like a fuckin’ goddess.”
I wanted to bask in her compliment, but the next picture didn’t give me a real chance as I gasped before whispering, “This fool…”
The picture was of me laying on my back as I worked to even out my tan, the position also lending itself to the perfect view of my ass that had obviously caught Guy’s attention considering the creep emoji eyes he had trailing down my back. And while I wanted to be offended that he was posting pictures like this without my permission, I couldn’t help but blush because… I really did look good.
As if I had thought him up, Guy and Jaxson emerged from the locker room with Lamar a few steps behind them making a beeline to his wife. And once he was close enough to me, I held the picture up to tease, “I don’t think your lady friends will be very happy about you posting my ass all on your Snapchat.”
He shrugged. “Well they better get over it. You looked way too good for me not to share with the masses. Should’ve put a “wish you were here” stamp on your cheeks.”
“Shut up!” I screeched through my giggles as I smacked a hand against his chest just as the lovebirds joined us.
Kaylin was tucked under her husband’s arm, but it was clear she was more interested in our business than her own as she gushed, “Glad you two are getting along so well.”
Guy nodded, holding Jax against his leg as he agreed. “For sure, Kay. Nova’s the homie. Even though she buried my kid in the sand earlier.”
“I told you it was an accident!” I shouted defensively, still a little embarrassed about how competitive I had gotten thanks to Guy’s teasing.
But it was clear he was still operating under the same guise when he replied, “I’m just messin’ with you, sweetheart.” Before turning his attention to Kaylin to ask, “Y’all coming out with us tonight?”
Instead of looking at him, she looked up at her husband to answer, “Lamar said it was boys only, so I’m gonna hang with my girl. But wait… if you’re going out and we’re going out, who’s gonna watch Jax?”
I immediately interjected, “We don’t… have to go out, Kay. Jax can stay at home with us. I’m exhausted from being in the sun all day anyway.”
Even though I was here to have the time of my life, partying it up on what had already been a full day sounded like punishment. Still, Guy seemed apprehensive when he asked, “Nova, you sure? I’m not tryna impose on your good time.”
Brushing him off, I insisted, “It’s fine. Really. Just be ready to extend the same courtesy.”
“You know I got you,” he replied with a wink that had my heart thumping through my ears.
But the moment thankfully didn’t last too long as Kay said, “Well… it’s settled then.” Turning her attention to the little one to ask, “Jax, should we get some ice cream on the way home?”
Of course Jaxson screeched with excitement as he peeled away from his father to take Kaylin’s hand. And as she tilted her head back to catch a quick kiss from Lamar, Guy and I were left in the awkward place of extending the same luxury of saying goodbye.
“I guess I’ll... see you later,” he said reaching out to give my hand a polite squeeze.
And even though just the simple act of our skin touching had me hot between the thighs, I tried to match it with a smile just as polite when I replied, “Yeah. See you. Have fun.”
“You too,” he added, reminding me that I was once again responsible for his child. But I felt myself minding even less than before as I watched him give his son a kiss goodbye before offering me another parting wink.
My eyes were glued to every inch of him as I watched him follow Lamar towards the exit, my ogling thankfully interrupted when Kaylin groaned, “Y’all are so damn hot for each other.”
I tried my best to play it o
ff, turning to walk in the opposite direction towards the parking garage as I asked, “What are you talking about, Kay? I just told him to have fun.”
Of course she called my bluff. “Girl, I could’ve cut a slice out of that sexual tension and there still would’ve been plenty to go around.”
Since there was no use in denying the obvious, I casually continued my pursuit of the exit and added, “Which is exactly why he’s going to the strip club and I’m going home to Kofi. For appropriate distribution.”
Kaylin seemed a little too excited by my admittance, practically dragging Jaxson to catch up with me so she could see my face when she asked, “So you do feel something for him?”
“How could I not? I mean, he’s fine, he’s fine, and… did I forget to mention he’s fine?” I told her, trying to chuck it up to just his attractiveness even though I knew it was already feeling like more than that.
Apparently, I was wearing that exact thought on my face, giving Kay the ammunition to probe, “Nah, there’s more to this story than just his looks and you know it.”
I released a heavy sigh, my hands shoved in the pockets of my jacket as I leaned against the car and watched Kaylin secure Jaxson in his car seat while trying to find an explanation. But nothing that came to mind made any good sense, forcing me to respond, “He just… I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Well keep talking, sis,” she insisted as she made her way to the driver’s side and I climbed in the passenger’s.
Since her focus was on getting us out of the parking garage safely amongst the still-heavy game traffic, I was given more time to think, more time to formulate exactly why I was so attracted to Guy so quickly. But I suppose I must’ve been thinking a little too hard about it the way Kaylin had to make an obnoxious throat-clearing noise to break my concentration.
“I guess he just has a way of… making me feel good. You know, feel… better about myself. Feel giddy about the rest of this vacation, and life in general. And it’s not just because he’s always complimenting me or whatever. But it’s almost like he really sees me the way I should always see myself. Inside and out.”
If Only for the Summer Page 10
