by Ivy Smoak
“I can’t believe you got second place,” Becca said. “That was so cool!”
“Mhm.” I scrubbed down the counter for what felt like the millionth time.
“I tried to find you after to congratulate you, but you were gone. Did you go straight home?”
I felt my face flushing. “Yup.” Just thinking about J.J.’s hands and mouth made me start to feel all sweaty. God, I wanted him again.
“So, so awesome,” Becca said. “I don’t know how you had the confidence to go up on that stage. I never could have done it.”
I stopped scrubbing the counter and looked over at her. “Of course you could have.”
She shook her head.
I finally felt like there was something we actually had in common. “The only person that can hold you back is you, Becca.”
“I guess that’s true.”
“Trust me. I’ve been doing it my whole life.”
“And now?”
I finally saw my lifeguard approaching. “And now I’m on team me.”
She followed my gaze. “Or are you on team hot lifeguard?”
I smiled. “I think they might be the same team.”
“Really? You’re dating him?”
I didn’t really know what we were. But I’m sure we’d talk about it more tonight. “We haven’t really had that talk yet.”
“You’re so lucky.” It was like she hadn’t even heard my response.
A month ago I felt like the unluckiest girl in the world. But now my life had done a 180. I did feel lucky.
“Hey,” J.J. said as he leaned against the counter. His eyes traveled to my lips for the briefest moment. “Any chance you can skip out a few minutes early?”
“Yes!” Becca practically screamed next to me.
I glanced over at her and laughed. She was clearly as awestruck by J.J. as I was. “Thanks, Becca. Are you working tomorrow’s day shift too?”
She nodded.
“I’ll see you then.” I pulled off my apron and left as quickly as possible so that J.J. wouldn’t notice Becca drooling. But before I stepped out of the little shop, Keira and Rory walked in.
For a second I froze. I was about to skip out early and my bosses had caught me red-handed. But instead of reprimanding me, Keira just elbowed Rory in his side and then winked at me. Why was she winking at me?
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I was just…”
“It’s fine.” She waved her hand through the air. “Just for the record…I totally predicted this. Now go have fun with your lifeguard.” She winked again.
My lifeguard. I laughed. I guess there was no sense in making up some lame excuse. Keira didn’t seem to care that I was leaving a few minutes earlier. She just seemed happy for me. Which made me smile. “Thanks.”
As I pushed through the door, a bout of nerves hit me. Would J.J. kiss me hello? Would he hug me? Would he try to hold my hand? Would he not touch me at all?
"Hey," I said quietly as I stepped out into the sun.
He smiled brightly. Seeing his smile immediately calmed my nerves. It was proof that he had enjoyed last night as much as me. He didn't wake up regretting what had happened either.
Instead of giving myself an opportunity to do anything weird, I just started to walk. As I passed him, he immediately slipped his hand in mine. I tightened my fingers around his and swallowed all the words rolling around in my head. Especially the “I missed you” that kept threatening to spill out.
We walked in silence, hand in hand down the boardwalk. It was already pretty busy since the 4th of July crowd was mostly still in town. I was trying to look anywhere but at him when he started talking. And I swore he said he missed me, but I couldn’t be certain. I looked up at him. “What did you say?”
“I said I missed you today, Jellyfish Girl. I’m used to you being at the beach with me on Tuesdays.”
My heart felt like it was going to explode. He had said no more games last night. So why was I keeping what I wanted to say locked up? “I missed you too. I’d spend every second with you if I could.” Oh crap, too honest?
But he just smiled.
God, I wanted to kiss his perfect lips again.
When we turned down the street that his apartment was on, I was relieved to get away from the crowds. But then with each step closer to his apartment, my heart started to beat faster. J.J. had told me to bring a swimsuit. Which meant we were either heading down to the beach in a bit, or his pool. He did not say we were going to have super hot sex again. But I couldn't help but think we'd be doing that too.
He didn't say a word to me as we walked into his building. Or as the elevator doors slid open. Or when we stepped on.
But soon as the doors closed, he leaned against the side of the elevator and pulled me against him. His hands trailed down my back and stopped just above my ass. "Hey," he said. His voice sounded so sexy. Maybe he had no intention of swimming or going to the beach. I could feel his erection through his swim trunks. Maybe we were just going to have mind-blowing sex all night instead.
I smiled up at him. I wasn't going to protest that at all. I closed my eyes and tilted my head up so that he'd kiss me.
Instead he ran the tip of his nose down the length of mine. For some reason it felt even more intimate than a kiss. I opened my eyes. He was staring at me so intently, our noses a fraction of an inch away from touching again. I was completely lost in his blue eyes.
"Everyone's already up at the pool," he said. "I'm glad I have a new chicken fighting partner. We're going to crush them."
It took me a second to process what he was saying. "Oh, fun." All I wanted to do was press the button to stop the elevator and jump his bones. But he had told me what he was inviting me over for. I just hadn't realized his friends would be a part of it. He lived with his friends, though. Of course they'd be here.
But they were all at the pool. Which meant his apartment was currently empty.
"Actually, I need to use the bathroom real quick," he said and pressed the button for his floor.
"Yeah, me too." I wasn't sure why I said it. I didn't have to use the restroom. But really I just wanted to be alone with him in his apartment. Apparently that was what he wanted too. Or maybe he actually had to pee.
The elevator doors opened a second later, so I didn't have time to analyze the way he was looking at me. I watched him unlock his door. I wanted to be forward. But if he actually had to take a piss, he'd make fun of me. I bit my lip and walked into his apartment. The lights were off, but the sun was streaming in through the closed curtains.
I heard the door lock behind me. I gulped. He flipped the switch and the room was flooded in light.
"I don't actually need to go to the bathroom," I said. It was easier to be bold when I wasn't staring directly at him.
J.J. wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed the side of my neck. "Me either." And I knew he wasn't lying. I could feel his erection pressing against the small of my back now. He pushed the bottom of my tank top up, pressing his palms against my skin.
"Aren't your friends waiting for us?"
He continued to push my tank top up until his hands reached my bikini top. He massaged my breasts through the thin fabric. "Would you be mad if I told you I was just trying to get you alone?"
I laughed, but my laugh quickly turned to a moan as his fingers found my nipples.
He untied my bikini top and pushed it and my tank top up. I lifted my arms and let him trace my skin with his fingertips as he pulled them both off. They fell to the floor. Last time I had lost my top in his apartment, I had covered myself. This time, I kept my arms to my side. I wanted him to see me. And I wanted to see him.
"You could have just come to my place if you wanted to be alone with me," I said as his fingers ran down my stomach. My whole body felt alive.
"Ever since I saw you in my room, I can't stop thinking about having you naked on my bed."
I gulped.
"And I'm barely ever alone here. I wanted to t
ake advantage of this opportunity." He undid the button on my jeans shorts and pushed them and my bathing suit bottoms down over my hips. They fell down my legs. His fingers trailed back up the insides of my thighs. One hand continued up to my breast, but the other stayed between my thighs, inching closer and closer to where I was aching for his touch.
I moaned when his fingers brushed across my wetness.
"You're so wet for me, Mila." His breath was hot against my neck. His finger encircled me, teasing me.
I moaned at his dirty words. But my moan quickly turned into a squeal when he lifted me over his shoulder and carried me to his room. There were so many things we still needed to talk about. But for just a few moments, I wanted to feel instead of think. He placed me on the edge of his bed. I wasn’t sure where he’d lost his swim trunks, but he thrust deep inside of me, my name on his lips.
Maybe I’d just feel instead of think for the rest of my life.
Chapter 20
Tuesday
“Even better than my dreams,” he whispered before placing a kiss on the top of my head. Normally I'd laugh at a comment like that. Or think it was just some line. But he sounded so sincere. Besides, I had dreamed about him too. Too many times to count. And it was better than I’d ever imagined.
I let my head rise and fall with his breath, listening to his rapid heartbeat. His bed was so much more comfortable than mine. Or maybe it was just the fact that he was in it with me. All the questions about what we were doing were still rolling around in my head, threatening to spill out. I swallowed them back down. I was not going to be the one to ruin this perfect post-sex bliss. I tried to focus on his heart racing again.
“What are you thinking?” he asked as he trailed his fingers lazily up and down my back.
That we’re running out of time and I need to make the most of every second. “Nothing.” I lifted my head off his chest so I could stare at him. “What are you thinking?” His answer was way more important to me.
“That we should have done this sooner.” He smiled, but the brightness didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Because we’re running out of time. Delaware was less long distance than California. But I didn’t want to tell him that I might be transferring until I at least talked to my dad about it. I’d call him soon. As soon as I got up the courage to hear his voice and not let whatever he said bother me. Fat chance. But I had to do it. I was thinking I could wait until I heard back from the University of New Castle, but it was taking longer than I expected. And I didn’t want my dad to send the money to SMU by accident.
I was glad J.J. popped the bubble instead of me. I was even happier that he was as content as me. I smiled down at him, hoping that it looked more sincere than his. “Better late than never. Aren’t your friends waiting for us at the pool?”
“Unless you’d rather stay in bed?”
I laughed and sat up. “Oh, I’d definitely rather stay here with you all night. But you promised me we’d win a chicken fight and that’s what I intend to do.” I slid off the bed. I really did love winning. Besides, I was a little curious about how he’d act around all those hot girls he usually hung out with now that we were dating. Or…fucking. Or…I didn’t know what we were. But it felt big and important to me. The kind of important that meant I would 100 percent not be flirting with any other guys. This would at least let me know that he felt the same way. And maybe give me the extra boost of confidence I needed in order to call my dad later.
By the time we reached the pool, the chicken fighting had already begun.
“We’ll join the next round,” J.J. said as he pulled me toward the pool. The wonderful feeling of his hand in mine wasn’t enough to distract me from looking for the blonde girl that J.J. had been dancing with yesterday. Jenn, I think he said her name was. That was a lie…I definitely knew her name. It was seared into my brain just like the way he danced with her was. It wasn’t hard to spot her. She was one of the last two people who hadn’t been knocked into the water this round. And she was battling…Kristen?
“Kristen?” I called.
Kristen turned her head. The distraction was enough for Jenn to knock her backward off Reggie’s shoulders.
She resurfaced in a fit of laughter. “So unfair! I demand a rematch. Mila distracted me. Are you coming in?” she asked me.
“Mhm.” I was happy she was here. Just surprised that neither she nor J.J. had mentioned it. I kicked off my flip flops. “You didn’t tell me Kristen was here,” I said to J.J.
“I didn’t know.” But he wasn’t focused on me or Kristen when he said it. I felt my stomach turn as I started to follow his gaze. I breathed a sigh of relief when he wasn’t ogling Jenn. He was staring daggers at Reggie instead. I should have come clean right then and there about how Reggie had helped me out last night. But diving into the pool seemed a lot easier. So I chose that route instead, letting his hand slide out of mine.
J.J. splashed water all over me when I resurfaced to his cannonball.
I laughed as he pulled me into his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist, not caring that we were surrounded by people. Apparently he didn’t care that we were around other people either.
“I told you that Reggie was a dick,” he said.
I sighed. I needed to tell him. Hopefully he wouldn’t be too mad. I was about to open my mouth when Kristen swam over to us.
“Sorry I didn’t text you last night,” she said. “I stayed at the party really late and ended up crashing at Reggie’s.”
Crashing definitely meant banging. I wondered if she did the Thanksgiving turkey thing. Luckily that hadn’t come up with J.J. yet. “That’s okay.” I’d lecture her later about murderers and rapists and the importance of texting your besties. Kids these days.
“I see the plan worked,” Reggie said as he joined Kristen at her side.
Oh crap.
“What plan?” J.J. asked.
Before I could figure out the best way to word it, Reggie filled in the blanks.
“The getting J.J. to stop being an idiot and notice Mila plan. I pretended to flirt with Kristen and Mila all night to make you jealous. Although, my flirtations with Kristen ended up being very much real.” He kissed her cheek.
I wanted to focus on how adorable they were, but I was a little preoccupied by J.J.’s face, waiting for his reaction. I was surprised when he started laughing. The breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding finally escaped.
Everyone around us seemed to vanish when J.J. turned back to me, his hands drifted farther down my back. “I guess I was being an idiot, huh?”
“Just a little dense.”
He smiled. “All your scheming worked then.”
Technically, J.J. had claimed he wasn’t jealous last night. Just protective of me. But the getting us together part? That had absolutely worked. I nodded.
“I admit that I was an idiot…but I always noticed you, Jellyfish Girl.”
My heart felt like it was going to burst.
“I guess I owe you a thank you,” he said to Reggie.
“No problem,” he said. “It ended up working out for both of us.” He pulled Kristen into his side. Her smile was so big it was contagious.
“You guys ready to play?” one of J.J.’s other friends called over to us.
“We’re in!” J.J. called before turning back to Reggie. “And just because I’m thankful, it doesn’t mean you two aren’t going down,” he said with a laugh.
“Oh, it’s on,” Reggie said.
J.J. went under water, maneuvering himself underneath my thighs. I laughed when he stood back up. He was so tall that in the shallow end I wasn’t anywhere close to touching the water anymore. I leaned forward to try to keep my balance. He turned his head and kissed my inner thigh. “You ready?” he asked me.
I wasn’t. I was super distracted by his mouth. And his wet hair that was dripping onto my legs in a way that I never knew would be so erotic. Yeah…this was not going to go well.
***
&nb
sp; It turns out that I wasn’t the best at chicken fighting even when I tried really hard to focus on the game instead of J.J. But I really did have a great night. To my delight, I don’t think J.J. even looked at Jenn once. He was as smitten as me. And I wouldn’t be able to get the smile off my face even if I wanted to.
“Ah, it’s freezing!” I yelled when we finally got out of the pool. The breeze from the ocean was always chillier at night.
J.J. grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. There was something sweet about that, especially because it left him shivering for longer when he had to go get another one.
“Do you want some pizza?” he asked. His friends had ordered Grottos and it had just arrived steaming hot from the boardwalk. It was late, but never too late for cheesy goodness.
“Is all you eat pizza?” I wasn’t complaining, I was just curious. I picked up a slice before he even responded and took a bite. Delicious.
“And ice cream.” He winked at me. “I really do need to learn how to make something other than cereal though.”
I laughed. “I can teach you…if you want. I love cooking. Although the last time I made pizza, it didn’t turn out so well. I still can’t believe rentals don’t have....”
“Rolling pins,” he said, finishing my sentence. “Yeah, you mentioned that before. Was that one of the many nights that I was being dense and you were mad at me?”
“No…just disappointed.”
He laughed. “Well, here’s to not disappointing you anymore.” He tapped his slice of pizza against mine.
I smiled.
“Here, you gotta see this view.” He used his hand that wasn’t holding a slice of pizza to guide me to the edge of the roof.
“This view is amazing. I wish we could stay here forever.” But I didn’t really mean at the beach. I glanced at J.J. out of the corner of my eye. I meant with him.
Time felt like it was frozen still as he turned to look at me. “Me too.”
Why did it already feel like goodbye when our summer together had only just started? I cleared my throat. “What do you want to do this weekend?” Even though the weekend was still far away, it was just far enough away that he might not already have plans like this with his friends. I was hoping we could do something just us.
