Krista, as always, is the last of us four to climb out of the pool. She dries off quickly and ties a towel around her before joining us on the picnic table.
“Okay,” she starts. “You’re freshly single and in need of some hardcore lovin’. What movie do you jump into to get it?”
“Fast and the Furious,” Macy shouts, way too eager, making the rest of us laugh.
“Carley?” Krista asks her as she piles her plate full.
“Hmm, how about The Boy Next Door.” She wiggles in her spot.
“A murderous lunatic is your type?” I tease.
“He brought J.Lo to her knees, literally, okay,” she jokes. “That’s my man.”
“You guys are lame, Christian Grey me, please!” Krista shouts.
“As if we’re surprised.” Carley laughs.
“Demi?” Macy asks, a chicken wing shoved halfway in her mouth.
“Takers, all day.” I nod.
The three of them pause before they all change their mind and go with my answer, too.
“Talk about a dream team.”
“Right?” I agree. “I’d go for Hayden Christianson to TI in a hot second.”
The four of us laugh, and then Carley elbows me in the ribs.
I look up and through the screen door to find my mom primping in the mirror.
It’s crazy how much I look like her, only the less perfected version, as I’m sure she’d call me.
Long, dirty blonde but not quite brown hair, almond-shaped eyes the same shade of green, a deep, ripe lime-like color. She’s always said she blessed me with the heart shape of my lips, though I’m pretty sure hers were created along the way with the help of a needle or two. We’re both pushing five-nine, but she stays in four-inch heels to give herself more height.
The difference between us though is she walks around like a California Barbie where I’m more Barbie’s best friend.
“You talk to her about my birthday yet?” Krista whispers.
“No.” I sigh, wiping the sauce off my fingers before pushing to stand, my towel falling from my middle as I do. “Might as well do it now.”
The girls follow behind.
The second we step through the door, my mom openly scrutinizes us in our bathing suits, likely picking us apart in her mind.
“Girls.”
“Hey, Ms. Davenport.”
“Mom, can I go to Krista’s party next weekend?” I ask her.
My mom turns to me. “You want to talk about this now?”
“Since you’re here, yeah.”
Her features sharpen, but she plays it off, smiling at herself in the mirror before meeting my gaze in the reflection. “So, this is the party that is two nights in a hotel along the beach with its own private bar and DJ? A hotel that has been blocked off for nothing but high school seniors for a spoiled little girl’s eighteenth birthday?” She looks over at Krista. “No offense, sweetheart.”
“Hey, it’s true.” Krista laughs.
I hold in my eye roll. “The hotel that’s safe and owned by Krista’s dad, yes. That’s the one.”
“Honey, there will be no parents there, and I’ll be out of town, so I can’t come to your rescue if something happens.” She makes sure to shake her head in faux concern.
‘Course you won’t be home, who’s shocked?
Not me.
This entire conversation is a pointless one anyway, and all formality.
I ask for something, she plays out the whole scene, makes it seem dangerous, makes herself sound concerned in case my dad asks me about it later, but it’s nothing more than a mother-daughter role we play.
A role we both know and understand and don’t acknowledge.
“Actually, Ms. D, my parents will be around, they’re staying at our property around the corner, but they’re coming to dinner one night and they’ll be checking in at the hotel here and there. It’ll be super chill. Dinner, some dancing, rides on the boardwalk.”
I look from Krista to my mom.
“I swear I’ll be safe,” I add on. “You already know how Krista’s dad is, there will be staff security surrounding the hotel, and she just said he’ll be around if needed.”
My mom nods, in too much of a hurry to get out of here to go full-on pretend I have reservations mode. “I suppose that would be okay, so long as you answer when I call and keep in contact all weekend.”
She won’t call. “I will.”
“And please, Demi, safety in the bedroom as well.”
Macy sits forward. “So… if you don’t care if she has wild sex all weekend, what’s the point of contemplating her going at all?”
I fight a smile.
My mom, of course, misses the contempt in Macy’s question – or chooses to ignore it, she’s good at that – and laughs, grabbing her purse off the countertop. “A reminder of safe sex is always worth mentioning. Nobody wants to get pregnant and ruin their lives in high school.”
Ouch?
“I have to go.” My mom smiles at me. “I’m meeting the Welch sisters for dinner, don’t wait up.”
I turn to my friends who give a rueful smile.
My mom isn’t necessarily a bad mom, but she’s basically over mothering. Her and my dad had me their junior year of high school, but still wanted the large, fancy future, so she worked her ass off at low paying jobs while raising a baby, supported us while he went to college – a fact she never failed to throw in his face.
Six years later and four months after he started his law firm, he left her for his business partner.
My mom was bitter at first, even though she drove him away by never being happy with what he gave her, but she quickly decided she enjoyed blowing his alimony and child support checks better than she liked being his wife anyway.
Now that I’m old enough to basically care for myself, can drive, and no longer need her help with schoolwork, she’s living the years she lost – her words.
I know she loves me, and I love her, my dad too, really, but they’re both absent parents more than anything. My dad at least makes an effort where my mom is annoyed when she has to do motherly things, but I mean, I can’t complain.
It’s what most teenagers would kill for, freedom to do as we wish.
“Oh, and Demi.” My mom pulls the door open, her focus falling to my thighs as she says, “I’d say that’s enough carbs for you today.”
Wow.
I’m a fucking dancer, have been in hip-hop classes since I was five, what the hell does she expect? She should have put me in ballet if she wanted me to be a tighter stick, we work an entirely different set of muscles.
She goes to walk out but freezes mid-step, staring straight ahead.
What is she doing?
After a few seconds, a strong, heavy voice floats around the frame and into the house. “Ms. Davenport…”
Nico.
Nico!
My eyes widen, and I whip around to my friends, all who gape at me, Macy holding her hand over Krista’s mouth to block her laugh.
Macy whispers with a grin, “Aw shit, he’s playing the hot help me with my homework card I told you about.”
“Shut up!” I hiss back. “You know how she is!”
“She’s about to plan your wedding!” Macy wiggles her eyebrows.
“Or your departure to boarding school,” Krista adds.
Macy laughs. “Let’s bet!”
I shove her, making her fall over the edge of the couch.
“Go over there!” Carley whispers back hastily.
“No!” I gape at her, my eyes pointedly falling to my bikini.
“Here.” Macy tosses me her towel. “Go.”
I yank it from her hand with a frown, glancing toward the entryway again.
My mom, queen of the fakes and superficial as all hell, pulls out her old pageant smile.
I groan, quickly wrap the towel under my armpits and move closer.
I’m half a foot from the door when the towel is yanked away and I’m shoved forward.
I stumble toward my mom but catch my footing quickly.
My mom’s hand flies to her chest a moment before she composes herself, eyes wide and bright and settled on Nico, saying nothing at all.
I frown at her.
You’re really going to stand there silent and stare at him?
I move my scowl to Nico who doesn’t acknowledge my mother’s ridiculousness, but the corner of his eyes are stiff as hell.
“Hey.” He nods.
“What are you doing here?”
My mom gasps, a legit, mortified gasp for once, officially snapping out of her stupor. “Demi!” she scolds, apology in her tone – how dare her daughter not use her manners.
Cue eye roll.
“What?” I say innocently, annoyed that he showed up on the rare occasion that my mom is actually home. “He can’t be here, you’re leaving.”
“Oh.” My mom dismisses, flicking her wrist. “Don’t be silly. Your friends are always welcome, you know this. Besides, I’m sure I have nothing to worry about.”
Her digs are always coated in sugar, served with a bitchy smile, and left up to interpretation – is she saying he’s out of my league or I’m far from his?
The way her eyes continue to study him suggests she’s undecided, though I’m sure Nico isn’t coming to the same conclusion.
It’s funny, for someone who pushes me to be the best at everything and make the highest grade, you’d think it was because she wanted a big bright future for me so I’d never be in the position she was when my dad left her, when really it’s all about the bragging rights that come with the scholarly daughter she’s after.
I swear she’d marry me to the highest bidder with the prettiest face if she could.
“Nico, wow. It’s been some time.” She tilts her head slightly, taking him in more and I want to shake her. “You’re… all grown up.”
Oh my fucking god!
My eyes slice to hers.
I can’t even look at him.
“It has,” he agrees, his stare burning into my cheek.
“Well, it’s… very good to see you, and here, but if I don’t run, I’ll be late,” she announces, her eyes raking over Nico once more, before moving to me.
She gives me a bright smile, reaching out to give my arm a small squeeze that can only be taken as a good job.
I bite into my cheek as she squares her shoulders and moves down the driveway to her car, one foot in front of the other like she’s on a runway.
I force my expression to remain natural when really her boldness was so embarrassing, I’d rather slam the door in Nico’s face then stand here and make eye contact with him after that.
I take a small step back, glancing to the side to find the girls tiptoeing toward the slider, all three being assholes, mock sucking dick or flicking their tongues between their fingers as they disappear from sight altogether.
Jerks.
“Not gonna invite me in?”
Nico’s jeering tone has my eyes flying back to him.
His though, they aren’t on mine.
They’re on my bare legs, and instantly my mom’s comment – which I’m pretty sure he heard – takes over my thoughts, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking.
It’s not like I can’t hang in a bikini with the best of them. I’m tall with a narrow waist, wide hips, and legs for days. It just so happens I have more muscles in my thighs and calves than most.
Still, there’s something nerve-wracking about standing in nothing but a string bikini in front of a guy who has probably seen more naked chicks than Ironman pre-Pepper.
Whatever, I’ve danced in front of hundreds in outfits just as revealing.
Finally, his eyes come to mine and he tips his chin the slightest bit.
“Guys aren’t allowed in when my mom’s gone.”
“Not the vibe I got.”
He’s obviously trying to piss me off, but I don’t say anything.
Nico gauges me a minute before taking a step back. “Right, well, I’d hate to get the duchess in trouble, so let’s make this quick, yeah? I—”
“Can you just go?” I cut him off, irritated not only at my mom but at him now, too, for mocking me. “We can talk about whatever it is you need in class tomorrow.”
He looks off in the distance, licking his lips before his eyes slowly move back to mine.
“Does that work?”
He gives a slow nod but doesn’t move.
After a few seconds of staring, a deep chuckle leaves him. “You have a good night, huh, D?”
He takes a few backward steps before shaking his head and finally walking away.
I close the door, letting out a deep breath. “Well, that sucked,” I huff, then remember my asshole friends are outside and head their way.
I don’t even get to speak before Krista shouts a loud, “Boo! We were hoping we were about to hear sounds coming from upstairs!”
“You guys are assholes.” I pretend I’m walking toward the lounger, but quickly stop and shove Macy, who only had her legs hanging over the edge, into the pool.
She pops up, gaping at me a second before she laughs. “I took that towel quick, huh?”
“You suck.” I laugh, dropping beside Carley.
“Oh, please. You should thank me.”
“For?” My hands plant on my hips.
“Because, now every time in chem, when he thinks about being an ass, he’ll instead be thinking about dat ass.”
I frown, but it quickly turns into a laugh when the girls start to crack up.
We lay out as long as the sun allows, and not an hour later, they’re piling in Krista’s car.
“Demi, is that your phone?” Krista shouts out the window.
I frown, my eyes moving to the hood of my car, where she’s pointing.
I walk toward it, noting my glittery PopSocket on the back right away.
What the hell?
Slowly, I pick it up, glancing around, but then it hits.
Nico.
My shoulders fall, and I look to the girls.
“No.” Carley gapes. “That’s why he came over?”
Damn.
“I must have left it in class and he picked it up for me.” I groan. “I was an asshole.”
“It’s fine.” Krista rolls her eyes. “He’s an asshole, too.”
A laugh bubbles out of me and she grins.
“Just, thank him tomorrow or something,” Carley tells me.
“Or now, whatever works.” Macy’s brows bounce.
I ignore her and head back inside, locking the door behind me.
I take the stairs two at a time, irritated at myself for being rude when I had no reason other than I was embarrassed by my mom’s words and actions.
Fully annoyed with everything, I do my homework, take a shower, and go to bed.
My eyes peel open to find my room pitch black, nothing but the moonlight shining through the window.
I lean over the edge of the bed, snagging my phone off the carpet to check the time.
It’s just after midnight, when I’d normally be falling asleep.
I drop back, but as soon as I hit the pillow, my body flies forward, my head snapping toward the window.
Is that… moaning?
I concentrate, the splash of water against concrete mixing with the proof of someone’s pleasure hitting my ears.
Slowly, I pull myself from bed and take the few steps forward until I’m peeking out my blinds.
It takes a second, but the soft laughter pulls my eyes over my fence and right where the noises are coming from – the hot tub connected to the neighbor’s pool behind me. Nico’s pool.
A small gasp leaves me, and I dart away from the window.
He’s not…
No. My eyes are playing tricks.
I step forward, peeking again, and holy shit!
My mouth drops open as I stare at Nico fucking a girl with long dark hair against the side of his hot tub.
He’s got his hands braced at the curve of the cement, giving me the perfect view of the muscles working in his back. The girl is bent over in front of him, half her body out of the water, and lying against the cooled cement.
His hand disappears, and I can only imagine it’s to grip or smack her ass, but I can’t say for sure.
His body moves slowly, methodically almost, like he’s taking his time with her, completely unrushed and enjoying, giving her long, slow strokes.
Deep, full strokes?
I take a deep breath, only for my eyes to widen a second later.
Oh my god!
I jump backward again.
Why am I watching him have sex, and better yet, why am I imagining the way he’s fucking her?
How he’d fuck me?
Wait, what?
No!
I growl, but my hands make no move to close the window, and my feet don’t carry me to my bed. No, my eyes close and my ears perk.
The night is dead silent, so even the slightest wallow of water reaches my ears. It’s light at first, and then louder, more of a slap against the cement edge.
The moaning starts again. Brash, brazen moaning, both male and female, and I have no self-control. I look again.
He has her on the edge now, her forearms braced against the cement, fingers curled around the edge, head dropped back.
My body grows hot and I swallow. “Good fucking god,” I whisper, my hand moving to my throat.
They’ve moved to the opposite side, the front of his body now facing mine, allowing me to see the cuts of his chest and abs, and the delicious way they tighten with every thrust forward.
I don’t realize I’ve moved closer to the window until my forehead hits the glass and my phone falls from my hand, dropping right onto the edge of my toe.
I yelp and fall against the glass, and then I freeze, my eyes shooting wide.
“Oh no…” I whisper to myself, squeezing my eyes closed.
Did they hear me?
Did they see the shake of the open blinds?
I take a deep breath and perk my ears.
When more moaning is caught, I decide it’s safe, that they have no idea I went full-on Peeping Tammy.
I open my eyes and I’m instantly rooted in place, heat washing over my body in such a rush I grow lightheaded, my palm flying up to plant on the wall beside me.
They heard me, or more, he heard me, saw me. Caught me.
His eyes are lasered on my window. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say locked directly on mine, darkness be damned.
Nico has her by the hips now, her ass perched how he wants it as he delivers one hell of a show.
A show I couldn’t look away from if I tried, a performance I feel deep in my core. One that, admittedly, has need spreading through my body as he works the cum from hers.
A few minutes go by where I can’t tell if they’re moving at all, and then he suddenly slips back, the bubbles of the hot tub spanning across his torso.
Slowly, his shoulders lift, Nico now standing to his full height, and my hand spans across my chest, my body rising to its tippy toes of its own accord, just in case the move allows me to see an inch lower.
Just one more inch to the prize—
My thoughts are interrupted when the girl glides around him, running her fingers across his slick skin as she goes.
In all her naked glory, she steps from the pool like a gleaming goddess, shifting to the side to grab a towel, and that’s when I see her face.
Sandra fucking Black.
