“Well, then, it’s a good thing your boyfriend isn’t here, right?” Les said cheerfully as we reached Val and began circling them.
I shot Val a pleading look. “Let’s do something else. I don’t want to--” She grabbed my arm and yanked me sideways. “Hey!”
Les cursed and jumped to the left to stay under me. “Come on, Lily! Don’t take that! Fight back.”
I glared at Val. “Cut it out!”
“No!” She laughed and lunged for me again. I ducked and grabbed her wrist. Les hooked his foot around one of Hugh’s legs, I pulled on Val, and suddenly they were going over. Les held up his arms in victory as Val and Hugh disappeared under the water in a splash, and I clung to Les’s head to keep from falling off.
“We rule!” he crowed. He held up his hand for a high five, and I reluctantly smacked his palm.
Okay, so that had been sort of fun to see Val and Hugh go down, I had to admit. But I still wished Rafe was here. I wished it was Rafe whose shoulders I was on.
Too bad for me, right?
* * *
An hour and a half later, I was lying on a lounge chair next to Erin, catching some rays for the first time all summer. The guys were cooking burgers and hotdogs on the grill and not paying us any attention, which was a relief.
Since they were at the other end of the pool, I’d finally given in to Erin’s pressure to take off my shirt. I’d kept my clothes on the whole time I was in the pool—getting thrown in while dressed had been the perfect excuse. But there was no way to justify tanning in my shirt, so off it had come.
I was keeping my shorts on, though. I’d noticed that Erin had put hers back on too, so I didn’t feel so self-conscious about wearing them.
Val and Delilah were helping the boys with the grill, wearing their bikinis and nothing else. Didn’t they feel naked? No way could I do that. Well, maybe if Rafe was here... Argh! I had to stop thinking about Rafe!
“So, has Les asked you yet?” Erin asked.
“No.” At least I hadn’t had to make conversation with him. Getting tossed in the water repeatedly had taken care of any awkward silences. I had to admit, it had been kinda fun though. Definitely way better than sitting at home practicing the piano. Was this what my friends had been doing all summer? No wonder they were tight. “Did Keith ask you?”
“Yes!” Erin beamed at me as she smoothed some sunscreen over her arms. “Isn’t that awesome?”
“Great.” I stared across the pool at Les. He was laughing with Val and looked like he was having a great time. They all looked like they were having so much fun, but now that we were out of the pool, I felt awkward again.
What was I supposed to say to him? I wasn’t feeling so keen on going to the dance with Les. I didn’t really want to go with him, but I couldn’t stand the thought of staying home by myself. I wanted to feel comfortable and included, not hide at the other end of the pool because I didn’t know how to flirt while the guys were grilling.
“So, Rafe’s way hot,” Erin said, her eyes gleaming with interest.
I grinned at Erin and flopped back against the plastic straps of the chair. Rafe. Just the thought of him made my whole body relax. “I know.”
“Are you sure you can’t get him to come to the semi?” She propped herself up on her elbow and shielded her eyes against the sun. “I mean, Les is cute, but why would you go with him if you could go with Rafe?”
“Rafe can’t go.” I avoided her gaze by pulling off my sunglasses and polishing them on my towel. “I’ll go with Les because I want to hang with you guys at the dance. Quadruple date.”
“Really?” She eyed me, looking way too skeptical. “Why would you want to hang with us when you can be with Rafe? I mean, he’s completely sexy.”
“I spend a lot of time with him already.” I pretended to inspect my toenails, which I’d painted fluorescent orange last night. No more hiding them in my shoes. Flip flops and orange toenails today, and it felt good, I had to admit. I grinned at my fingernails. They were fluorescent orange and pink stripes. Yay me! “Especially now that I’m in his band.” I shot her a sly look. “He’s giving me private lessons to help me learn the music.”
Her eyes widened. “So, is he a great kisser or what?”
“Ah...” Oh, way to go, Lily. Can’t you think before you open your mouth sometimes?
“Want a hot dog?”
I looked up to see Les blocking my sun, holding a couple hot dogs. “Definitely.” There was nothing like food for avoiding having to answer a question you didn’t like.