Chapter 32 Dancing Vagina
CHAPTER 32: DANCING VAGINA
LACEY
A fter tubing all morning, we went back to the cabin to pick up Donovan and Enzo, eat lunch, and take a break from the heat before heading back on the water.
The boat is anchored in a small cove near the cabin. The sun is starting to move lower in the sky, but unfortunately the heat hasn’t diminished at all. It has to be the hottest day we’ve had all summer. The only reprieve is the lake water and so that’s where most of the group is—floating on various shaped floats.
Chris has surprisingly loosened up and I wonder if it’s the booze or if he actually might be turning a corner and putting whatever he thinks is going on with Jace out of his head.
“So, Donovan and Enzo, are y’all ready for the big day?” Logan asks.
Both men smile. “I can’t believe in two weeks I’ll get to call this guy my husband,” Donovan gushes, pulling Enzo in for a kiss.
“I didn’t realize you all were getting married so soon,” Chris says, looking at me. I sip my beer and try not to look at him. I have a plus one, but after trivia I wasn’t sure I wanted it to be Chris. I told myself if this weekend went good, I would invite him to come with me. I still don’t know what I want to do.
“Who’s in the wedding?” Jace asks.
“My sister and Enzo’s brother. We wanted to keep the wedding party small.”
“And then Tink and Peter are the flower girl and ring bearer,” Enzo chuckles.
“Your dogs?” Tanner asks before sipping from the can he’s holding.
“Dogs?” Enzo gasps for dramatic effect. “Tink and Peter are our children.”
I have to swallow a laugh imagining their dogs walking down the aisle. Tink is an old English mastiff and Peter is a yorkie.
“Dogs at a wedding?” Chris asks. His face contorts into something resembling disgust.
“Why not? It’s their wedding. They can do whatever they want,” I argue.
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Aren’t weddings supposed to be formal? Dogs are so dirty. You aren’t concerned about them ruining your day?”
Donovan and Enzo look at each other and back at Chris.
“Well, I think it’s a great idea. I’ve always wanted a dog,” I say. “Peter and Tink are very cute children and the day wouldn’t be complete without them there.” Chris doesn’t respond. Donovan offers me a thankful smile.
“We got Tink this little tutu and Peter has a bow tie,” Enzo tells the group. Donovan’s eyes stay locked on his fiancé and you can tell he’s so in love. That feeling of jealousy or maybe it’s longing returns deep in my gut. I wonder if I will ever find someone who will love me that wholly.
“That’s precious. Gray and I were talking the other day. It was so nice of you to invite us. We are a good time at a wedding,” Wren giggles. “One of the girls from work, Jasmine, got married and we had to cut Gray off from the champagne at the after party. I’m pretty sure she was doing the splits by the end of the reception.”
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Tanner blurts out. Everyone turns to face him.
“Of course they’re coming. We invited them the night we met them.” Donovan laughs. I look toward Wren and she’s gone quiet. Her eyes are locked on Tanner and I wonder for a moment what that’s about.
“So, where’s the honeymoon?” Poppy asks, breaking the awkward silence.
“We aren’t doing one right away,” Enzo says.
“Yeah, with Enzo’s work schedule we had to postpone it until his winter break,” Donovan adds.
“I get that,” Logan says. “Where are you going?”
“Bora Bora,” Enzo answers. “It’ll be the perfect weather and it’s an adult only resort, so after having to be around middle schoolers for four months it’ll be a nice and relaxing break from work.”
“I’m going to grab another water, anyone else want a beer or anything from the cooler?” Jace asks, swimming toward the ladder hanging off the back of the boat.
“I’ll take a beer,” Chris says.
“Me too,” Tanner and Logan say at the same time.
“And me,” Poppy says.
“I’m good,” Wren chimes in.
“Let me help you,” Chris offers before swimming toward the boat.
My gaze follows both men toward the ladder. Chris pulls himself up and onto the boat first. My stomach twists at how little the view does for me and I’m not sure why. He’s attractive, fit, and smart. He has that dimple when he smiles, but my body stays neutral. No dancing vagina, not even one pathetic butterfly in my stomach.
Jace pulls himself out of the water next and every thought I was having about Chris empties from my head. At the sight of him my body erupts with feelings. The muscles in his arms flex and I cross my legs to dull the very present feeling dancing between my thighs. Fuck. The sun reflects off the water rolling down his chest and abs. I want to look away, but I can’t. He runs his hand through his dark hair and I realize I’m very attracted to the handsome, tattooed man I’m supposed to be friends with.
“Earth to Lacey,” Poppy chimes, splashing me with water and breaking the thoughts I shouldn’t be having. “Whatcha looking at?”
“I’m trying to make sure the guys get out of the water safely.”
“I’m so sure,” she says dryly.
“What? I am!”
“What’s going on?” Wren asks, paddling her float closer to us.
“Lacey is eye-fucking her man and trying to pretend like she isn’t,” she giggles and so does Wren.
“Shut up, I wasn’t looking at Jace,” I laugh, splashing water in her direction.
Both girls stop laughing abruptly and look at me. I realize the name I said was all wrong.
“I mean Chris. I wasn’t eye-fucking Chris.”
“What an interesting slip of the tongue,” Poppy says, eyeing me. Her eyebrow quirks up and I know she can see through my bullshit. I’m here with Chris not Jace. Jace is my ex. Jace and I will never be anything more than friends. I made sure to sabotage the hell out of any chance we had at being together ten years ago.
“Don’t,” I warn. “It was an accident. It meant nothing.”
“Whatever you say.” Wren offers me a small smile. I hear a splash and when I look back at the boat, Chris is headed straight for me holding two beers. He hands one to me.
“What did I miss?” he asks looking at both of my friends. Their reactions to my mistake still painted on their faces.
“Oh nothing,” Poppy lies.
“Lacey was telling us about the last book she was reading,” Wren adds.
I offer them a thankful smile before popping the top on the can and taking a large sip.
We all hang in the water for a little longer, and when the sun starts to dip below the trees we make our way back up to the boat for sandwiches, more drinks, and fireworks.
I settle on one of the bench seats as far away from Jace as I possibly can get. Chris makes his way over to me, sandwich in hand, and takes a seat next to me. I try to nestle into the crook of his arm, but he moves away. “Not in front of your friends, okay?” he whispers, so only I can hear him.
My face falls at his inability to show me any physical affection and for a split second I wonder if I don’t turn him on either. I straighten up, now very uncomfortable. The first firework erupts above us and I take a moment to look around the boat. Poppy is in Logan’s lap. Enzo’s head rests on Donovan’s shoulder. Tanner and Wren sit on opposite sides of the front of the boat. Jace is in the captain’s chair in front of me and my eyes settle on his back. Fireworks continue to go off above us, but my eyes stay locked on him instead.
Tanner docks the boat and I’m the first one off. I walk lazily up the ramp toward the house. I can hear Chris behind me talking endlessly about some political something with Logan and I can’t bring myself to listen. My bag is thrown over my shoulder and my flip flops are in one hand. The night air is filled with a melody of drunk laughter, stray fireworks in the distance, and something I think must be a frog.
Footsteps make me turn around, and Jace is a couple of strides behind me, holding a cooler. We walk back up to the house side by side, neither of us talking. The walk feels longer than it is and the silence is deafening. For some reason I’m nervous and I don’t know what to say or do.
“Did you have fun today?” he asks, his mouth turning into a gorgeous grin. His face is illuminated by the lights coming from the house. Something deep in my core warms and I try to push it away, but I can’t.
“Yeah, it was a blast, but I’m exhausted. Probably going to see if Chris wants to head to bed.”
His jaw slightly ticks at the mention of Chris, but he doesn’t say anything else. We walk into the main level of the house and I let my bag hit the floor by the dining room table. He moves to the fridge and starts unloading the cooler.
“Here, let me help you,” I offer, joining him. We start clearing out the leftover drinks and food in silence. I’m trying to think of something to say, when both of our hands grab for a can of beer at the same time. The touch of his fingers on mine sends a shock up my arm and creates a feeling deep in my core that I’m not sure what to do with. He turns to face me. His blue eyes bore into me and I want so badly to know what he’s thinking. Donovan and Enzo walk in laughing, causing me to let go of the can and to take two steps back.
“Is there any beer leftover?” Enzo asks.
“Oh, um, yeah,” Jace says, turning away and throwing the can in Enzo’s direction.
“Thanks, man.”
Jace flips back towards the fridge and when he does his eyes find mine for another split second. He makes quick work of cleaning the cooler out and I move to the other side of the kitchen putting much needed space between us.
Tanner walks in with the rest of the group holding a wireless speaker. The upbeat music fades and “Remember When” by Alan Jackson begins to play on full volume. My eyes dart to Jace’s and his face is immediately covered with sadness. His gorgeous smile is nowhere to be found.
“Turn it off, T,” I shout.
“Huh?” he asks, his body rocking back and forth like he’s still out on the water. Time seems to slow and I don’t understand what he’s not understanding.
“I said, turn the fucking song off. Or turn it. Do something. Just stop playing it, please.”
Tanner’s eyes meet mine with confusion and he pulls out his phone tapping the screen. The song stops and when I look around the room Chris is staring at me with his mouth a gape.
“You good, Lace?” Wren asks, her eyes full of concern.
“I’m fine. Are you okay, J?” He walks out of the room without a sound and I follow him. I hear Chris call my name, but I ignore him.