Chapter 25 Wet Wednesday
Wet Wednesday
I see Camille and Danielle are in the pool, laughing as they bomb dive and splash each other like kids. The sound of their joy makes me grin. I walk to the edge of the pool.
“You guys look like you’re having fun.”
“Come in!” Camille laughs.
I’m tempted. But I’m still in work clothes, white singlet and my cargo shorts—my work shirt didn’t survive the heat today.
As I’m about to turn around to head inside to get changed, I’m being pushed in by Tyler who’s snuck up behind me, the cheeky shit.
I break the surface laughing and run my hands through my wet hair. The girls are giggling like school girls, and Tyler is pissing himself laughing at the edge of the water.
I peel off my singlet that’s clinging to me.
The girls go quiet and eyes wide, watching me. I know I’m in good shape, I train really hard, mostly for myself but I still get nervous when people stare.
Except right now, I love the way Camille’s looking at me, biting her lip like she wants a taste.
Tyler cannonballs in and breaks the moment, splashing us all.
I take off my heavy shorts too. They’re no good for swimming. So now I’m just in my underwear, I remind myself not to stare at Camille too long. I’m only human, and I’m not sure I could hide just how much I want her if I do.
“Let’s do wrestling!” Tyler suggests. “Danielle, hop on my shoulders.” He hauls her up, she laughs and goes with it.
“Guess that means you’re on mine.” I look to Camille. She seems a little nervous, but she climbs on my shoulders.
I’m so glad my lower body is under water right now, because all I can think about is her thighs on me. How I could easily flip her around and have my face between those thighs.
The girls start “wrestling,” though it’s more giggles than anything else.
“We can’t do this,” Camille laughs. “I feel silly. I don’t want to wrestle you.”
“Yeah, I’ll give you a hug fight instead,” Danielle grins and wraps her in a big hug. Tyler winks at me. Pervert. But then again, so am I right now.
We eventually give up the game and just float around, chatting.
“So, you work for Lucas?” Danielle asks Tyler.
“Sure do, my big bad boss.” He splashes me.
“How long have you guys worked together?” Camille looks at us both.
I let Tyler explain. “Just over a year. I started contracting for Lucas not long after moving to Coevey Bay. I’d been bouncing around Queensland, trying to find my feet. Lucas has been awesome. He’s taught me a lot, the old man.”
“Old man?” I laugh and splash him. “I’m only a few years older than you!”
Tyler wipes his face, turning to the girls. “How long have you worked together?”
“I moved here eight months ago,” Danielle answers. “Started working at the bar right away. Met Camille on my first shift and knew we were destined to be best friends.” She hugs Camille, and the love between them is obvious.
“Aw love you girl.” Camille says to her.
“It’s nice you guys have each other—” I’m interrupted by Tyler pulling me into a hug.
“I just knew we were destined to be best friends too,” he plants a wet kiss on my cheek.
I shove him away, laughing. “You’re such a pest.”
The girls giggle.
“I better go check on the bolognese.” Camille hoists herself out of the pool.
“I’ll give you a hand.” I follow her out. Leaving Danielle and Tyler alone in the pool.
I grab the towels and pass one to Camille. I wrap mine around my waist as we head into the kitchen.
Camille starts to stir the sauce on the stove.
“What can I do?” I walk into the kitchen behind her.
“Taste this.” She spoons up a sample, blows on it, and brings it to my lips. “Is this okay?”
I taste it and moan. “More than okay. That’s the best bolognese sauce I’ve ever had. What’s in it?” I smirk at her.
She tilts her head to the side with mock seriousness.
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” I grin, trying not to laugh. She breaks first. “It’s my mum’s recipe. She always put sugar in it. Besides that, I don’t really know what’s different—I’ve only ever made it this way.”
“Well, I love it. I can’t wait for a full bowl. I’ll set the table while you finish up.” I start grabbing the cutlery. “Think we’ve got time for showers?”
“Definitely. I was about to suggest it.” She heads toward the others, but they’re already walking in.
“Perfect timing,” Camille clasps her hands together. “We’re gonna shower before dinner. Danielle, you guys go ahead. I’m not quite done here.”
“Oh my gosh, yes! I love van life, Vonnie is the best. But I’m so over walking to the camp showers every night,” Danielle groans.
“Just crash here tonight,” Tyler offers. I’m not against that idea, I like having a full house and good energy.
“Really?” she looks to me. “Would that be okay?”
“Of course Danielle. We have another spare room that’s free.”
“Uh! Thank you!” She squeals and gives me a hug. “I’ll grab some clothes from Vonnie and go have a quick shower.”
She runs off out the door. Apparently Vonnie is the name of her van.
Camille turns to me and smiles. “That’s so nice of you.”
I just smile back at her and head off to have my shower.
I turn the water freezing cold. Stopping myself from thinking of Camille in that red bikini. Afterward, I dry off and change into shorts and a white T-shirt before heading back out to the kitchen.
Camille’s only just walked off towards her room as I get out to the living area, and I can hear the other showers still going.
I start dishing everyone’s bowls up. I put the four bowls down on the table and by the time I’m done, everyone walks out.
Camille’s hair is pulled up in a messy, half wet bun and she is wearing a pair of short black bike tights and a pink baggy t-shirt that says, ‘‘I’d rather be reading’’.
I chuckle internally, my Angel is a nerd.
She looks so effortlessly beautiful. Everytime I see her, I think it.
I look back down at the bowls as everyone comes to sit down.
We all quickly dig in. Everyone is raving about her spag-bol, and she’s blushing. This girl is not used to compliments, that’s for sure.
“Cam, I didn’t realise you could cook like this. Oh my gosh. When we move in together, you’re gonna cook for me every night, okay?” Danielle tells her.
Camille laughs. “Sounds good to me. I love cooking.”
“Has she not cooked for you before Danielle?” Tyler asks.
“Never,” Danielle adds. “Sean didn’t like me being over. We didn’t hang out much outside of work, but I kept trying, and I’m so glad I did.”
Camille nods, voice a little quieter. “Yeah, Sean didn’t want me to have friends. Danielle kept pushing, though. I’m grateful.”
“Fuck Sean,” Danielle swears. “Has he texted you again?”
That gets my attention. “He’s been texting you?”
“Not just texting, he called her twenty times! Being a fucking prick, as usual.” Danielle answers for her.
“What did he say?” I look at Camille.
“Nothing worth repeating. And it doesn’t matter. I blocked him.”
“Show me,” Danielle holds out her hand. “I want to check if he’s said anything else.”
Camille sighs. “Fine. But I don’t want to know.”
Danielle should probably leave it alone but I’m curious too, so I don’t say anything.
I lean over and watch Danielle unblock Sean’s number, I can see the texts he sent her today.
My fists tighten.
One new text pings through from a few hours ago.
Sean: Fuck you. I’d rather die than think about you anymore.
Danielle quickly closes the message and hands the phone back to Camille.
I put my hands under the table, holding my fists tightly. Fuck this guy.
“Fuck him, Camille,” Danielle is seething, so am I. “He never deserved you.”
“I know. I just didn’t see it before. I’m learning… the only one who decides my worth is me. My worth didn’t disappear just because someone else couldn’t see it.” Goddamn, this woman. Brave doesn’t even cover it. She has no idea how incredible she is.
I’d give her the world if she asked.
“Anyway,” Tyler breaks the silence, “on to lighter topics. How about that weather today, hey? The swell is gonna be perfect by Friday, I’m hoping for a surf every arvo this week.”
Camille mouths “thank you” to him as the conversation changes away from Sean.
“I’m keen for Friday after work?” I suggest.
“Yeah man, let’s do it.” Tyler smiles widely at me.
“I might come down and watch you guys too.” Camille says casually, then looks to Danielle who hasn’t said anything. “You wanna come?”
“I’m working.” She shrugs nonchalantly.
Camille stands up and starts picking up the now empty bowls. “Damn, well we will have to catch up another day soon.”
I stand up to help Camille.
“You can watch me surf any day you want Sunshine, just let me know.” Tyler winks at Danielle, I avert my gaze from them and bring it back to Camille.
We walk away from the dining table and bring the dishes to the sink.
“You cooked, so I got this.”
She doesn’t leave though, she hangs around me while I get busy doing the washing up. I start packing the dishwasher first, before I move to the hand washing. Danielle and Tyler are still at the dining table, talking about who knows what. I’m too distracted by Camille to pay much attention to them.
“So, you liking living here?”
She leans against the counter, looking at me as she twirls her hair around her finger.
“Yeah, I do. So far, so good. Thank you so much again for letting me stay Luc.”
I nod and look back down at the dishes.
“It’s actually been really nice having you here. It’s gonna be less… bright, when you’re gone.”
“You gonna miss me Emerson?” She teases as she tilts her hip slightly and cocks her head. I try so hard not to check her out right now. She’s bloody sexy when she’s being cheeky. I wash my hands as I fill the sink up.
“I promise you that I will.” I tell her honestly. Because I know I will. I like her being here. She’s kind, funny, helpful and just such a light to be around. But… maybe when she moves out and she’s not living here, she might actually be open to being more than just friends.
I would kill to be more than her friend.
To kiss her again.
To feel her tight heat clenching around me again…
Fuck. I’m getting hard.
Dammit. Stop Lucas.
A friend is what she needs right now. I can’t fuck this up for her. She needs to know she’s safe here.
I need to think about something else, anything else. I shut my eyes and when I open them again Camille is waving her hand in my face.
I blink, “Uh, what did you say?”
She laughs. “Thought I lost you there for a minute.” She tucks a stray piece of her hair behind her ear.
“I said that I’ll miss you too. But, we are going to stay friends, even when I don’t live here. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” She nudges my hip with hers, and then she bites her lip. I swallow hard.
“Well, that’s lucky. Because you can’t get rid of me either.” I nudge her hip back softly, making her giggle.
The sound of her laugh does something to my chest every single time, it’s like my heart’s doing cartwheels.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt this feeling.
When she’s happy, it’s like the whole world shines.
I smile and tuck the hair that’s let itself free again.
My touch lingers on her cheek. She looks up at me and swallows.
Her eyes dart between my eyes, then drop to my mouth.
She takes a step back, smiling and turns her head to look at Danielle and Tyler.
“I might go to bed. I have an early start tomorrow.” She yawns. “And I’m super tired.”
I want her to look at me like that again.
“Alright. Goodnight Angel.” I smile. She’s not wearing any makeup, so there is no hiding the blush that flushes her cheeks when she looks at me. She gives me a shy smile then walks over to the others, saying goodnight before she goes to her room.