Chapter 13 - Poolside Jealousy
Ginny Nakamura should not have come to the pool.
She knew this.
The moment she stepped out and saw Jayna Stewart in swimwear, she knew she had made a critical, life-altering mistake.
Because Jayna—
in a fitted black one-piece that hugged every curve, hair slightly damp, dimples on full display as she laughed with TK—
was illegal.
Ginny stopped walking.
"...this is a problem," she muttered.
Beside her, Apple Chrome followed her gaze and gasped dramatically.
"OH MY GOD. LOOK AT YOUR FIANCéE."
Ginny swallowed. "I am looking. That's the problem."
Apple clutched her arm. "She looks like she could ruin lives."
"She's currently ruining mine," Ginny whispered.
---
Jayna spotted them.
Her face lit up immediately.
She raised a hand and waved.
"Hey!"
Ginny's heart did a stupid little flip.
She walked over, trying to look normal.
Cool.
Unaffected.
Failing miserably.
"Hi," Ginny said, a little breathless.
Jayna's eyes softened slightly when she noticed. "You okay?"
Ginny nodded too quickly. "I'm fine. Totally fine. Just... sun. And water. And... pool."
Jayna's lips twitched.
Apple snorted behind her.
---
TK, of course, chose that exact moment to make everything worse.
"Well hello again, beautiful," TK said smoothly, looking Jayna up and down in a way that was very deliberate.
Ginny's eye twitched.
Jayna rolled her eyes. "Don't start."
"I'm just appreciating," TK said, completely unapologetic. "You look incredible."
Ginny's stomach tightened.
Sharp.
Unpleasant.
New.
Jayna waved it off. "Thanks."
But TK didn't stop.
She leaned closer.
Too close.
"Seriously," TK continued, voice lower now, "if you weren't already taken, I'd be making a move right now."
Something in Ginny snapped.
Before she even realized what she was doing—
she stepped forward.
Slid her arm around Jayna's.
Pulled herself close.
Pressed against her side.
"Good thing she is taken," Ginny said sweetly.
Her voice light.
But her grip?
Firm.
Possessive.
Jayna went very still.
TK's eyes widened.
Then her grin spread slowly.
"Oh," TK said softly. "There it is."
---
Ginny didn't let go.
Not even a little.
If anything, she leaned in closer.
Her fingers curling slightly into Jayna's arm.
Jayna's body was warm.
Solid.
Familiar now.
And Ginny's heart was beating way too fast.
Jayna turned her head slightly, her lips brushing just near Ginny's ear.
"Jealous, fiancée?" she whispered.
Ginny's breath hitched.
"...maybe," she admitted quietly.
Jayna's hand found Ginny's waist.
Slowly.
Gently.
Like it belonged there.
And this time—
Ginny didn't panic.
She leaned into it.
---
TK clapped once, delighted. "Oh I love this dynamic. Possessive Ginny is my new favorite thing."
"Shut up, TK," Ginny muttered, but she was blushing.
Jayna laughed softly.
Low.
Warm.
And it did something to Ginny's insides she did not want to examine.
---
They moved to the poolside loungers.
Ginny sat close.
Very close.
Closer than necessary.
Jayna noticed.
Of course she did.
But she didn't comment.
She just let her.
Let Ginny stay tucked against her side.
Let her fingers idly play with the strap of Jayna's towel.
Let her claim that space.
---
At one point, a stranger approached.
A woman Ginny vaguely remembered from school.
She smiled at Jayna.
"Hi, Jayna. It's been a while."
Jayna smiled politely. "Yeah, it has."
The woman's gaze lingered.
"Oh wow... you look even better now."
Ginny's jaw tightened.
The woman laughed lightly. "Are you single these days?"
Ginny didn't even let Jayna answer.
She sat up straighter, sliding her hand over Jayna's thigh—subtle, but very clearly there.
"She's engaged," Ginny said.
Her tone calm.
Sweet.
Sharp.
The woman blinked. "Oh—sorry, I didn't know."
Jayna's hand covered Ginny's where it rested on her thigh.
Squeezed once.
Gentle.
Reassuring.
"Yeah," Jayna said softly, glancing at Ginny with something warm in her eyes. "I am."
The woman smiled awkwardly and left.
Apple made a strangled noise of delight from her chair.
---
The moment the woman was gone—
Ginny realized where her hand was.
On Jayna's thigh.
Warm skin under her palm.
She froze.
Jayna didn't move her hand away.
Instead, she leaned closer.
Voice low.
"Comfortable?"
Ginny swallowed.
"...very."
Jayna's lips curved.
---
The rest of the afternoon passed in a haze of sun, laughter, and too much physical closeness.
Jayna's hand kept finding Ginny's waist.
Ginny kept leaning into her.
Their touches lasted longer.
Lingered.
Burned.
Even when no one was looking anymore.
---
Later, as the sun started to set, Jayna stood.
"Come on," she said, offering her hand to Ginny.
Ginny took it without thinking.
Their fingers intertwined easily.
Naturally.
Like it was the most normal thing in the world.
As they walked away together, Apple's voice followed them again:
"YESSSS CLAIM YOUR WOMAN, GINNY!"
Ginny groaned. "I'm going to throw her into the pool."
Jayna laughed beside her.
Soft.
Fond.
Dangerous.
And this time—
Ginny didn't pull her hand away.