Chapter 17 #2
A sizeable crowd has gathered as colorful lights flash, music pulses, and we are beckoned toward the inviting pool.
I grab Seb’s hand as the guys surround me without me saying a word.
I can’t see much with the wall of muscles, so I just step along with them.
Once they stop, Seb pulls me forward between him and Nick.
Chairs surround a fire pit where we are, the flames crackling and casting dancing shadows.
Looking around, I see another fire closer to the dark, calm water.
Behind us are the pool and patio. I can see people dancing inside as the doors of the house are open wide.
Seb turns me and pushes me down into Nick’s lap.
“We’re gonna go find Trev and say hi Sunshine. Want something to drink?”
“A soda or water, please.”
“You got it,” Seb smiles as he grabs E’s hand, and they walk towards the house.
“I’m going to find Penny,” Bay tells us as he follows behind them.
Since there are empty seats, I slide into my own chair between Alex and Nick. “Any updates from your dad, Alex?”
“Yes. A hurricane hit the resort island. There is extensive damage to the hotel and foundation. Work is starting next week, so my father is expecting to be there for a while yet.”
“Oh crap. That sucks. Is it safe to use?”
“Yes, but he offered other accommodations to everyone who had a booking there if they preferred. If they stayed, he discounted the rates since there will be construction occurring.”
“That was good of him. So, is he delaying his trip home?”
“Yes, but I must see him soon.”
“Did something else happen?”
“Yes. I interrupted a planning session between Reesa and Alicia for the engagement party. They were discussing venues and invitations.”
“Wow.” Does Reesa agree with Alicia? She knows how upset Alex is, but is still planning. Imagine living with your husband after doing something like this.
“I believe I put a stop to it, at least.”
“Alex, it’s possible that you won’t be able to wait for your dad to come home.”
He nods, getting that faraway look as I hear my name being called. Turning my head towards the house, I see Holly and Jaxon walking towards us. “Hey guys,” I smile.
“Hi girl. Where’s the rest of your guys?” Holly asks.
“Seb and E are getting drinks, and Bay is looking for Penny.”
“Who's Penny?” She asks, looking confused.
“She’s the new girl he’s dating.” I haven’t talked to Holly about my guys, but she knows how close we all are. We’re still being quiet about the poly lifestyle.
“Oh, I didn’t see that coming. Is she nice?” Holly asks. Pulling a chair over between me and Nick. Jaxon sits and pulls her onto his lap.
“She is, and she’s cute. They look good together.”
Holly scrutinizes me for a minute, a question in her gaze, but I give nothing away, so she eventually nods.
Seb and E come back with drinks and marshmallows.
E pulls a chair up beside Alex while Seb pulls me up after handing out drinks.
He sits down, pulling me onto his lap, and I can smell the sugary sweetness of the marshmallows as he places the bag on my knee.
“Time to roast marshmallows, Sunshine. I’m craving sugar. ”
E hands me and everyone else a stick as I put two marshmallows on the end of mine before handing the bag to Holly. Seb and Holly keep the conversation going as we roast marshmallows and have a few laughs.
Bay eventually shows up with Penny. She has a beer in hand but doesn’t seem drunk.
Bay pulls up a chair as she plops into his lap and wraps her arm around his neck.
Gosh, why does this hurt so much? I have three amazing guys already.
I’m being selfish. Bay deserves to be happy too.
While Penny and Holly chat, I notice him looking my way, so I smile and he smiles back.
I won’t show him I’m upset. I’d be a crappy friend if I did.
Seb squeezes my waist as I turn to look at him.
“I still believe it’ll work out, Sunshine. Stay strong.”
I nod and lean back into his embrace as I watch the fire crackle in front of me.
Hot girl shows up with a six-pack of beer, handing one to Nick.
He takes it, and she tries to sit in his lap, but Nick puts a hand on her lower back to stop her, gently pushing her away.
She turns and bends over to say something to him, and I see him shake his head.
She seems to be frustrated and pulls on his arm.
Nick removes her hand and stands up, walking her away from us.
I can’t tell what he says, but she’s shaking her head at him.
Nick finishes his speech and comes back to take his seat.
Hot girl stands silently for a few minutes, her gaze lost in the distance, before she turns and walks away.
I raise my eyebrow at Nick when I catch his gaze.
He raises one back, then returns his attention to the fire.
Okay then. “I think he just told Brooklyn to leave him alone permanently,” Seb whispers in my ear.
“Oh, that’s her name. Has she been bugging him?”
“Not a lot. You saw her at lunch that one day, and she's called him a few times, but he never answers. He’s not sleeping with her, Sunshine. He’s not the type. Don’t worry,” Seb says, kissing behind my ear.
“I wasn’t worried about him cheating, Hurry. I know he wouldn’t hurt me like that. I kind of feel bad for Brooklyn.”
“Don’t. She knew the deal when they started hooking up. Nick is always very clear about those things. I’m guessing she caught feelings at some point, but Nick didn’t lie to her.”
Nodding, I zone back into the conversation happening around me.
It ends up being a low-key night. Some of Penny’s friends join us later in the night.
They seem uncomfortable around Nick, glancing at him out of the corner of their eyes occasionally, but he just ignores them.
I have to pee eventually, so Nick, Alex, Seb, and E lead me into the house with Holly and Jaxon.
We must look ridiculous as a large group moving upstairs, but I really don’t care.
Alex finds the bathroom and checks it first before Holly follows me inside.
“Okay, girl, I’m turning around but staying with you.
Pretend you’re in a cubicle. I’ll keep talking about random stuff. ”
Holly does just that while I pee. After I flush, she turns around as I wash my hands, still talking, and she pees too.
I’m laughing by the time she’s done at the words coming out of her mouth.
She’s the best. We head back outside to find a wall of guys in front of the door.
“We’re done.” I say, touching Nick’s back.
He grabs my hand and leads us back downstairs.
Seb and E stop to talk to some teammates, and Alex gets called away by another group of guys.
Holly yells goodbye and pulls Jaxon onto the dance floor.
Nick keeps walking, pulling me outside through the back patio doors.
It’s crowded, so I stay against Nick’s back as he moves through the people.
As we’re passing the pool, someone backs into my side and I lose my footing.
My hand slips from Nick as he turns and watches me fall, the cool water enveloping me.
The guy who ran into me follows me into the pool. I’m struggling to reach the surface because he’s holding onto me and freaking out. I raise my knee and connect with his balls, getting loose from him. It’s not a hard hit since we’re underwater, but it’s enough to get away.
As I surface, Nick is there, leaning over the side of the pool to pull me out. He has murder in his eyes for the guy still in the water. “Shortie, you okay?”
“Yeah, just wet,” I reply. “Hey,” I say, tilting his chin down to make eye contact. “It was an accident. The guy backed into me. He didn’t even see me.”
“Still an idiot.”
Some friends help the guy out of the water, and he comes over to us. “Sorry for running into you. Are you okay?”
“Fine,” I say, as Nick glares at him. I’m quickly handed a towel by someone, along with the other person. “Can you take me home, Nick?”
Nick gives the guy one more look, which has him looking down at his feet, then he leads me around to the front of the house. He quickly sets me in the passenger seat and then texts the guys that we’re leaving.
The drive to Alex’s house goes by quickly, and I’m shivering by the time we arrive.
Nick picks me up under my butt and carries me into the house and upstairs to the third floor.
He heads straight into my bathroom, setting me on my feet, then turns the shower on.
I let him strip me and place me under the hot water before he removes his clothes and joins me.
I get the feeling Nick needs to reassure himself I’m okay, so I follow his lead.
He gently washes my hair, then soaps up my body. It’s not sexual, at least not for him, but I’m warming up from something other than the hot water. Once he's reassured himself, I’m okay, I grab the shampoo to return the favor. Nick is watching me like he can’t believe I’m doing this. “What?” I ask.
“You’re washing me,” he states with a quirk of his brow.
“Yes, I’m returning the favor. Have a problem with that?” I sass back.
He smirks and shakes his head no, so I continue to massage his scalp.
I turn him to rinse his hair, then grab the body wash.
Nick stands quietly, watching everything I do, fascinated.
I take extra care with his groin area, and Nick quickly gets hard, but I move on.
Once he’s all soaped up, I pull him under the water again to rinse, as I get out and grab a towel to dry off.
When I hear the water turn off, I hand him a fresh towel as well.