A Trip To The Pool House
Keaton | The Past
Waking up with a stone lodged in my gut should have been a warning. If I’d understood the omen, I would have stayed tangled up with Charlie, refusing to face the day.
My phone goes off, and Rianna's name flashes on the screen.
Charlie is still sleeping, so I kiss her on the forehead and climb carefully from the bed, swiping my phone from the nightstand as I go.
"Hey," I murmur as I answer, keeping my voice low as I pull the bedroom door closed behind me. "What's up?"
"Hey, handsome. Did I wake you?"
Rianna’s husky voice slides over me, sending a shiver I wish I could shake off.
"No. Just lying in bed with Char."
"You got plans for today? I'm bored."
I go over mine and Charlie's schedule in my head. "Not that I know of. What do you have in mind?"
I could swear she mutters 'you,' but I shove the thought aside, scolding myself for even entertaining it.
Guilt twists inside me, its reason just out of reach.
"What?" I ask.
"I don't know. I just want to hang out. Everyone else is busy, and I'm freaking tired of being lonely," she whines.
"Poor baby," I tease.
"I truly am," she giggles.
I steal a glance at the bedroom door before sinking into the couch. 'You’re a mess, Ri.'
"Duh. You already know this, babe."
I clear my throat at her pet name and shift about until I can get comfortable. "Woman. Tell me what you want to do."
"David is having a party tonight. Are you going?" she asks sweetly.
I grimace and rub the back of my neck. "Now that you mention it, I think Charlie has plans for us to go."
"Sweet. I was invited too. So, why don't we just hang out around town until time, and then we can go together?"
"I don't know, Ri. Charlie already said something about wanting to go."
"And you will be, Kea. You can meet her there. I'm sure she won't mind. We both know she's going with Amelia, anyway. Right?"
"Yeah. She said she was going," I admit.
"See? So, it's okay. You don't want to be the third wheel again, do you?" she wheedles.
She’s not wrong. Lately, I’m always the extra in Charlie and Amelia’s world, starved for time that’s just me and my girl.
"You see, Kea. She's already slowly pushing you out. Childhood sweethearts never last, Keaton. She's already drifting from you. I saw her and Alek together. They seem to be getting pretty cozy."
They are. And David, too. It feels like everyone wants my girl. Does she want them back? Maybe Rianna’s right—maybe childhood sweethearts are just a high school myth. Charlie and I keep drifting, orbiting other people, barely finding each other outside work and school.
We had sex...two days ago?
How did I not realize it's been that long?
Normally, we come together every day. Sometimes more than once.
It’s more proof for Rianna’s theory, and I hate how much sense it makes.
I press my palm to my chest, trying to knead away the ache that’s taken up residence there.
"What do you say, handsome? You up for spending the day with your best friend?" she purrs.
Goosebumps prickle along my arms, a tingle racing through me. 'Yeah,' I murmur. 'I need time to think, and you always know how to give me that.'
"Because I got you. I know what you need. What time do you want to come over?"
The bedroom door creaks open and Charlie shuffles out, sleep-tousled and soft. My heart tightens, overflowing with love.
Fuck. She's so damn beautiful.
"Keaton?" Rianna rumbles in my ear, but my girl is the one who holds my attention now that she’s in front of me.
"I'll call you back later," I murmur, ignoring her pleas to hang on as I end the call.
I toss my phone aside as Charlie pads over and drops beside me. I wrap her up, pulling her close, and press a kiss to her forehead. 'Morning, my beautiful butterfly.'
She kisses my chest and, like always, warmth fills me. "Morning, my dragon. Who were you talking to?"
I hesitate for a few seconds because I know they don't really get along, but this is my girl, and I love her. So, I refuse to keep something away from her.
"Rianna," I admit.
She stiffens against me, trying to slip away, but I hold her close, unwilling to let go.
"What did she want?" she grumbles as she settles back against me.
"She wants to hang out, but she knows I need to check with you first."
This time, when she pulls away, I let her. She sits up and folds her arms over her chest. "I'm not your damn keeper, Keaton. If you want to go, then do it. I've never controlled you before, and I'm not starting now."
"What are you and Amelia doing today?"
The flash of anger in her eyes throws me. Why is she mad just because I asked?
"I'm working, Keaton. Just like I do every fucking day. You should already know this."
"We're still going to David's party tonight? We haven't had much time together, so it'll be nice to spend time with you tonight," I reply.
"You're not going to spend time with Rianna?" she asks, and for the first time in forever, I detect the note of vulnerability in her voice.
"No, baby. I'll just hang here."
Rianna has to be wrong. Charlie and I—we’re endgame. No one else comes close.
We spend the next hour tangled together on the couch, the TV murmuring in the background. It’s the kind of time we’ve been starving for.
But a piece of me is missing from the moment. For the first time, I want to be somewhere else, and the guilt is suffocating. I bury it deep, but it claws its way up when Rianna’s message lights up my phone.
Even as my throat tightens, my fingers betray me, tapping out a reply before I can stop myself.
My hand trembles as I set my phone face down, whispering to myself that it’s harmless, just hanging out with a friend.
***
"God, are you messaging her again? Can she not go two seconds without you?" Rianna whines. "You're supposed to be spending time with me."
I grimace and set my phone on my thigh.
Guilt has been riding me all day, and I can’t figure out why. All I know is I miss my girl. My body’s been aching for her since this morning.
So instead of being present with my best friend, I’ve been glued to my phone, sexting Charlie. I’m so fucking hungry for her, I almost ditch Rianna to pick her up from work early. But that would be rude, and my mama raised me better.
Rianna rubs my shoulder, and I swallow hard.
She's been a lot more touchy-feely today, and I don't know what to think.
It makes me feel weird, but if I pull away, then she's going to think I'm reading into it, and I'm not.
She promised me and Charlie that she felt nothing but friendship for me, so my brain is just being ridiculous.
"You said you were going to spend time with me," she pouts.
My gaze drifts to her lips before I even realize it. When I catch myself, I snap my eyes away, only to meet her knowing stare.
Oh, fuck.
Dammit. What the fuck is going on?
I scrub my palms against my jeans and spring to my feet. My phone thuds onto the couch, forgotten.
"I'm gonna get some water," I croak, rushing to the kitchen.
Grabbing a glass from the cabinet, I fill it from the faucet and quickly gulp it down. I set it aside when it's empty, then grip the edge of the sink as I drop my chin to my chest and close my eyes.
My mind races through the last few minutes, desperate to pinpoint why I feel so damn unsettled.
Nothing happened.
It's not like I did anything inappropriate, and Rianna didn't make any inappropriate moves on me.
I doubt Charlie would like how touchy Rianna’s been lately, but it’s harmless.
At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
Tension between them is already sky-high, and I still don’t get it.
I thought Charlie’s problem was the idea that Rianna liked me, but Rianna swore she didn’t. That should have been enough.
So, why isn't she?
Scenes flicker through my mind, a sharp ache blooming in my throat. I try to slow them down, to catch just one, but they blur past until my heart pounds against my ribs.
Sweat beads down my temples. I let go of the sink and tug at my collar, desperate for air to cool my burning skin.
I flip the faucet back on and fill the glass again, this time emptying it without a breath. Sticking it back under the running water, I refill the glass and shut it off.
I’m so tangled in panic that when Rianna’s hand lands on my back, I jolt, twisting just as water spills from the glass, drenching both our shirts.
She squeals, and I spit out a curse. "Fuck. Sorry. I was lost in thought." I set my glass in the sink. "I'm going to go home and change before David's party."
"Don't be silly, Keaton. It's just water. Come on. Let's go toss them in the dryer."
I rub my neck and step back, a chill crawling over my skin. “Maybe I should just run home real quick,” I say, my laugh shaky. “It wouldn’t feel right, Ri. Charlie deserves better.”
I keep my tone soft, but all I want is to get out of here and wait for my girl to come home.
Rianna rolls her eyes with a huff. "Are you serious, Keaton? Does she have your balls wrapped that tight in her hand? We're just friends, and I'm just putting your damn shirt in the dryer. If you're really that pathetic, it's no wonder she won't stay with you past college."
Her words hit me like a slap, and I snap upright.
"I bet Alek hasn't lost his balls. That's probably what makes him so appealing to Charlie," Rianna mutters as she walks away.
Dammit. She’s right. I sound pathetic. We’re not doing anything wrong. It’s just a shirt in the dryer.
My lips tighten as I grab the back of my shirt and pull it over my head. Then I march toward the hall where her laundry room and bathroom are.
I start to tell her I’m tossing my shirt in the dryer, but the words choke me. My hand fists the fabric, feet glued to the floor.
Through the crack of the bathroom door, I catch sight of Rianna's tan bare back as her arms come behind her to unclip her bra.
Look away, Keaton.
I try. Holy fuck, I try, but my eyes drift to the mirror just as she drops her bra and her tits bounce freely.
My nerve endings stir, and I swallow hard.