Chapter 21
21
‘Okay, girls,’ Nita begins as we all gather on one of the front, upstairs balconies. ‘Let’s talk strategy.’
Nita pauses for dramatic effect – well, everything has to be dramatic with Nita, but that’s why we love her.
‘So, the mango shampoo smell might have faded if they’ve been out, being boys, getting sweaty and gross. But…’ She raises a finger, like she’s a scientist, delivering an important keynote speech. ‘…a point-blank sniff should still reveal the scent.’
‘A point-blank sniff,’ I repeat back to her, so she can hear how absurd that sounds, but she doesn’t even flinch.
‘Can you hear yourself?’ Lou says.
Nita just shrugs.
‘What? It’s a good plan, it’s going to work,’ she insists.
We can’t help but dissolve into giggles – I mean, come on, a point-blank sniff! But before any of us can say another word, Nita’s eyes widen. She gasps, ducking down quickly.
‘Quick! They’re here!’ She crawls back into the bedroom. ‘Places, everyone! Places!’
I peek outside and, sure enough, the boys are stepping out of a taxi at the gate. Their laughter drifts towards us, carefree and oblivious. God, if only they knew what was about to happen to them. They’d probably willingly turn around, leave, and never come back.
‘Lou,’ Nita barks, spinning around to face us, ‘you’re on Owen. Catch him as he heads to the kitchen, I’m sure he’ll be keen to unlock it. Willow, Nolan’s yours. Get him alone.’
Willow straightens her shoulders and tucks her hair behind her ear.
‘I’ll do my best,’ she says.
‘Me too,’ Lou adds. ‘This is weirdly, oddly, strangely fun… in a bananas sort of way.’
‘I’ll catch Harry by the pool,’ Nita continues. ‘I’ll handle him, no problem. Molly, you’ve got Travis, yeah? Just, get him alone – is there anywhere else you can take him?’
‘There’s the secret garden,’ I reply. ‘He knows I like it there. I’ll quite literally lead him up the garden path.’
‘That’s my girl,’ Nita says with a laugh. ‘Now, quick, come on.’
Shit, we’re actually doing it. I think I’m probably more nervous than I would be if I really were just actually trying to seduce someone. At least that way, if they knocked me back, it would all be over. Sniffing is a little too close to first base for my liking.
Well, there’s no time to second-guess my life choices because I’m downstairs and heading for the garden as they sound like they’re approaching the side gate, their voices getting louder as they approach.
I duck behind the garden gate, my heart pounding in time with their laughter. They’re clearly in good spirits (or should that be they clearly have good spirits in them?) as they get louder and louder until I hear Nita greet them.
As predicted, Owen makes a beeline for the kitchen, and it sounds like Nolan heads inside too.
‘Harry, can I talk to you?’ Nita asks him. ‘Just you.’
‘Er, yeah, okay,’ he replies.
‘I’ll just, erm…’ Travis babbles, sensing he should make himself scarce.
‘I think Molly is in the garden,’ Nita tells him. ‘She’s on her own – probably lost track of time.’
‘I’ll go get her then,’ Travis says.
‘You’re a doll,’ Nita tells him.
That’s my cue to take off, deeper into the garden, so that Travis can come in and find me and I can… and I can ‘point-blank sniff’ him. It never sounds any less ludicrous.
I take a deep breath as I head deeper into the garden, trying to retrace my steps from earlier.
The garden is even prettier at night, the spotlights casting soft shadows on the path and the scent of night-blooming flowers mingling with the faint trickle of the fountains. It’s so romantic – aggressively so, even. I wouldn’t describe myself as a sexy person, unlike Nita who just oozes sex appeal, but I’m hoping the location will do a lot of the heavy lifting for me. The ambient sound, the dim lighting, the water features – all I really need to do is get close enough to him to give him a sniff. It’s a tale as old as time.
I find the clearing, the one I was in earlier, and sit myself down on the bench. Then I steady my breathing, to seem more relaxed, like I’ve been here for a while.
‘Molly?’ Travis’s voice startles me, even though I was expecting him, and knew he was hot on my heels. ‘What are you doing out here?’
I force a casual smile, trying to ignore the way my pulse kicks up.
‘Just enjoying the garden,’ I say, gesturing vaguely at the trees like a crazy person. ‘I told you, this is my safe space.’
‘Even at night?’ he asks, stepping closer. ‘Mind if I join you?’
‘Of course. And I just love it here. Especially at night,’ I reply. ‘Everything smells so different at night.’
‘Okay,’ he says with a laugh, sitting down next to me.
One – I’m going to retreat on making myself out to be some kind of smell enthusiast, because that’s making me seem a little mad. Two – he has sat himself down a respectful distance from me, so not point-blank sniffing range at all.
I take another deep breath, trying to summon some of Nita’s trademark confidence. If I’m going to pull this off, I need to get closer. No, even closer than that.
I can practically hear Nita’s voice in my head: Seduce him, Molly. Or at least pretend to.
I mean, you’ve got to wonder if this is about more than just shampoo, or if the shampoo is just one more thing on an already long list of things that the boys have done to piss us off. Still, it clearly means a lot to her, and it’s not like there’s anything else to do around here. Bold of her to think that I could match her perfect timing and her sultry glances. I’m more of a comedy meet-cute kind of gal. Not so much ‘accidentally’ grazing their arm, more inadvertently spilling a drink down them.
What I really need is a plan B. A way to get close to him, or to have him get closer to me, that doesn’t rely on me having any sex appeal at all.
‘I… I think I hurt my ankle,’ I blurt. ‘That’s why I’m still here, because my ankle is hurting.’
‘Did you injure it?’ he asks with genuine concern.
‘Yes, I mean no, I mean… I think it might just be cramp,’ I tell him, making it up as I go along. Wait, this could work. ‘In fact, could you rub it for me, please? I think that might be all it needs.’
‘Yeah, of course,’ he replies.
And then he drops to his knees. To. His. Knees. In front of me. Why was that so sexy?
‘So,’ I say, my voice slightly higher than usual as he slowly removes my shoe, ‘did you guys have a good night?’
‘Yeah,’ he replies, sliding my heel off with the kind of gentleness that is frankly disarming. ‘We went to the little bar, in the local town. It was quiet. We’re a long way from Ibiza – even though we’re much closer than we would be in Manchester.’
I laugh as I raise my foot a little, so that he can get a better grip on it, and in doing so I swipe my foot over his leg, grazing his inner thigh, accidentally on purpose.
He freezes, for a millisecond – just long enough for me to internally combust – before he takes my foot in his hands, politely carrying on like nothing has happened.
Of course, now that my foot is elevated, I’m dangerously close to recreating my own Basic Instinct moment. I don’t think Sharon Stone-ing him right now is going to get me any closer to him – if anything it’s going to scare him away – so I lean forwards, resting on my elbows, but protecting my modesty and allowing me to lean a little closer, because all the better to smell you with, my dear.
Shit. It’s just still not close enough.
Travis starts massaging my ankle, and oh my God. His hands are warm and firm, and I have to subtly bite my lip to keep from making any embarrassing noises. Honestly, it’s like he’s the one seducing me.
A breathy little sound escapes me before I can stop it. Travis glances up, one brow arched, a sly smile playing on his lips.
‘Feeling any better?’ he asks. I don’t know if it’s true or if I’m just letting my imagination run away with me, but his voice seems much lower and softer all of a sudden.
‘Much,’ I reply, sounding like I’ve got a frog in my throat.
‘So, what have you and the girls been up to?’ he asks, his fingers still working magic on my ankle. It feels so good, even if there was nothing wrong with it in the first place.
‘Nothing!’ I blurt, far too defensively. ‘Why?’
He blinks at me.
‘I mean to hurt your ankle,’ he clarifies. ‘Swimming, walking, dancing…’
‘Oh, right, no, nothing,’ I insist. ‘Just… chilling too hard.’
Travis stifles a smile. If I had to call it right now, and say if I were successfully seducing him, I would have to say no.
I can’t start worrying about my game (or lack thereof) right now, I’ve got bigger things to worry about – how to sniff this man’s head without looking like a complete lunatic.
I’m overthinking this – I just need to go for it.
I steady myself, trying to ignore the throbbing panic in my chest. I just need to sniff him, I just need to sniff him – and it doesn’t matter how many times I say that to myself, it doesn’t sound normal.
His head is right there, his glossy hair catching the faint moonlight (which is definitely a telltale sign of expensive shampoo), so close I can almost smell it. Almost. All I have to do is lean in. Just a little closer…
Travis is staring at me now, his brows slightly furrowed, but there’s something else in his expression. A flicker of surprise, or curiosity, or something… Oh, no. Oh, no. He thinks I’m going to kiss him. Abort the mission! Except I can’t really stop now. I’m so close. So, so close.
The tension between us is practically choking me. Travis’s eyes flicker down to my lips, then back up, and it’s like time slows down. Is he leaning in? Is he actually going to let this happen? For one glorious, ridiculous second, I think he might.
Ugh, but I’m not here for that. I’m not here for him. I’m here for evidence and evidence alone, for my friends, for girl code, for use of the kitchen.
For God’s sake, Molly, just sniff the man!
I make my move – quick, decisive, and nose-first, completely bypassing his lips.
The next thing I know, I’m flat on my back, the breath sucked out of me as Travis pins me to the ground. His hands grip my wrists, holding them down above my head with an ease that’s frankly offensive (and incredibly sexy), as his face hovers inches above mine, his mouth open in disbelief.
‘Did you… did you just attack me?’ he asks, laughing incredulously.
‘No!’ I blurt, feeling the intense fire burning away under my cheeks. ‘Did you just… do martial arts on me?’
‘It was self-defence,’ he insists. ‘Were you… trying to kiss me?’
‘No, absolutely not,’ I insist, and it’s true, but he’s definitely picking up on something, because I’m not being completely honest, am I?
‘It kind of seemed like you were leaning in to kiss me,’ he points out, still holding me in place on the floor. ‘You definitely leaned in, like you…’
Now would be the time to tell him that I was trying to kiss him, because that’s maybe less awkward (but definitely not less weird) than trying give him a big old sniff, but he can’t find that out.
He pauses for a second and I can see the cogs turning in his brain before realisation hits him like lightning.
‘Molly, were you trying to sniff me?’ he asks, like it’s a normal question.
Oh shit, he knows.
His eyes widen as the puzzle pieces slot into place. He knows what he did, so he knows what I’m doing, and judging by the slow, smug grin spreading across his face, he knows why.
For a second, I just freeze, caught in his gaze like a rabbit in headlights. But then I remember what’s at stake. He’s onto me, which means there’s no point in playing coy any more. I just need confirmation. I just need to fucking sniff his dreamy hair and be done with it.
Travis’s grin widens. It’s like we’re in a sort of standoff – although admittedly he has the upper hand. We both know something is going to happen, that one of us needs to make the first move, so I’m going to make sure it’s me.
I wriggle under the weight of his body, twisting and squirming to free myself from his grip – while, confusingly, still trying to lean in closer to his head. He has me pinned tight but I’m powered by sheer petty determination right now, and this is all just so stupid that it would almost be worse not to see it through.
Yeah, you’re right, maybe I did get too much sun today…
‘Would you stop fighting me?’ Travis laughs, but he’s struggling now, his grip loosening just enough for me to break free. I make a desperate (in more ways than one) lunge, aiming my nose towards his head, but he flips us both over with ease, pinning me again, this time with a knee pressed to the ground and his hands bracketing my wrists. Honestly, it’s the way he’s being so forceful, and yet so gentle, laughing as he does that makes this oh-so excruciatingly horny. Every receptor my body has is sounding every alarm bell to let me know that I am into this. It’s been so long since a man got my blood pumping through any other method than sheer rage. It’s making me feel dizzy – but I can’t let myself get distracted. I’m not giving up. Not now.
With a twist, I roll us over again, and for a split second, I’m on top, straddling him. It’s almost comical – almost, because again, it’s just red hot. Where my body is touching his I can feel a heartbeat. I’m not sure if it’s mine or his or a bit of both but it is racing.
His hands find my waist as he tries to throw me off, but I cling to him like I might never let him go, wrapping my arms and legs around him as he rolls over and he tries to crawl away.
‘Oh my God, Molly, give it up!’ he groans, laughing through his protests as he drags me across the path, my dead weight doing nothing to slow him down.
‘Not until you stay still!’ I reply, trying to climb my way up his back like some kind of crazy, sparkly spider monkey. His hair is right there, tantalisingly close, but every time I reach for it, he ducks or swerves. ‘This will be over in a second, if you just…’
‘I can’t believe you’re doing this,’ he says, shaking his head, but his tone is full of amusement. He’s clearly enjoying this just as much as I am. I swear, he’s going easy on me, letting me get some kind of advantage now and then, just enough to make sure it doesn’t end.
And then, before I can make one final attempt, he shakes me off a little. I cling tighter, but he’s too strong. He drags himself along on his arms, dragging me (hanging off his waist) with him, as he makes a play for one of the water features.
‘No!’ I shout, because I know what he’s about to do, but it’s too late. With a triumphant grin, he plunges his head under the flowing water, letting the fountain cascade over him and effectively washing away any trace of evidence.
Defeated, I slump to the ground, collapsing onto my back in the grass. Travis joins me a moment later, flopping down beside me, his chest heaving with exertion.
‘Did you just waterboard yourself to destroy evidence?’ I ask, panting between words.
‘A question you probably should have asked me while I was doing it,’ he jokes. ‘Allegedly.’
We lie there for a moment, catching our breath, the cool night air soothing our warm bodies. I glance at him, his damp hair glinting under the faint light, and I can’t help but laugh.
‘You’re crazy, you know that, right?’ he tells me.
‘It’s been said before,’ I reply simply. ‘But, hey, so are you, if you think I was going to kiss you.’
‘Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking,’ he replies. ‘Wrestling me, trying to sniff me – far more common.’
‘I should think it is, for you,’ I joke.
He just laughs.
We lie there on the floor, just a little longer. Travis reaches out slowly next to him, finding my hand, taking it in his. He gives mine a few gentle, playful shakes before settling down on the ground again.
I don’t know if he’s shaking my hand to say good game, holding it to say no hard feelings, something more, or all of the above.
Whatever it was, my God, that was exhilarating. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alive.