Chapter 41 Jade
Swimming actually isn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be.
Once you get over the idea that one wrong step could kill you, the principle behind swimming is easy enough.
After Spencer’s little bullshit joke and Zan and Kratos's improv wrestling show, they all changed into swimsuits. Even without learning to swim, I would have been okay watching them swim all day. Tattoos, muscles, and skin fucking everywhere. I’ll take it.
Besides, if I died, at least this would be a way worth going.
All the guys can swim, and we spent the rest of the day in the pool as they took turns with me, and by dinner, I’d dare say I was doing pretty well.
We had dinner out on the terrace with Elio, but not before Rick dragged me away to put on dry clothes.
I don’t own a swimsuit, something the guys said they would soon fix, but because of that, I spent the day in nothing but Zan’s shirt.
They didn’t seem to mind before, but the second Elio popped into the room to tell us dinner would be ready soon, they seemed to change their minds.
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me as he marched us back toward the bedrooms. At first, I’d been worried there would be jealousy among them when I was exploring my feelings with each of them.
I worried I’d wedge them apart, creating unwanted competition between them, but that never happened.
Guess that doesn’t count for someone like Elio, though. Someone on the outside seems to be enough to spark jealousy, making their inner caveman tendencies surface.
It’s adorable and something I tuck into my back pocket should I need it later.
Though Rick didn’t seem to appreciate me saying so.
The next few days pass as we wait with nothing much else to do.
Zander’s full of ideas, and while the guys don’t seem thrilled, they suck it up and indulge him, nonetheless.
The first thing on his list was to take me to the ocean.
He’d talked about it a bit before we even left for this trip, but it wasn’t something I’d had an interest in.
The idea of seeing the ocean was fine, but I was okay just driving past it.
I had no desire to touch it or be in it.
A pool had almost sent me into a spiral just being in the house.
I don’t even want to think about how I would have handled the ocean.
Now, it doesn’t sound as terrible, though I’m still not as excited as he seems to be about it. The ocean’s huge, after all, not to mention all the shit that lives in it.
I shake the thought away before I can get too deep into it. We went to the town, ate sweets, and tried expensive wine. We even took a day to see some historic buildings and watched Rick geek out about them.
Last night, Elio surprised us by renting out one of his favorite restaurants for the night.
The food was fantastic, but the best part was the beautiful garden seating.
We spent the evening under the stars and afterward had drinks on the deck.
Jake played a few songs on the piano, and the guys spun me around.
It was the first time I actually felt like the princess that Jake called me, which is funny, considering I guess that’s exactly what I am now.
Stepping out of the shower, I wrap a towel around myself, still lost in the memory of last night. It was amazing and beautiful, probably the best night of my life, and everything Zan promised it would be when I’d fought against going.
Which is exactly why we are going to the ocean today. I might not be as excited as Zan is, but I’m willing to try. It’s the least I can do, and who knows, maybe it won’t be so bad now that the water isn’t quite as terrifying.
Only one way to find out.
Turning to the mirror, I find a box sitting on the counter. A box I know for sure wasn’t there when I got in the shower. Looking around a bit more, I realize the clothes I’d picked out for the day are also missing.
Damn it.
The box is black with an obnoxiously large red bow on top. It screams Zander. With nothing else to do, I look closer, only to find a card tucked under the bow that confirms my suspicion.
Can’t wait to see you in this. I know you’ll put the ocean to shame.
It’s so cheesy, but I smile regardless. I let my towel fall to the ground as I pull on the bow and remove the lid. Inside is an oversized t-shirt with a deep V-neck and slits up the thigh. The material is thin, almost sheer, but not fully see-through. It’s light and simple, but pretty.
Stepping back, I hold it up in front of me only to find it’s really short, like, really short.
“Damn it, Zan,” I mutter aloud. Of course, he would make it borderline inappropriate.
Checking the box again, I find more black fabric nestled at the bottom.
Maybe I spoke too soon. The fabric is soft, and when I pull it out, I realize it’s actually two pieces when part of it falls onto my feet.
Looking down, I find what looks like underwear, and in my hand is a fancy sports bra… maybe?
Honestly, I’m not really sure.
At least he thought of undergarments. There is no way I could go without them, with how short this dress is. I slide them on easily. They fit like a glove, but I’m not surprised. Zander probably knows my sizes better than I do.
The material is strange but not uncomfortable. Reaching for the bra, I find it has a large slit in the fabric that should sit on the bottom of my breasts.
Sliding it on, I have to take a second to adjust the girls to keep them from falling out of the bottom. I don’t have the biggest boobs, but I feel like it’s still too much with this. Once I’m as sure as I can be that they won’t slip free, I look at my reflection.
Damn it, Zan, indeed.
The guys' eyes find me the second I walk out into the living area, where they all wait in their swim trunks. I almost pout when I see they all have shirts on, but I know they won’t stay on once we're at the beach, much the same way my little dress won’t.
I can suck it up until then. Besides, with the way their eyes trace my body now with the dress on, I have a feeling I’m going to have more than enough time to enjoy them shirtless. Maybe Zander knew what he was doing after all.
A low whistle sounds from the other side of the room, and I turn to find none other than him standing in the kitchen with a basket under his arm.
“I knew it would look great on you, but fuck Jade…” He trails off, walking over to me before he circles around me. I feel his eyes as they roam my body, and when he steps back in front of me, I see the lust in them as he bites down on his lip hard enough that it has to hurt.
“How the hell are we supposed to let you leave like that?” Spencer asks, and I whip around to face him.
“Let me?” I ask, my challenge clear. He rolls his eyes in annoyance before lifting his hands in surrender.
“By all means, you can go where you want, when you want. However you want,” he tells me, gesturing toward the door as if I don’t know that, and I narrow my eyes, knowing he’s not done yet.
“But I don’t want to hear it when our fun day at the beach turns into us getting arrested and thrown in prison.”
“What?” I ask, gaping at him in shock, unable to understand what the hell he’s talking about. He doesn’t answer, though, instead giving me a shrug as if I should just know. With a huff, I turn to look around the room at the others, only to find they seem to be on the same page.
What the hell is going on right now?
“Not to worry, it’s a non-issue. We won’t be anywhere people will be able to watch,” Zander says, waggling his eyebrows at me suggestively before he slings his arm over my shoulder and all but drags me toward the door.
“Good,” I hear Rick grumble as we pass him, and I shoot him a dirty look over my shoulder, only to find his eyes firmly locked on my ass.
“I thought we were going to the beach,” I ask, letting Zander guide me into the limo before he slides in after me, followed by the rest of the guys.
“Oh, we are,” Zander says with a smile, setting the basket at his feet and smacking Rick’s hand away when he tries to take a peek inside.
We aren’t in the car for long, pulling up to a beach that looks anything but empty.
He’d said we were going somewhere people wouldn’t be able to watch, but so far, I’m not seeing how that’s possible.
Not that he would give anyone a straight answer when they asked.
Instead, he would mime zipping his lips or tell us to wait and see.
Zander and his damn surprises.
The second we’re out of the car, Zander laces his fingers with mine and takes off, all but dragging me behind him.
Leaving the guys to get the basket and try to keep up.
Their shouts of annoyance sound behind us, and I see Zander’s shoulders shake with laughter as he keeps going, and I can’t help but laugh as well.
The buildings fall away as we weave through locals and tourists alike, our small size and quick feet keeping us from a lot of close calls.
With a sharp right, we break through the last of the buildings, coming out onto a beautiful beach.
It’s still early, so there aren’t too many people down here, but there are boats everywhere.
Zander doesn’t slow, pulling me through the sand before we hit the wooden dock.
I hold my breath for a second, unsure what to expect, but other than the sound of our feet on the wood, it isn’t much different from running down the road.
With a sigh of relief, I take a moment to look around.
The water is so blue, and the sun shines off it, letting you see down to the bottom.
The boats on either side of us are so much bigger than I had ever imagined.
Zander begins to slow as we near the end of the wooden walkway. He looks back at me with a smile and squeezes my hand. My cheeks ache from smiling, but I can’t stop. A quick glance back the way we came shows the guys still far off in the town, which only makes me smile more.