Chapter Five #4
The end of the dock was wide, like a deck area, and the Adirondack chair from that morning was still there.
Clothes flew comically, like they were in a cartoon, women stripping quickly and tossing their clothes onto the chair.
Then there were little cries of delight followed by splashes as they jumped in one by one.
Rowan promised herself she wouldn’t watch when Evie took her clothes off.
She failed miserably.
Evie had always been beautiful to her, but seeing her now, in all her naked glory in the slightly blue tint of the moonlight, did things to Rowan.
Made her feel things. Sexy things. Dirty things.
Evie’s breasts were small, but Rowan could almost feel them in her hands—her brain hadn’t lost that memory.
She had rounded hips, a fabulous ass, and gorgeous, shapely legs.
She turned to face the water, and Rowan’s gaze was drawn to her shoulders.
Evie had always had the sexiest shoulders somehow.
She jumped into the lake, and Rowan was left with the memory of what she’d just seen burned into her brain as if it had been branded by a hot iron.
“You okay?” Jazzy asked softly, for only Rowan to hear.
She sighed. “Yeah. I’m good.”
“She’s gorgeous. No shade for staring.”
“Did I stare?” Rowan grimaced.
Jazzy grinned. “I did, too. No worries.”
“Babe!” Becca called from the water. “It’s amazing in here. Are you sure you won’t come in?”
“I love you, but these feet are staying on solid ground.” Jazzy called back.
They splashed and chatted and treaded water. Rowan noticed how Claire stuck close to Evie. Annoyingly close, if Rowan was asked to describe it. She couldn’t hear their low murmurs, but at one point, Evie rolled her eyes and paddled slightly away from Claire. Who followed her.
Eventually, they came out, climbing the ladder at the corner of the dock, as Rowan and Jazzy held towels open for them.
Evie climbed out and smiled at Rowan, who noticed for the first time that she had a very small tattoo on the inside of her left arm, just near where it bent.
She caught Evie’s arm without thinking, and the cool softness of her skin sent a shockwave through Rowan.
“I don’t remember this,” she said softly, looking at the words. They were all lowercase and said simply here, now. “Is it new?”
Evie nodded, her gaze on Rowan’s hand holding her arm. “It is. I just got it about three or four months ago.”
“I like it. It’s a good reminder.”
“Thanks.” Evie looked up and met her gaze. “I think so, too.”
“Ready to head up?” Claire was there suddenly. Because of course she fucking was. Rowan shot her a look that she either didn’t see or didn’t care about, as she steered Evie by the shoulders up the dock.
Everybody else had headed up except Rowan and Stevie, who stood next to her, dressed and rubbing a towel over her hair, which now spiked in all different directions. “All good?”
Rowan blew out a breath. “Is it just me or is Claire keeping Evie from talking to me?”
Stevie shook her head. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Seriously? How had she not noticed? Maybe Rowan was overthinking things, seeing something that wasn’t there. But still… “I think they must be together.” Doing her best to not sound slightly heartbroken about that wasn’t easy.
“I don’t know. I’ve asked a couple people, and nobody seems to know. I think if they were, somebody would tell me. Also, why keep it a secret? We’re all friends here. You know?” Stevie threw an arm around Rowan’s shoulders. “Come on. Let’s go. I’m freezing now.”
“That’s what you get for jumping into a lake naked.”
“Totally worth it.” Stevie squeezed her and they headed up.
A few women had reclaimed their spots around the fire, Becca having the audacity to stoke it up, and Stevie gave her a mock growl, which made her laugh and turn over her poking stick.
Rowan was exhausted, and she told the group as much, saying her good nights and heading up to the house.
As she trudged up the stairs, a slight, simmering irritation started to bubble up in her.
Who the hell was Claire to decide which people Evie got to talk to?
And just because they’d been together, why did that mean Evie couldn’t chat with Rowan? It was so annoying.
She slid the sliding glass door open, and the air-conditioning felt amazing, reminding her how humid it actually was outside. She closed the door behind her, then turned and saw Evie standing at the refrigerator. Looking at her.
“Hi. Turning in?” Evie had a bottle of water in her hand, and it took her a couple tries to crack it open.
“Yeah. I’m beat.”
“Long, busy day.”
“Yeah.” Rowan nodded, thought about staying to talk more, wanted to, but that anger bubbled some more. She pointed to the steps. “I’d better head up before your bodyguard sees us talking. Horror of horrors.” She shook her head and quickly headed upstairs.
Evie didn’t follow her.
She’d kind of hoped she would.
Luckily, she wasn’t kidding about being exhausted, and by the time she’d brushed her teeth, washed her face, and slid under the covers, she felt like her body was simply done moving for the day.
The last thought she had before sleep claimed her was that she wished she hadn’t snarked at Evie. She didn’t deserve that.
Goddamn it.