CHAPTER 11 johnnie THEN
johnnie
THEN
Tim McGraw’s singing about barbecue stains on a white T-shirt when I get interrupted by a splash of cold water and jerk up from my position on a towel at the front of the boat.
“Sorry, Johnnie, but you looked like you needed to cool down.”
Campbell smirks at me from the water right before taking a volleyball to the skull. That would be thanks to Collins.
“Don’t be a dick, she said she didn’t want to get wet.” Collins scowls at his brother, who’s removing his hat to rub the top of his head, then repositions it backward with a grin.
Crandall watches on from his spot on a towel at the front of the boat. His golden skin becoming even more bronzed. He’s usually the quiet one of the bunch. There’s something mysterious about him, I just haven’t figured it out yet.
The boys are landscaping Judge Proctor’s mini-mansion in an upscale neighborhood on the west end of town.
He must be impressed with their work, because he offered up his pontoon to them for the day.
This thing is nice with pristine white leather and the afternoon sun reflecting off the chrome trim.
My pale skin is probably burning under the ninety degree rays, but it has nothing on the way my heart burns for this boy.
We’ve been spending every minute together that time allows.
Collins spends his days getting his hands dirty and his evenings passing time with the girl next door, and I couldn’t be more smitten.
We haven’t done any more than what happened on the four-wheeler and touching lips that night by the lake.
Before I ruined it by nearly barfing on him.
But we’ve gotten to know each other a lot better in recent days and even shared laughs with Nan on more than one occasion.
Last night, Collins knocked on our door just past eleven.
His eyes were so tired, hair still damp from a shower, and sun-drenched skin smelling of tobacco and vetiver.
It’s the smell I’ve come to seek comfort in.
Nan had just gone to bed, so the two of us cozied up on the couch under my favorite fuzzy blanket.
Collins took the remote and flipped through channels, finally settling on Night at the Roxbury.
The movie was so stupid, but I was content watching him laugh and look my way every time he found it amusing, which was often.
The humor in his eyes battled with exhaustion until defeat set in and his head hit the back of the couch, hand on my thigh twitching, and breaths becoming deep and steady.
I pulled the blanket up to my chin, curling into a ball beside him, feet on his thighs, and accepted a defeat of my own.
When I woke up this morning he was gone, but a note beside my head caught my attention.
I’ll be back to pick you up at 3:00. Be ready. We’re taking off work early to take Judge Proctor’s boat for a spin. Bikini required.
- CC
I obliged and wore a bikini, but it’s still under my clothes. My bright pink toes match the polka dots dancing on top of my emerald green suit, hiding beneath a white tank top and black Soffe shorts.
“It’s okay, I think I changed my mind and want to take a dip. It’s so hot.”
I start removing my tank top and my usual lack of confidence vanishes when I see the look on Collins’ face.
Deciding to put on a show, I stand up, slowly removing my shorts, acting oblivious to the drool on his chin, and turn my ass in his direction.
I peer over one shoulder at my audience of one with his eyes glued to my rear.
I offer my hand to him and he stares at it before looking up into my eyes.
“Come on, jump in with me?”
I’m slightly caught off guard when he hesitates, looking from me to Campbell and back again before he speaks.
“You go ahead. I’ll be in shortly.”
He grabs the folded towel beside him and places it on his lap. He laces his fingers, places his hands on the back of his neck, and tilts his head to the sky, and I giggle.
“Are you—”
“Do you—”
I laugh now, thinking I know what’s going on but not being able to bring myself to say the words out loud.
He eyes me with fake annoyance, and I smirk and give him a wink with my hands on my hips and a little shimmy.
“Just get in the damn water, woman. You’re killing me.”
Woman.
I don’t know if I’ve ever truly felt like a woman, but in this moment, with his eyes on me like that, that’s exactly what I feel like—and I kind of love it.
With that thought, I open the gate and cannonball into the water beside Campbell.
When I surface, his face is covered in water droplets, and his eyes go wide.
He’s laughing and sending tidal waves with his hands in my direction, skyrocketing us both into hysterics as I do the same.
Just when my lungs have collected their fair share of murky lake water, arms come from behind and squeeze, causing a squeal to erupt.
I didn’t even hear Collins get in the water.
“That bathing suit looks perfect on you.” I feel his breath on the side of my neck as he speaks in a whisper. “You are perfect, Johnnie.”
At those words, goose bumps take over my body. With Collins’ forearms pressed at my bikini top, there’s no hiding my hard nipples as they start to pebble.
Just as I start to feel embarrassed about my body’s reaction to him, he squeezes me even tighter, his head buried between my shoulder and jaw, and presses his firm length to my butt cheeks, grinding into me as much as the clothing between us will allow.
The clearing of Campbell’s throat draws my eyes up toward him, reminding me we aren’t alone.
Campbell rolls his eyes, splashing both of us on his way past and makes his way back up the boat ladder.
“Maybe you two should consider getting a room.”
Collins’ quick burst of breath lands on my neck as he chuckles.
“Come on, before he gets his panties in a wad.” He grabs my hand under the water and we start swimming back toward the ladder.