Chapter 45
Jake wakes me the next morning, kissing my neck. “Morning,” I mumble, stretching my arms and legs out. I roll over to see his face. Jake’s hair is sticking up every which way, sapphire eyes bright. “Hey handsome. Did you sleep well?”
“Yup.” He leans in for a kiss, disregarding the morning breath we are both probably sporting. Twining my fingers through his hair, I lick his full bottom lip, and he opens immediately for me.
Leaning some of his weight on my side, he runs his fingertips under my shirt and across my belly, causing my abs to contract. We are languid, slowly exploring each other’s mouths.
“No rush, handsome. We'll go at your pace. We have forever now.”
Jake smiles down at me. “What’s on the agenda today?”
“The beach, probably. Let’s go see.” He grabs my hand as we walk down the stairs and find E, Nick, and Alex in the kitchen already. I get morning hugs from Alex and E, and then Nick grabs me and pulls me onto the stool beside him, resting his hand on my thigh.
Jake says hello to Alex and E before watching Nick for a minute. Snapping his fingers, he points to him. “Nick. I remember.”
Nick’s lips pick up a tiny bit at the corners. “Morning,” he rumbles.
I squeeze Nick’s hand before getting up to help E with breakfast. We eat on the patio, enjoying the quiet beach and salt-misted air. E makes omelettes for Seb and Bay, leaving them warming in the oven while Alex and Jake clean up.
The plan for today is simple. Water and sand. While we’re waiting for the other guys to emerge from slumber, I text Sue and Dad to check in. Dad is making breakfast for Sarah and Sue arrived home safely last night.
Wandering back out to the deck after I change into my swimsuit, I take a seat on the sofa with Nick quickly following.
Leaning against his side, I ask him his plans for school.
He’s getting his GED this summer and plans on studying with Jake when he’s not working.
“I’m sure he’d like that, Grumpy. He’s an extroverted guy.
Are you staying full time at Finn from now on? ”
“Yeah. I’m permanent next week.”
Jake, E, and Alex join us once the kitchen is clean. It’s close to 10am before Seb and Bay grace us with their presence. They shovel their breakfast as if they haven’t eaten in a month, then we trudge under the house for supplies.
As expected, it’s a busy beach day. Umbrellas and canopies are scattered everywhere on the sand. I help the guys set up, lather their backs, then take a seat in front of the shade structure.
As soon as the sunscreen is absorbed, we hit the water.
The tide is out, allowing easy entry through the wet sand, and tiny little waves are lapping at the shore.
Alex and Bay immediately get deep enough to dive, with Nick beginning a freestyle stroke out to deeper water.
The rest of us float and play around in shallower water.
Seb brings up Charleston University and USC again.
He really wants to stay local but can’t reconcile his lifestyle and the coach.
All of us are in agreement, including Gabby and Troy, that he should go to USC.
He checks in for reassurance that E and I will visit as often as we can and that we trust him not to stray.
After a quiet few minutes of floating around, he announces he’s going to USC and he will contact the schools Monday morning.
I smile at him. It’s the right choice for him. He wouldn’t be happy here with the coach. Sometimes it takes a while to admit what your intuition is telling you, but he got there.
When Jake tires, the four of us make our way back to the canopy. Seb explains the thirsty people looking for summer flings as we people watch. Since it’s Saturday, there’s a good mix of families and young people. You can still see people on the prowl, though.
When Nick emerges from the water, like the godlike sculpture he is, the guys laugh as a group of women make a beeline for him.
His scowl is strong as they get closer. He can’t help but look like a wet dream.
My wet dream. He tries to swing wide, but they track him anyway.
Words are exchanged as Nick stands in calf high water; arms crossed over his chest. A slash of his hand through the air has them turning and walking away.
He walks back to us, grabs a water bottle from the cooler, and sits on a towel in front of us. “Vultures,” he grumbles.
Seb laughs. “A few more weeks, man, and it’ll settle down.”
We enjoy a late lunch of sandwiches and salads that E prepped before breakfast. Jake is stunned at the brazen people here as he watches throughout the afternoon. All the guys have been approached.
Jake gets a scowl rivalling Nick when two guys try to stop me from getting out of the water when I go for a dip to cool off. Nick stepping up beside me has them quickly leaving.
Jake takes two naps during the day, under the shade of the canopy. Alex, being Alex, purchased a zero gravity lounger for Jake. Nick and I go for a run during his second nap, while the rest of the guys hang out near him.
Surprisingly, Nick is having trouble keeping up today. I tease him endlessly about having to slow down, which earns me a full, genuine smile. He didn’t have many opportunities to run while he was gone. If he wasn’t too injured, he would use the treadmill for an hour a few times a week.
When we rest at the inlet, Nick tells me a little about his time there.
I listen intently, knowing it’s uncommon for him to open up.
It seems he had a rough time, and I hate he had to go through that.
Thanking him again for protecting me, he reminds me it wasn’t a choice; my safety was paramount.
Kissing his cheek, we begin our jog back at a more leisurely pace.
Dipping into the water when we return to cool off, I jump on his back to carry me to the guys.
Dinner today is a barbecue feast in the backyard under the shade trees.
We’re planning a sunset bonfire again, so I send Jake up for a proper nap after dinner, and we relax on the couches for some tv and A/C.
I’m between Seb and E on one couch while Nick is sketching and Alex is doing something on his phone across from us. Bay excuses himself for the hammock.
Seb breaks the silence after we watch a sitcom. “Hey, does everyone know Bay and Penny broke up?” Seb asks. It seems Nick and E were unaware.
“Hurry,” I warn. Bay wanted to talk when he was ready.
“What? He talked to me this morning. Said it was okay to tell you guys.”
“Oh, okay. Sorry.” I kiss his cheek in apology.
“You should go check on him, Sunshine. He might want to talk.” Raising an eyebrow at him, E gives me a gentle push off the couch with a smile. Okay…
Walking upstairs, I use Alex’s bedroom to get to the upper deck. Bay is gently swaying in the hammock with one foot on the floor. “Hey,” I greet. Walking past, I gently close my patio door so as not to disturb Jake and pull a chair in front of the hammock. “Doing okay?”
Bay smiles at me. “Yeah, just thinking. You know I still really like you.”
Surprised, I meet his eyes. “Oh. That’s unexpected.” Suddenly unsure what to do with my hands, I tuck them under my thighs. I assumed he got over his feelings for me since he and Penny were together all senior year.
“I care for Penny and don’t want to minimize what we shared, but you were never far from my thoughts. Have your feelings towards me changed?”
“No,” I quickly answer. “What are you saying, Bay?” I must be dreaming.
“Assuming your other boyfriends are agreeable, could we try dating?”
“I thought you didn’t want a poly relationship. Are you sure about this?” The last thing I want is for him to enter into a relationship with me only for it to end badly because deep down he doesn’t want this type of relationship.
Bay sits up, swinging his legs over the edge of the hammock.
“I’ve thought about this a lot. I watched your interactions with Nick, Seb, and E.
I saw you after Nick left, and watched through the breakup with E, then when Jake came here.
You never favored one person. It was never awkward in our group, no matter what was happening.
Your capacity to love, but set boundaries, is impressive.
“I thought if I joined your group, you would give me only a part of your attention and leave me out while you spent time with the others, but you don’t do that.
No matter what was happening, our friend group was whole, and you went where you were needed.
You have an innate ability to know whom to focus on while including the others.
” He stands and comes over, crouching in front of me, taking my hand. “I’m sure.”
How did I get so lucky? I stare into his aquamarine eyes, his blond hair tousled from swimming today. Smiling down at him, I nod, pulling him into a hug. Bay drags me off the chair and onto his lap. I get all my guys.
I’m giddy when we part, as Bay helps me up with a smile. “I want to kiss you really bad but I’ll wait to speak with the others first.”
“Fair. Shall we head downstairs?” I lead him back through Alex’s room and down to the living area, to find the guys watching an action movie. Seb snatches me around the waist, settling me between him and E again. “Success, Sunshine?” He whispers in my ear.
“He’s good.” I smile.
As the sky fills with a bright pinky blush hue, I wake Jake up for our bonfire. The guys go down to the beach ahead of us with the firewood, snacks, and chairs. Once Jake is ready, we walk hand-in-hand down to meet them.
As usual, I walk to the water’s edge to watch the stunning sunset. Tonight, Alex joins me. We stand in companionable silence as the sky puts on Mother Nature’s show. Blush turns to orange and deep pink, then to crimson and lavender. The clouds spread the tapestry across the horizon.
As the red ball of fire sinks below the gleaming water, peace washes over me. There is nothing more beautiful than a sunset on the beach. When indigo stretches over the sky, Alex escorts me back to the guys. Sliding into my chair between Nick and Jake, I grab a stick to roast a marshmallow.
“Sum,” Jake groans as he watches me. “Some things never change.”
“What?” I ask, puzzled about what his problem is.
“Your perfectionism is showing.” Nodding towards my slowly browning marshmallow, he blows out the flames on his blackened one and pops it into his mouth. That leads to stories of us growing up, spreading to include the other guys as kids.
We’re laughing at a story of Seb getting covered in mud when a large group stops by.
I don’t recognize anyone, although Alex greets one of the girls.
They spread out in a circle around us. Four are crowding Alex and two are near Bay.
One college aged woman leans on Nick’s chair.
A few guys and girls seem to hang out with no one in particular, but are behind Seb and E.
I look over at Jake, who’s trying to take it all in. Reaching over to grab his hand, he gives a pull so I get up to sit on his lap. “It’s happening. What do we do?” He whispers to me.
“Nothing, unless someone gets too pushy.”
“You’re not jealous?” He asks me.
“Nope. They won’t cheat or disrespect me.
” As if on cue, Alex, Bay, and Nick stand.
The woman near Nick tries to rub against him, but he pushes her and she lands on her ass.
I’m a little surprised he did that, but perhaps his time away left him with no patience for bullshit, not that he had much beforehand.
Seb is chatting away with the group near him and E, but no one is being pushy so far. Alex, Bay, and Nick grab their chairs and move around me and Jake, effectively turning their backs on the crowd.
Two of the girls who were talking to Alex come up behind him. “So it’s true what Alexis said then. Your family won’t stand for your being with a whore, Alex.”
Before she even closes her mouth, Alex is up out of his seat.
“Never disrespect my family, Caroline. Do not speak of what you know nothing about, and look in the mirror before using that word. I have lost count of the men you have slept with during society functions, some old enough to be your grandfather. Leave and do not bother us again.”
Caroline looks furious but acquiesces, her friends following.
That just leaves the group with Seb and E.
Since they appear nonthreatening, the guys open their circle again to allow them to join us.
I retake my seat as we once again relax.
Nick moves his seat tight up beside mine, and Jake follows suit on the other side with a wink.
The rest of the evening is uneventful. We retire when Jake gets tired, dousing the flames and scattering the outsiders.
We take turns showering, then I tuck Jake into bed with a kiss. I fill bowls of ice cream for everyone, and we relax in front of the tv with the patio doors wide open. I end up with Nick’s head on my lap as he snoozes while the guys around me watch tv.
On Sunday, we play volleyball, swim, and relax. There are a few girls who bug Nick, but otherwise it’s peaceful. I take a nap in the hammock with Nick in the afternoon before dinner.
When I tuck Jake into bed, he tells me I can sleep with my other boyfriends as I’m walking around the end of the bed. I stumble over air, nearly falling down, but Jake smiles at me. “We talked about this Sum. You love all of us. I told you I made peace with all this a while ago.”
“You did,” I agree. “Why does it feel weird then?”
“Don’t know Sum, but I promise I’m fine with all of it. Go. I’ll be here if you need me.”
Nodding silently, I lean over and kiss him before leaving the room.
Wow. Why does this feel so strange? I don’t have any issues moving between Seb, E, and Nick, so why Jake?
The only conclusion I can make is that he’s new to all of this, and I still see him as fragile in some way, but I have to trust that he knows his own heart.
Seb catches up with me on the stairs for a kiss. I tell him what Jake told me, and he smiles, wiggling his eyebrows. “Spend the night with us. Nick is staying with you next week when Z goes to Savannah.”
“Twist my arm,” I smile, wrapping myself around his waist. Another quick kiss and we join the others in front of the television.
Seb and E create an enjoyable, titillating night, and I lose count of the number of orgasms.