“Cheap rent,” I tell her honestly. “I wanted to move out of the dorms but couldn’t afford a place on my own. Your brother and I are cool. We’re not the best of friends, as you said, but we get each other. He’s a good captain.”
It’s hot out and there’s really no escape from the sun in the middle of the pool, so we get out when Ginny’s shoulders start to burn. Inside the house, we find Adam and his new girlfriend sitting with Maverick and a brunette he introduces as Maddie. Rauthruss is there too with his phone in hand, no doubt texting his girlfriend.
“Little Scott,” Maverick greets her as we take a seat. She bristles at the name, which I totally get. Since Nathan went to Valley too, I’ve often been called Baby Payne and that shit gets old really quick.
“She has a name, man,” I tell him.
His brows raise slightly, but he nods. “Yeah, I know, just messing around.”
“Do you want something to drink?” I ask her and stand. She nods and I head outside to where we left our stuff.
Dakota and Reagan are sitting in the lounge chairs we abandoned.
“Where’s Ginny?” Reagan asks.
I grab the alcohol and all our clothing. “Everyone’s inside.” I motion with my head and they follow.
“Got a crush on Ginny?” Dakota asks with a tease to her voice.
“It’s not like that.”
“What is it like?” she presses as we walk toward the house.
“She’s cool.”
“Cool? So you don’t want to sleep with her?”
Of-fucking-course I want to sleep with her. She’s beautiful and fun and if I had standards… she’d exceed them.
“She’s Scott’s sister.”
She nods in understanding. “He would kill you. Better get your shit on lock then. It’s written all over your handsome face.”
Inside, Liam has slid into my spot and a few others have crowded around the table. When Ginny sees me approaching with her things, she stands. “Oh, thank you.”
I take her seat while she pulls on her shorts and steps into her sandals. The end of her braid swings forward into my face. Back and forth all hypnotic-like. Reminds me of that movie Office Space and I’m going deeper and deeper, way down into Ginny.
When she’s ready to sit, I crowd Liam and make room for her on half the seat. As she settles in, I wrap an arm around her to keep her from falling off.
She smiles at me all sun-kissed skin and smelling like chlorine and something twists in my gut.
“Heath.”
My name being called draws my attention to a group of girls walking up to the table.
“Hey, Kimberly. How are you?”
“Good, good.” She glances around the table, stopping on Rauthruss for a few seconds longer than the others. He gets real busy staring at his phone. I don’t get it. I get loyalty. I respect him for that, but if he wants a girlfriend, why not find one he can actually see… and fuck?
Kimberly’s stare finally finds its way back to me. “What have you been up to? You didn’t call.”
Ginny giggles quietly next to me and I squeeze her waist playfully as I answer. “School, hockey… the usual.”
“Well, let’s hang out later.”
I give her a noncommittal head bob. “See ya.”
“Friend of yours?” Ginny asks with a smirk when she’s gone.
“Never seen her before in my life.” I wink and she giggles again.
Her face is soft and sincere when she pulls away. “Go, you don’t need to keep an eye out for me just because my brother asked you to. I’m good.”
“I thought I told you—”
“I know what you said, but it’s a party and… we’re friends.” Her insinuation is clear. She and I aren’t happening. “Go.” She shoves at my shoulder playfully.
I stand, though I don’t know why. I don’t want to hang out with Kimberly. “All right, you know where to find me.” I tug her braid one last time and head off to the pool.
9
Ginny
The more I drink and the darker the sky gets, the more relaxed I feel. We moved back outside now that it’s cooled off. I can feel the slight burn on my skin from earlier and the breeze makes goose bumps dot my arm.
Adam and Taryn are sharing a lounge chair next to me and Reagan. Dakota and Maverick are both in the pool. Maverick’s tossing a beach ball back and forth with the girl he’s been hanging out with all afternoon and Dakota’s full-on making out with some guy Reagan tells me is a basketball player.
Liam sits on the ground between us. He’s attached himself to my side. I can’t tell if he’s hitting on me or if he’s another one of the guys Adam’s asked to keep an eye out for me. His approach is much more subtle than Heath’s, and dammit if I don’t prefer Heath’s cocky, playfulness to Liam’s politeness.
I find him in the pool. He’s leaning against the side and the girl I all but pushed him into hanging out with is next to him. She’s facing him, her back to me, but I have a clear view of Heath.
He smiles and holds a beer in one hand. They’re not touching, at least that I can tell, but they’re standing close. He laughs and his stare moves past her to me. It isn’t the first time he’s caught me staring in the last hour.
I know he’s all wrong for me. Dakota and Reagan have filled me in on all the guys and what they said about Heath is exactly what I expected. He hooks up, he’s all for the fun, but he doesn’t date, and he’s never had a girlfriend that they’re aware of.
The reasons to not hook up with him are many, not the least of which is him being my brother’s roommate and teammate. And if I’m totally honest, I’m not one hundred percent over Bryan. I think it’s mostly turned into anger at the way he ended things and missing the idea of what I thought
