The afternoon flew by, and before I knew it, the final bell rang. But instead of being excited like the rest of my classmates, nervous butterflies filled my stomach. I had to go swimming with Simon. And possibly his sister. Hopefully, she’d leave or stay inside if she knew I was there. I made a quick stop at my locker.
“You don’t seriously like that guy, do you?”
Everything inside of me tingled at the sound of his voice. I closed my locker and turned to face Trent. “What guy?” I asked.
He narrowed his eyes. “There’s more than one?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his expression. “You mean Simon?”
The corners of his lips pulled down in what was possibly the sexiest scowl I’d ever seen. “Yeah. Him.” He crossed his arms, causing his muscles to bulge, stretching his shirt tight.
“Well, considering he’s the only person in this entire school who talks to me… yeah, I do.” I tilted my head, studying him. “Why do you care anyway?”
“He’s not the only person.”
“Nice way to totally avoid my question.” I started to walk toward the exit, and he fell into step beside me. “Besides, I thought you and Simon were friends.”
“Can I drive you home?” he asked, still avoiding my question.
My steps faltered, and another intense wave of déjà vu hit me. Riding home to Aunt Beth’s house in a white pickup truck, talking and asking a lot of questions. I blinked, trying to regain my bearings.
“Chloe?” Trent had ahold of my arm to steady me. His touch seared me, spreading warmth to every inch of my body. “Are you all right?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, sorry. I’m fine.”
He released me, trailing his fingers down the length of my arm, and I shivered in response. My heart beat triple time, and my breathing was much too fast. So not good.
“So?” He raised a brow.
“Um, thanks, but I have plans.” I scrunched up my face. “Maybe another time?”
Just then, Simon walked toward us, his sister right on his heels. I groaned.
“Ready?” Simon asked.
I nodded. “Yup.”
“Brilliant.” Simon once again put his arm around my shoulders.
Trent tensed. The muscle in his jaw visibly ticked, and his eyes darkened.
“You’re coming, too, right?” Simon said, his gaze on Trent.
Simon had invited Trent? Well, this just got a lot better.
Trent’s expression relaxed, and he nodded. “Of course.” He hadn’t even bothered to ask where or what was going on. Talk about strange.
“Trent!” Olivia pushed her way around me. “Apparently, we’re having an impromptu pool party at my house.” She tossed an annoyed look at her brother. “You’re invited, you know that, right?”
My stomach sank.
“Yup.” Trent flashed a smile that made my cheeks heat.
“Lovely.” Olivia beamed and then looped her arm through his. “Mind if I ride with you?”
I gritted my teeth.
“Sure,” he said. They walked away, and Trent glanced at me over his shoulder.
There was a warning or a challenge in his eyes—I wasn’t sure which, but I did know that I was not going to let Olivia turn him against me.
“My sister.” He shook his head and dropped his arm from around me. “We can do something else if you want.”
“No, it’s okay.” I smiled. “Take me to get my suit, and then let’s go swimming.”
By the time we got to Simon’s car, there was no sign of his sister. Not that I was complaining. Several moments later, Simon pulled up in front of my father’s house—I refused to call this place home—and I got out. Simon did, too.
“Uh, what’re you doing?” I asked.
“Thought I’d say hi to your step mum. I think she likes me.” He grinned, and I shook my head. If he only knew how much Larissa liked him.
“C’mon,” I said, leading him inside.
“Hey, Chloe. How was school?” Larissa asked as soon as I was through the door. And then the moment she noticed Simon, she smiled. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were bringing company home.” She smoothed her hands over her hair.
I rolled my eyes. “We’re not staying. I’m just here to grab my swimsuit.” I waited for her to say something about my tone, because I wasn’t asking permission.
Thankfully, Simon chose that moment to speak up. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”
“Yes, of course,” Larissa said, her tone a higher pitch than normal.
My jaw dropped. Was she really that excited about me hanging out with Simon that she wouldn’t give me any grief over it?
“Okay then… I’m going to go grab my stuff.”
I headed up to my room, leaving Larissa and Simon alone. Maybe Larissa was a cougar in hiding. If she hooked up with Simon, I could be with Trent. I laughed at my stupid thoughts. First, there was no way Simon and Larissa would hook up. Second, I wouldn’t wish that on Little Frank. I knew firsthand what it was like to have a broken family, and he didn’t deserve that. And third, there wasn’t a force on earth that would make Trent pick me over Olivia Parker.
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
Pool Party
AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE WROUGHT IRON gate, we drove for a good mile down a paved driveway, either side lined with meticulously manicured trees and shrubs. It was like heading to some place magical, some place I’d only ever read about. When the house finally came into view, my jaw hit my knees. I thought my father’s house was big, but it looked like a shack compared to Simon’s.
Whereas my father’s house was concrete and modern, Simon’s was wooden and rustic. Stone-laid pillars supported dark wooden beams, giving the impression of an intricate log cabin—completely out of place in posh Malibu.
Simon pulled around the circular drive, and it was then I noticed the shimmering pond full of colorful fish. I leaned closer to the window and peered out for a better look. Okay, that was really cool.
He stopped the car, and I climbed out. Awe settled
