The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (9 page)

A yellow Jeep wrangler pulled up. It was the
kind that actually had a backseat, but there wasn’t much space back
there—it was meant for two and not three—especially when two of the
occupants were tall guys.

Kyle hopped out and turned to Tally. “You can
sit up front.”

“Thanks.” Tally smiled and took the seat Kyle
had vacated.

“After you.” Kyle gestured for me to slide
into the sorry excuse for a middle seat and got in after me.

The pledge who’d been checking me out the
night before sat on my left. Fantastic. The car lurched forward,
and I grabbed onto Kyle to avoid flying out of my seat. I searched
around for a seatbelt and couldn’t find one.

“I’ve got you.” Kyle put an arm around my
waist. I contemplated shrugging him off, but it seemed better than
nothing.

I leaned over to get a better look at the
driver. Yup, another Phi Omega. “Kyle, does this happen to be a
fraternity floating trip?”

“Technically, yes.”

I glared at him. “Then why did you tell me
you were going with some friends?”

“I am. These guys are my friends.”

“Don’t you think Dylan’s going to think it’s
weird that I’m going floating with Phi Omega while he’s away?”

He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Who
cares?”

I pulled away. “I’m not one hundred percent
sure what’s going on with your brother and me, but I don’t
particularly want to upset him.”

“Chill out, Juliet. You guys have hooked up a
few times. He can’t decide what you do and don’t do.”

Tally turned around in her seat. “Don’t
worry. We’ll hang out and do our own thing.”

“Thanks.”

“That’s cool as long as it involves me. I
didn’t see you at all this summer. We need to catch up.”

“How long is this car trip? Let’s catch up
now.”

He laughed. “Only twenty-five minutes.”

I looked out the window. I loved how Southern
everything was in Charleston. The moss-covered oaks and the houses
with columns and huge porches.

“What did you do this summer? Other than
Dylan, that is.”

I glared at Kyle again. “If you’re pissed at
me, why’d you invite me today?”

“I’m not pissed. It was a joke.” The humor in
his eyes matched his words.

“Fine. I worked as a lifeguard at the
community pool back home.”

“Didn’t you do that last summer too?”

“You remember?”

“Of course I do.” He ran his free hand
through his dark brown hair.

“What did you do?”

“Not so fast. That can’t be it. I doubt you
worked every minute.”

“I hung out with my friends. There isn’t much
else to tell.”

“Did you do anything cool for
graduation?”

“Not really. There were some parties, but
that’s it. I’m guessing you did something.”

“I spent a few weeks in Europe, and I was
down at the beach for most of July.”

“Oh, I guess we missed each other.”

A Journey song came on, and the driver turned
up the radio.

“Yeah…who knows what would have happened if
I’d come down at the end of the summer instead.” He adjusted his
arm around me.

“Who knows?”

“Is that an acknowledgement that you might
have hooked up with me instead?”

Did we really have to have this conversation
with other people around? Even if his frat brothers already knew
about my hookups with Dylan, I didn’t need to have it
broadcast.

The pledge next to me—I still didn’t know his
name—laughed. For some reason, more than the laughter, it annoyed
me that he hadn’t introduced himself. “Who are you?”

“I’m Gregg.”

“Hi, Gregg.”

Kyle ran his hand down my arm. “Yes or
no?”

“No. I wouldn’t have.” I wasn’t going to let
him make me sound like a slut.

Kyle brushed my hair away so he could whisper
in my ear again. “If it had been me skinny dipping with you, you
wouldn’t have let me take you home?”

What? He knew about that part? I figured he
only knew we’d hooked up. The only reason I didn’t kill Kyle then
and there was that the music was so loud that I didn’t think anyone
else heard.

He must have noticed my expression. “Yes, I
know all about it. Dylan didn’t spare any details.”

“Lovely. Just lovely.”

“Trust me. I didn’t want to hear it. I’ve
wanted you for so long, and then he just took you.”

“He didn’t ‘just take’ me.” I felt my anger
rising.

“Just so you know, it doesn’t change
anything. I’m still interested…”

“What?”

“I’m just saying… I hate that you’re with
him, but I’d still want to date you.”

“Do you realize how bad that sounds? I’m
dating your brother, and you’re trying to ask me out?”

“He knew how I felt and went after you
anyway. I’m not doing anything wrong.” He ran a hand through my
hair.

Maybe he wasn’t—but I sure felt like I was.
“Kyle—stop.”

“Fine. We can stay friends for now.”

“How do you know that’s even still an
option?”

“Because it is.”

“I can’t decide who’s cockier, you or
Dylan.”

Kyle laughed. “I’m not cocky. I’m just
realistic.”

Thankfully, the rest of the ride went
quickly, and we arrived at the float place, a small shack with
piles of tubes and a couple of rusty old school buses parked around
it. I took a deep breath before getting out of the car. I really
had no desire to spend the day wearing a bikini around a bunch of
frat guys.

Fortunately, there were a few other girls
there—including Jana. “Juliet, hey! I didn’t think you’d be here
because Dylan’s not.”

“Yeah… Kyle invited me.”

“Oh. That’s cool.” Her look said it all. She
was trying to figure out if I was sleeping with both of them. I’m
sure she wasn’t the only one wondering that.

Kyle slung an arm around my shoulder in what
he was probably trying to play off as a friendly gesture. After our
conversation in the car, it felt like anything but that. “Dylan
wouldn’t want her to miss the fun.”

“Are you sure about that?” Ryan gave me a
look I couldn’t quite read. I hadn’t noticed him joining us.

Kyle smirked. “I’m positive.”

“You’re on keg duty, Kyle.” Ryan pointed to
the tailgate of his SUV. “Get it set up, and don’t leave it for the
rest of the day.”

“Is that some sort of punishment?”

“You can’t spend the day flirting with your
brother’s girlfriend if you’re serving everyone.”

“Let’s make this easy. Tally and I will do
our own thing. Someone can give us a ride home after.” I grabbed
Tally’s arm.

“Sounds good to me.” She smiled. Maybe the
roommate thing wouldn’t be so bad.

“And how does that help? What, you think
Dylan would rather you go off on your own and meet up with one of
the other four frats out here today?” Ryan looked at me like I had
two heads. “No way. You’re with me today, Doll Face.”

“Doll Face? Are you kidding me?”

“I think it fits.”

“Tally?” Ryan’s tone got friendlier.

“Yes?” She looked him square in the eye.

“I’m glad you’re here. Enjoy yourself.” I
didn’t miss the fact that he didn’t tell me to enjoy myself or the
lingering glance he gave her.

The guys loaded a bunch of tubes into the
back of the school bus that would be driving us to the launch spot.
This would be my second school bus ride in a week.

I tentatively pulled off my cover-up and left
it in the Jeep. I had a history of losing anything I brought with
me on float trips, and I didn’t particularly want to ride home in
just a swimsuit. Tally did the same, probably feeling about as
comfortable as I did.

“Finally. I thought I was going to go into
withdrawal.” Kyle grinned.

“Withdrawal from what?”

“Seeing you in a bikini.”

I smacked his arm. “Don’t.”

“What?”

“Ready?” Ryan joined us at the car. His eyes
went right to my chest and didn’t leave it for an awkward few
seconds.

“Yes, but you don’t need to wait for me. I’m
more than capable of walking the few feet to the bus.” I hoped he’d
get the point that there was no way he was babysitting me out of
some weird devotion to his friend.

“I’m definitely waiting for you.” Ugh. His
eyes moved down again.

“What were you saying about my not hanging
out with Kyle today?”

“He’ll be too busy. Come on.” He turned to
Kyle. “Go move the keg.”

Kyle winked before walking away.

I turned to get Tally, but she was talking
with Gregg. I smiled. At least one of us would have a good time. I
turned my back on Ryan but kept a distance from Tally. I didn’t
want to mess anything up for her.

I refused to look at Ryan even as we walked
to the bus.

Tally took a seat. I was about to slide in
next to her when she gave me a look. I grinned, moving out of the
way for Gregg. I sat down in the seat behind her. Ryan sat next to
me.

“You know, there are plenty of other girls to
bother today—and none of them are already dating your best friend.”
I always had an edge to me, but Ryan multiplied it by ten merely by
being in close proximity. Make that by twenty when he opened his
mouth.

“I get what Dylan likes about you.”

My chest. I kept that thought to myself.
“What?”

“You’re spunky.”

“Spunky?”

“Yeah. You’ve got an attitude, but it works
for you. It comes across as sexy.”

I laughed. I had to. No one ever called my
attitude sexy. “Whatever.”

“It’s true. Add in your body, and I
definitely understand what has him so bent out of shape. If I’d
seen you first, I probably would have gone for you, too.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I wouldn’t have
gone for you.” I crossed my arms.

“See, there’s that attitude.” He smirked.
“But just so you know, when you cross your arms like that, you show
me more cleavage.”

“Argh. Next time I’m wearing a one
piece.”

“Please don’t.”

“I don’t get you.”

“What don’t you get?”

“One second, you’re mad because you think I’m
flirting with Kyle. Now you’re checking me out.”

“I can look. If that’s all I thought Kyle was
doing, I wouldn’t care.”

“They’re brothers.”

“So? I thought you knew the Bradleys.”

The bus started moving. It got uncomfortably
bumpy as we jostled over the dirt road. “I do.”

“Then you should know how ridiculously
competitive they are. Kyle’s always trying to take what’s
Dylan’s.”

“Have they liked the same girl before?” My
curiosity got the best of me.

“No, it’s usually not about girls.”

“Are you going to expand on that?”

He looked torn for a second. “No. That’s for
Dylan to tell you, but it’s about their dad’s business.”

“Fine. But just so you know, you do not have
my permission to look.”

He laughed. “Good luck enforcing that. We’re
going to be spending a lot of time together today.”

“How would you feel if I sat here ogling
you?”

“I wouldn’t mind.” He opened his arms. “Look
all you want, baby.”

“Baby? What happened to Doll Face?”

“You’re still Doll Face.”

The bus stopped, and I waited for Ryan to get
out of the way so I could get off the bus. He made me go first. I
suspect it was so he could stare at my ass, but I couldn’t prove
it.

I went around the back of the bus for a tube,
but Ryan got there first. “I’ve got us.”

“What?”

“There are some doubles.”

“Nuh uh.”

“What?” He held up the two black tubes tied
together with rope.

“I am not floating in a tube tethered to
yours.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“I’ll get another.”

“What other?”

I turned back toward the bus. Everyone else
had grabbed their tubes—there were none left.

“They don’t have extras?”

“Nope.”

“Come on.”

The bus pulled away, leaving me standing
there as everyone else got into the water. I watched Kyle and
another pledge tie the keg onto a tube. I wanted that tube.

“Let’s do this.” Ryan walked toward the river
holding my only means of getting home.

I groaned. “I want Dylan.”

Ryan held the tube for me to get in. “My goal
is that you’ll beg for him by the end of the day.”

“Go easy on me.” I pushed my sunglasses down
from the top of my head.

Ryan jumped onto the tube next to me,
splashing me in the process. “All right, do you want your first
cup?”

“Of beer? It’s ten-thirty.”

“We can wait. What should we talk about?”

“Can’t we just enjoy the scenery?” It really
was gorgeous. The bank was surrounded by trees.

“The scenery, huh? I’ll enjoy the scenery.”
He gave an exaggerated nod toward my chest.

“What’s Dylan going to say when he finds out
how you’ve been talking to me?”

“Because you’re going to tell him?”

“I could.”

“You know what he would say, don’t you?”

“What?”

“He’d get mad at you for wearing such a
revealing swimsuit without him around to watch.”

“No, he wouldn’t. You act like we’ve been
dating for months. We haven’t even been on a real date yet.”

“I guess you made a big impression.”

“Did he really tell you about me before that
party?” I still couldn’t believe it.

“Oh yes. I’ve never heard him like that.
Usually, he just hooks up with girls. He had one girlfriend
freshman year, but they didn’t last long. He said you were
different. I think he’s been into you awhile, but didn’t want to
get locked up for statutory rape.”

“He never even noticed me in that way
before.” I thought about the past few summers when I’d done
everything to get his attention. He told me I looked good in red
once. I had a lot of red clothing—like the bikini I had on.

“So you’ve liked him a while too?” Ryan put
on his sunglasses.

“Oh yeah.” I figured there was no reason to
lie.