Her laughter filled the kitchen. “Slut-a-roo? Hooking up with someone doesn’t make you a slut.”
“That I know for sure.” I sent her a cheeky grin over my shoulder, and she laughed again. “I don’t know. It’s just weird. It’s just…” I nibbled on my lower lip. “I’ve never told you this, because honestly, I never saw the point and it was before I knew you, but…I met Tanner my freshman year.”
There was a pause and then, “What?”
Wincing, I swore she’d hit a decibel higher than normal. I watched Tanner dive into the pool. “Well, we didn’t really meet. He had no idea who I was. He was just in two of my classes, but I had the biggest crush on him.”
“Why did you never mention this before?”
I shrugged and then faced her. “When I say he had no idea who I was, I’m not kidding. After my freshman year, I didn’t think I’d really see him again, just around campus, but then he turned up at the bar with Kyler that one night.”
She eyed me closely. “Okay. Now your attitude toward him is starting to make sense, and I know it’s more than just him not seeing you or paying attention. What did he do?”
My cheeks started to burn. “Remember Clara Hansen? She was my roommate my freshman and sophomore year.”
“Um. Yeah. A little. She wasn’t at your dorm a lot. That I remember.” Syd joined me at the door.
“Well, she had one of those classes with me. Clara had to know that I had the hots for him, because I think I drooled on myself every time he walked into a lecture. I mean, I never told her that I did, but… Whatever, it doesn’t matter.” I took another drink, enjoying the burn it made cascading down my throat. “One night I was studying at the library and came back to the dorm late. Clara wasn’t alone. She was in bed and she was most definitely having sex.”
“Oh. Oh no.” Syd groaned. “Let me guess. She was with Tanner?”
“Yep.”
“What a bitch!”
“Like I said, I never told her that I liked him and I never even talked to him.”
Anger pinched her pretty face. “Whatever. How in the world does he not remember you when you walked in on them?”
“He was um…he was busy, and the moment I saw who it was, I backed out of that room faster than I’ve ever moved.” I finished off the bottle. “He had to have known someone had opened the door, but he doesn’t know it was me. And I know it’s stupid, but that whole situation has always bothered me.”
“I can see why,” she said quietly.
Walking over to the garbage can, I tossed the empty bottle. “But it’s dumb. Because he didn’t know me. I totally recognize that. I like to think I’ve matured a bit since then.” I laughed when Syd raised her brows at me. “So, yeah, that’s that.”
“What are you going to do about it now?” she asked.
I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
A slow grin spread across her face. “Well, I think you’ll figure it out. But only if you come outside and stop hiding.”
Tanner
The hamburgers Andrea made were literally the best damn burgers I’d ever tasted, and I tried to tell her that, but she’d spent the better part of our little cookout up Syd’s ass, and now that it was dusk, we hadn’t exchanged more than a handful of words.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was avoiding me.
And I wasn’t down for that as I was feeling rather attention-seeking at the moment, especially since the lovebirds were plastered to each other in the shallow end of the pool. Syd was in Kyler’s lap, and I really hoped there were no shenanigans going on.
Sitting on the ledge of the pool with my legs dangling into the water, I leaned forward as Andrea came back outside. Arms crossed under her chest, she came to the edge of the pool and looked at me.
I waved.
Her head tilted to the side, and in the fading sun, her hair was a burnt auburn, reminding me of the season not too far away. Lips pursed, she glanced in the direction of Kyler and Syd.
“Andy,” I called before she interrupted them.
Her head swung toward me. “Tanner?”
“Come here.” I smacked the spot beside me. Surprise shuttled through me when after a moment of hesitation she made her way over. After that afternoon, I figured I’d have to get down on my knees and beg her. As she sat down beside me, dipping pretty toes into the water, I could barely drag my gaze away from her shapely legs. “I’ve missed you.”
She laughed as she folded her hands together. “You did not miss me.”
“Yes, I did.” I leaned back on my hands as she stared at the water. There was a freckle under her left ear. I wanted to taste it.
“I’ve been right here,” she said, splashing the water with her feet.
What would she do if I ran my tongue along that little speck? “Still missed you.”
“You are so full of shit,” she replied, but she was smiling, so I figured that was a good thing. Not good enough for me to lick that freckle. She’d probably punch me in the balls if I did that. Glancing at me, she lifted a brow. “It’s a good thing you’re cute.”
“You think I’m cute?” I reached up, tugging gently on the black string around her neck.
“Sometimes.” She smacked my hand away.
Grinning, I tapped her fingers with mine. “That’s because the other half of the time you think I’m a sexy beast.”
“Sure.” Her eyes flashed to mine. “If that’s what helps you get on with your day.”
I laughed deeply. “You know what will help me get on with my day?”
“What?”
“Seeing what’s under this top and those shorts,” I told her. “You’re wearing a bathing suit, and seeing that is something that will definitely get me through the rest of my days.”
Shaking her head, her attention returned to the pool, to where her feet paddled in the water. “You are just on a roll, aren’t you?”
“I have no idea what you mean.” I totally knew what she meant. Leaning my arm against hers, I savored the warmth of her skin and the way she bit down on her lower lip. “So… you changed your major, right?”
She nodded as she tipped her head in my direction. “That’s right.”
“What do you plan to do, then?” I asked, genuinely curious. “Live a life of leisure?” The moment that question came out of my mouth, I wanted to punch myself. It was supposed to be joke, but it was about as funny as an accident on the beltway.
Andrea twisted at the waist, facing me. Her brown eyes had darkened, turning stormy. “Contrary to popular belief, asshole, I don’t sit around all day and have people wait on me hand and foot.”
I pulled back. “Andrea—”
“I’ve changed my major to teaching, and as you know, teachers aren’t living the life of Riley. And when I’m not in class, I’m not just hanging around, getting manicures and pedicures. I spend the bulk of my time volunteering at Holy Cross Hospital. And not as a candy striper, either.” She pulled her feet from the water and stood briskly. Too quickly. “You don’t—”
Her feet slipped in the puddle gathering on the deck and she went down, her knee cracking off the edge. My hand shot out, reaching for her arm as she started to pinwheel, but I wasn’t fast enough. One minute she was standing next to me, and the next second she was in the pool, water spraying into the air.
“What the…?” Kyler broke away from Syd and turned toward us. Disbelief colored his tone. “Did you push her?”
Ignoring him, I jumped into the pool just as Andrea’s head broke the surface. “You okay?”
Gasping from the cold shock, she treaded water, her eyes wide when they met mine. Anger flashed across her face, quickly followed by a red stain that seeped into her cheeks. I doubted that was anger. Oh no, that was a very different kind of emotion. With a little shake of her head, she turned from me and swam to the ladder. Soaked, her hair stuck to her cheeks as she climbed out of the pool, her clothing clinging to her curvy form.