The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (10 page)

“Then what’s up with you flirting with
Kyle?”

“I don’t flirt with Kyle.”

“Yes you do.”

“I don’t.” I closed my eyes and leaned
back.

“A piece of advice. Dylan likes you a lot,
but if he thinks you’re into anyone else—especially his
brother—you’re not going to last long.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I dipped my hand
into the warm water.

“You do that.”

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Boys…

Dear Amy,

How do you tell a guy the sex is bad without
actually saying it? Don’t read too much into the question. I’m just
asking.

Your Almost Innocent Cousin,

Juliet

The first day of classes was mostly
uneventful. I started with Freshman Writing at nine. Mallory was in
it with me, and the professor seemed decent, although he was
ancient. Our first assignment was straightforward: a paper about
our favorite book. The only problem was I didn’t have a favorite
book. I know what you’re thinking—I’m a ditz or something—but
that’s not true. I’d simply never found a book that spoke to me
enough to be my favorite. I liked a lot of books. I loved
A
Farewell to Arms
and
The Quiet American
. Now that I
think about it, most of the books I liked were about war. I wonder
what that says about me? But that’s beside the point. I didn’t have
one favorite.

Our next classes were on opposite sides of
the quad, so I said goodbye to Mallory and went in search of my
Modern U.S. History class. I found it with five minutes to spare
and took my time setting up my laptop.

“Hey, Annie.” Reed took a seat next to
me.

“Hey. You’re in this class?”

“No, I’m just randomly sitting here.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re so funny.”

“How was the rest of your weekend?”

“It was good.” It was. Kind of. The float
trip wasn’t all bad. I’d learned a lot more about Dylan, and Tally
was so psyched about meeting Gregg that we got to have a lot of
girl talk that night. It turned out she was really cool. I’d kind
of expected Dylan to call or at least text, but he never did. So
much for Ryan’s speech about how crazy he was about me.

“You’re not very talkative today.” He said it
as a statement and not a question. “But that’s okay. I’m not
either.”

I thought about asking him why, but that went
against the whole not being talkative thing. Class went by in a
blur, and before I knew it, we were walking out.

“I’ll see you at work at five-thirty.”

I appreciated the reminder. “All right. I’ll
see you then.”

He grinned. “Almost forgot about your first
day of work?”

“Second. You said Friday night counted.”

“Fair enough. I’ll see you later.” He waved
before heading off in the opposite direction.

***

“How skanky does this look?” I checked myself
in the mirror again.

“Hmm, it depends on your skankiness scale.”
Cara laughed from where she lounged on my bed.

“Do you want my opinion?” Tally turned in her
desk chair where she’d been working on a paper.

“Yes.”

“You’ve got nice boobs—show them off.”

I laughed. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting that
answer.”

“What? I’m flat as a board. If I had what you
do, I’d flaunt them.” Tally might have had a small chest, but she
had an incredible body. I wished for legs like hers.

I took another look at myself in my too-small
Al’s Pizza t-shirt. “I can’t believe it shrunk. I was going to ask
Reed for more anyway…”

Cara sat up cross-legged. “I don’t think
he’ll have a problem with the shirt.”

“I don’t really have a choice now. I’m
supposed to be at work in fifteen minutes.”

“At least you’ll get good tips.” Tally
shrugged.

“If anyone actually comes in. I don’t
understand why I need to be there before nine o’clock, but if they
want to pay me for sitting on my butt, I’m all for it.”

Cara laughed. “Have fun.”

“Will do.”

I grabbed a zip-up sweatshirt on my way out
the door so I’d have it for my walk home. I headed straight through
the center of campus. It was pretty deserted. I made it to Al’s
with a few minutes to spare.

“Hey, Ms. Oakley.” Reed didn’t look up from
his book when I walked in.

“How’d you know it was me?”

“Who else would come in now?”

“So you were being serious? We’re not going
to have customers for hours?”

“Nope. I always prep, but trust me, we won’t
need to touch anything until at least eight.”

I stopped next to the counter. “I’m glad I
brought my books.”

“Good.” He finally glanced up. “Wow…you know
how to make a t-shirt look good.”

“Shut up.”

“What? I don’t remember it looking quite so
good the other day.”

“I somehow managed to shrink it. When you
give me my other shirts, I’ll need an extra.”

“Would you mind shrinking them all? It might
make work more interesting.” He grinned.

“You know, I really thought you were a decent
guy, but maybe you are a jerk and—”

“Hold that thought.” He walked into the back
and came back with a handful of shirts.

“Take your pick.”

“Thanks. Sorry about the jerk thing.”

“I had it coming.”

I pulled out a few articles we had to read
for history class and noticed that Reed was reading the same thing.
When I finished, I put them away and messed around on my phone.

Reed set aside his work. “Want to learn how
to make a perfect Al’s Pizza?”

“I thought I wasn’t going to be cooking?”

“You’re not. But maybe you’ll have to one
day.”

“All right. Why not?” I stuffed my phone into
my back pocket.

“We make the dough in big batches ahead of
time, so it’s really not hard.” Reed walked into the back and
stopped in front of a large, deep sink. He washed his hands, and I
did the same.

“The fridges and freezers are back here.” He
disappeared around the corner, and I followed. He opened a large
refrigerator and pulled out a container of dough. “Do you know how
to toss a pizza?”

“Do I look like I know?” I bit back a smile.
I had a feeling he actually enjoyed his tutorial.

“Maybe, maybe not.”

“I have no clue.”

He went through it step by step. He rolled
out the dough and made me try to toss it. I dropped in on the table
twice before I got it.

“You’re a fast learner.”

“Yeah, you know, I have mad skills.”

He let me do the sauce and cheese part
myself. I think he found the whole thing amusing. It was a nice
distraction from my school work. Still, I was more than happy to
let him take over after the first pie. I took a seat and watched
him make a couple more. “The guys will make the rest when they come
in. What do you want for dinner?”

“Does it honestly taste that bad? Do you
knowingly serve horrible pizza?”

“Want to find out?”

“Not particularly, but I guess it’s important
to actually know what I’m selling.”

Reed took the first pizza to one of the
industrial ovens. Twenty minutes later, we sat in a booth with the
pie between us.

Reed grinned. “Dig in.”

“Should I be scared?”

“It’s not going to make you sick or anything.
It’s just not the best pizza ever.”

He was right. It tasted like a cheap frozen
pizza from the grocery store. “Point taken. I won’t ask again.”

He laughed. “I think there’s something about
the dough that makes it actually taste good when you’re drunk, but
when you’re sober, not so much.”

“What do we do now?”

“Clean up, and do more work.”

“I really think I’m going to get used to
this.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Boys…

Dear Juliet,

Don’t read into it? Who’s bad in bed? I hope
you haven’t been sleeping with Dylan again or Kyle. But then again,
it would be really funny if either of them sucked in bed.

Your Slightly Worried Cousin,

Amy

Tuesday was pretty boring. I did some reading
for class and went to a meeting at the house. I was surprised to
get a text from Dylan right before heading back to my dorm.
Stop
by my house tonight?

I texted him back. No easy feat while
walking.
You’re back?

Yeah. When can you come over?

I’m just leaving the house.

See you in a minute.

“Dylan wants me to stop by. I’ll see you
girls later.”

“Ohhh, don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.”
Mallory laughed.

“I guess you’d do almost anything.” I
grinned.

“Night, Juliet.”

I headed to the Phi Omega house. A few guys
were hanging out on the porch when I got there, so I went ahead and
walked in.

Dylan was talking to some guys around the
pool table. I hesitated for a moment before walking over, suddenly
nervous. Before I could make myself move toward him, Dylan looked
up and saw me. I expected him to smile, but his expression was
stony.

“Let’s go upstairs.” He grabbed my hand and
towed me behind him.

“Hey. Easy there. Your hand is digging into
my wrist.”

“Sorry.” He loosened his hold but didn’t let
go until we were in his room with the door closed.

“How’s your dad?” I asked.

“Fine. This isn’t his first scare.”

“Oh. That’s good. I mean that he’s okay.”

“Is there anything you want to tell me?”
Dylan glared at me.

“What do you mean?” I crossed my arms
nervously over my chest. His gaze was intimidating.

“Do anything fun this weekend?”

“I don’t know… it was okay.”

“Stop playing dumb, Juliet. What the hell was
that about?”

“What?”

“You thought I wouldn’t find out that you
went on the float with my brothers?”

“Oh. You care?” I knew he wouldn’t be
thrilled, but he was fuming.

He laughed dryly. “Do I care? Hmm, let’s try
this a different way. How would you feel if you left town to see
your dad who was in the hospital and found out I spent the weekend
with your sisters while practically naked.”

“Oh. I didn’t think about it that way. Kyle
invited me, and I didn’t realize it was a frat thing. Once I did,
it was too late.”

His expression darkened further. “You were
okay going alone with Kyle?”

“No. My roommate was with me.”

“That makes it better? How do you think it
felt to come back and hear every fucking guy in this house talking
about your rack?”

“They’ve been talking about me?”

“Yes. Yes they have.”

“Look. I’m sorry. Trust me. If I could do it
again, I wouldn’t have gone. But if it makes you feel any better, I
spent the whole time talking to Ryan about you.”

Dylan finally smiled. “That’s what he
said.”

“Are you really mad?”

He moved toward me. “I was.”

I looked up at him, feeling guilty as hell,
even though I didn’t actually do anything. I kept picturing him
flirting with Amanda in a bikini. “But not anymore?”

“It’s too hard to stay mad at you when you
look like that.”

“Like what?” I looked down at my t-shirt and
jean skirt.

“Like this…” He put his arms around my waist.
“Besides, those guys might have gotten to look at you this weekend,
but I’m the only one who gets to touch you.” He cupped my breast
through the t-shirt. “Or taste you.” His lips crushed against mine,
as he used his free hand to cradle my head. We’d had frenzied
kisses before, but this one was more intense, and god, Dylan could
kiss.

I barely realized we were moving, but somehow
I ended up on his bed.

“I need you, baby. I’ve been going crazy.” He
pulled my t-shirt over my head, quickly unclasping my bra and
tossing it. He pulled off his own shirt before moving his mouth to
my breast. At the same time, he unzipped my skirt and tried to pull
it off. It got stuck on my hips, so I moved to help him.

“No.” He moved his mouth. “I get to undress
you.”

There was something almost frightening about
the way he said it. I shrugged it off. Dylan wasn’t scary. I nodded
and let him take off my skirt and panties before taking off his
shorts and boxers.

“Tell me you’re mine.”

“Hmm?” I tried to speak, but his hand had
moved between my legs, distracting me.

“Tell. Me. You’re. Mine.” He looked right at
me.

I felt so good. I would have said anything in
that moment. Maybe if I distracted him, he’d finish this time. “I’m
yours.”

“Say it again.”

“I’m yours.”

Within seconds, he moved his hand and thrust
into me. He had been so close. I grabbed his hand, placing it where
I wanted it, but he moved it away. I closed my eyes, knowing how
quickly it would be over.

***

I actually enjoyed spending the night with
Dylan. He was an excellent cuddler. He held me all night, and
barely let me go when I had to leave to get ready for class.

I got back to my dorm in time for a quick
shower before my writing class. I still didn’t know what book to
write about. I’d have to figure it out at work that night. When I
took the same seat in history, I was glad when Reed sat next to me.
I’d never really had a guy friend before—unless you counted
elementary school.

“How’s life treating you?” His face was
cleanly shaven, and he smelled faintly of some sort of
aftershave.

“You know. It’s life.”

“I’m starting to think you have multiple
personalities.”

“Why’s that?”

“I can’t shut you up at work, but in class,
you won’t even answer a question.”

I opened a Word document for the day’s notes.
“What’s the major difference between the two occasions?”