that’s all I’m saying,” he says, still breathing hard.
“I don’t take it for granted for a second,” I tell him honestly. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” I know it sounds cheesy as hell, but it’s true.
He nods in understanding. “You might want to examine why that is.” He holds his hands up defensively, probably at the hard look I’m giving him. “I’ve said my peace.”
“Noted.” Eager to change the subject, I ask, “You remember my friend John Datson? He came up last summer and went to The Cove with us over Memorial Day weekend. Anyway, he’s coming up tomorrow.”
“Datson! Yeah, love that guy. He’s a good time.”
I chuckle. That he is. They are a lot alike in that regard. Datson’s a good guy, and definitely always up for a good time.
“I have a few friends coming up this weekend, too. A couple of very good-looking girl friends. And by friends I mean people I don’t want to hook up with. You know, since we seem to have different definitions of the word.” He winks. “I think you’ll like Willow. Tall, blonde… that is your type, right?”
I flip him off. He’s not wrong. That’s exactly my type.
We finish up in the gym and head inside. We’re both already in our swim trunks and I’m dying to get in that pool to cool off. Jonah mixes up protein smoothies for us and I stare out the window to where Sydney’s floating on a yellow raft.
He brings me a strawberry smoothie and a water. He’s carrying his own drink and smoothie, and we take a step outside before I stop in my tracks. “I should grab Sydney something.”
Jonah chuckles. “So thoughtful. In the door of the fridge.” He continues on and I go back to get another water.
The extra twenty seconds gives Jonah a chance to grab a floatie and join Sydney. I sit on the edge of the pool while I finish my drink. They’re at the farthest point on the lazy river. Their voices and laughter are barely heard over the music. Jonah is complimenting her body and Sydney’s laughing as he goes on and on and on and on. Your stomach and those shoulders. All right, Jonah, that’s enough I want to tell him. But the smile on her face as they come into view stops me. He’s not saying anything that isn’t true and anything that makes her happy, makes me happy.
We stay at Jonah’s house until around dark. Sydney was all about going out tonight, so we head back to shower and get ready.
For all the things Sydney and I have done together, we’ve never gotten ready for a party or a night out at the same place. It almost feels like a date as I sit in the living room scrolling through my phone waiting on her.
She’s come out three times with different dresses to ask my opinion. Her style is short, tight, and colorful and there’s absolutely no way to go wrong with that so I’m not a lot of help. Torture devices? Yes. But the good kind of torture.
“Babe, Uber’s going to be here in three minutes. Are you almost—”
My words die as she steps into view.
“I’m ready. I’m ready.” Thankfully she’s staring down at the small purse she carries, so she doesn’t see my jaw drop to the ground and hang out there while my eyes scan her from head to toe.
Tonight’s torture device isn’t a dress, but the amount of pain it causes remains the same. A plain white tank top is tucked into a hot pink skirt that ends waaay above her knees. It’s just a step above indecent. She got some sun the last few days and her skin has this smooth and satiny look to it. I want to run my hands up her legs and see if they’re really as smooth as marble. It’s the sort of thing I might have joked about just a few days before, but the tightening of my jeans in the crotch area refuses to let me play it off like that.
“Tanner?” Sydney asks. Her brows knit in concern.
“Sorry, what?”
“Does this look okay?” She runs a hand along her waist. “I don’t usually wear skirts because I don’t like the way the band feels around my stomach and I swear somehow that tiny piece of added fabric makes my boobs look smaller, but… what do you think?”
“Skirt good. Very good. Err…” I shake my head. “I think my brain exploded.