The Pass (Smart Jocks #5) - Rebecca Jenshak Page 0,53
to last us a day or two. We can take turns in the shower, then maybe shower together for good measure, and then we move this party into the other room, and deal with this mess another day.” He wags his finger at me. “Tomorrow, though, topless boating lesson.”
“That sounds perfect. Everything but the topless part.”
He pulls on his T-shirt and then his boxer briefs and jeans. Backing out of the room, he pauses at the doorway.
“What?” I ask when he keeps staring at me with a goofy grin on his face.
“Best date ever. Best night ever.”
After Tanner leaves, I take a scalding hot shower. I hum as I wash my hair and then my body. I’m in awe of last night and today and how normal it all feels. No, normal isn’t even the right word. It feels perfect. We’re still us, but in this new fun, very naked way. Everything changed and nothing.
I don’t think I’ve ever been happier or more excited. I know we’ll have to leave our little bubble and rejoin the world, but I’m looking forward to another two weeks just like this.
The stink of the room hits me all over again as I walk back into the bedroom.
“Ooof,” I say and pull the towel tight around me. I grab my suitcase and roll it over to Tanner’s room. I’m starting to run out of clean clothes. Neither of us has bothered to do laundry yet even though the house has a washer and dryer. Another task for another day.
I dig through what remains of my unworn clothes and smile when I get a brilliant outfit idea. Plan in place, I dress and even decide to put on a little makeup. Since I’ve been at the lake and getting in and out of the water so much, wearing anything other than a swipe of waterproof mascara and lip gloss hasn’t made sense.
I’ve got a perfect wing on my right eye and I’m struggling to get the left to match when there’s knocking at the front door. Expecting its Tanner with his hands full of takeout, I take a final look in the mirror, push up my boobs, and hustle out to the living room. The pounding increases in frequency and volume.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I say as I hurry to the door and fling it open. Hustling in these shoes is not easy. “As good as you imagined?” I ask raising my hands to my side and then immediately regretting all of the life decisions that brought me to this moment. “You’re not Tanner,” I say to the two wide-eyed girls on my doorstep.
They’re both brunette, both staring at me like I’m a crazy person, and both holding overnight bags.
“And you must be Sydney.” The taller of the two girls steps by me and enters the house.
The other stands there with her jaw slack. After a few seconds she offers a small smile. “Hi, I’m Corinne.”
“Corinne, of course.” Which makes the less friendly girl Tara, Tanner’s sister. “Come in.” I follow her into the living room where the three of us shuffle uncomfortably. “Tanner has told me so much about both of you. He went out to get food, but he should be back any minute. I didn’t think you were coming until next week. Does he know you’re here?”
“I thought I’d surprise him. Did he take the key out of the plant outside? I couldn’t find it.”
“Yeah, it’s on the counter.”
Tara’s gaze goes to my feet, and I realize I’m still standing here in front of Tanner’s sister in a bikini. “Looks like I succeeded in the surprise part. Cute shoes.”
“Oh, right.” I lean over and slip out of the pink stilettos and hold them in front of me, hoping they’ll shield me from my embarrassment. “You know how it is, have to break them in before you wear them out or they pinch your feet. I’m going to get dressed and let you two get settled.”
I walk into Tanner’s room with my heart pounding in my chest. Holy fuck. I grab the first article of clothing I find, one of Tanner’s gray T-shirts and pull it on along with cutoff shorts. I go for my phone to text Tanner but realize I must have left it in the other room.
“Corinne, you can have my room, I’ll take the guest room,” Tara says, and I hear footsteps start toward the den of sex.