one piece with a plunging back, scalloped trim around the legs and bust, and shaped cups that gave me enough support to add a hint of cleavage, which I didn’t usually have. The only problem, which I discovered as I ran downstairs, was a tendency for it to ride up. Wedgies were not attractive, and they sure weren’t comfortable.
It was a lot warmer now than it had been the last time I came out here. In fact, at fifty degrees, it felt almost summery. I thanked my lucky stars that I lived in Texas and ran out to the hot tub with nothing but a towel to wrap up in afterward.
The cover on the hot tub was heavier than I expected so it took me a few minutes to take it off. By the time I was finally able to get in, I was covered in prickly goosebumps from head to toe. It was warmer outside, but not warm. I could practically feel the prickly hairs of my unshaven legs standing straight up in protest.
I climbed up the two steps and threw my legs over the edge. I had to pause to pick out another wedgie before I sank down into the heavenly water. After turning on the jets, I forced myself to relax and not think. Not about anything. Especially Damien or the mess we’d gotten ourselves into.
There were plenty of things to be excited about too. When I got out, I could head in and order a pizza and spend the evening in my studio. Friday was payday, and I’d be able to not only pay my rent and all my bills but have enough left over to update my wardrobe for work. Maybe I’d even go buy some higher-end makeup and jewelry. Yes. That would be amazing.
For a while, I was able to avoid thinking about the fact that I wanted to see Damien. It occurred to me at last that I was trying to forget about him while enjoying his hot tub. The man turned me into an idiot, and if I didn’t already have a dozen other reasons why I shouldn’t let myself fall for him, that one was enough. I preferred being rational and independent, thank you.
When I started to feel a little dizzy and sweat, even with a cool evening breeze, I decided I’d better get out. As I climbed out over the edge, the swimsuit slipped up my butt crack again. I yanked it out, feeling more and more annoyed by it, then began the process of wrestling the cover back over the tub. I worked it halfway over but had to lean across from the front as far as I could reach to pull it the rest of the way on. Of course, the swimsuit couldn’t handle the strain and it rode up on both my butt cheeks. I could either keep digging it out or just get the job over with and then fix it. So I left it and kept tugging on the cover.
“Let me help you.”
I spun around with a gasp as soon as I heard Damien’s voice, then desperately corrected my wedgie. So embarrassing. He had to have seen at least half of my very white butt. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s my hot tub, remember?”
“But you said you were at a friend’s house.”
“Did you really think I wouldn’t hightail it over here as soon as you said you were getting in? But I guess I’m too late, dang it.”
“You’re so annoying. Why do you think I was checking where you were? I wanted to get in alone.”
“Yeah. I get that. You always do. What I don’t get is why.”
“Why? Well, if you really have to know, it’s because I’m self-conscious, okay?”
He looked as confused as if I’d just spoken in Russian. “About what?”
I rolled my eyes. “Come on.” When he shrugged his shoulders helplessly and looked me over, I realized how stupid it was to draw attention to myself. But I might as well just come out and say it after that. “Look, you may not realize how skinny I am when I’m wearing regular clothes, but there’s no hiding all my sharp bones and lack of curves in a swimsuit.”
“Lack of curves? I got a view on my way out here that proves that wrong.”
My already flushed face got even warmer. “Okay, so my butt is okay, I guess. But the rest of me looks like my body took a detour around puberty and got