Page 14 of Embody

Five

Bellamy

BRYNN’S FAMILY ISbeyond wonderful. Everyone, even the adults, are laid back, down to Earth and piss-your-pants hilarious. Especially her Uncle Sawyer. He might be my favorite. And all her aunts, mom, sister and cousins—not a snotty or catty thing about any of them—just the most welcoming, relatable women I’ve ever met. They don’t treat you like “a kid”.” In fact, they talk as candid and unfiltered as possible, sometimes to the point of blushingly unbelievable.

I’ve learned, after tonight, Brynn isby farthe reserved one of the group. Judd, her sister Skylar’s husband, and his father Evan are the only two that even come close to her personality type. It’s an interesting dynamic—one big group of “Yins” (the crazy ones) and “Yangs” (not so crazy) to balance them out.

I’ve also figured out what makes Brynn the quietly competitive, ace pitcher and “MVP” of our school’s softball team. “Compete” is this family’s unspoken mantra—her mom Laney, who besides my own, is the coolest mother in existence at the helm.

After the crowd thinned out—the grandparents, Pops and Nanabug, Mr. Kendrick’s business associates and the parents and players from the softball team all leaving—the pool volleyball game, suggested (or insisted upon really) by Brynn’s mom, commenced.

The music went up and the gloves came off.

I currently sit in a lounger, watching the “friendly” game unfold. Brynn has asked me to go change and play several times, but frankly, I’m scared.

For instance, Laney just spiked the ball off Ryder’s face…and put up devil horns with a cackled “take that sucka!” I’m quite sure I want no part ofthe fun.

Speaking of Ryder, poor guy looks miserable. Not because of the ball to the face either. No, he’s been sullen all night. Best guess—it’s because Brynn has avoided him the entire party. I can’t think of a reason why and haven’t had a chance to ask her, but first chance I get, you bet your ass I will.

‘Bad Boy For Life’starts playing and Presley yells, “look out, this is my jam” while bouncing up and down in the water. Not a good idea for a girl almost as well-endowed as me. Imayhave caught a flash of nipple before she adjusted.

“Hi, Bellamy, right?” Brynn’s Aunt Emmett, who I forgot to add on my list of the demure members of the group, comes and sits down beside me.

“Yes, hi.”

“Why aren’t you playing?”

“Um, it has a little too much ‘blood sport’ feel to it for me,” I laugh.

“I hear ya. You think this is bad, play a board game with them.” She shivers. “It’s brutal. So, are you having a good time?”

“Very, everyone’s so friendly and fun. I wish I came from a big family like this. It’s just me and my parents.”

“Well, any friend of Brynn’s is in the fold, so you have one now. But I’ll warn you, thick skin, a good sense of humor and learning how to not let anything shock you are vital requirements with this group,” she smiles. “But the benefits are endless. Unconditional love, a ton of people to listen and help with anything you need. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

“Yeah,” my voice comes out feathery, envisioning what that’d be like. “I can see why you wouldn’t.”

“Oh God,” she yelps, jumping to her feet. “My husband is trying to serve with his naked butt. Time for me to take him home. So nice to meet you tonight,” she calls out to me before yelling at her husband, indeed mooning everyone. “Beckett, butt covered and out of the pool! We’re leaving.”

“Daddy, damn! Nobody wants to see that,” Presley chimes in, looking in the opposite direction of her father’s ass.

Totally getting their abhorrence, but not exactly looking away either. His ass is…not that of ‘a dad.’ Nope, looks just fine from here.

Probably not okay for me to be thinking that though, so I switch my gaze to the person I’ve struggled to keep it off of all night. Unsuccessfully.

Jefferson Tate Kendrick.

He does magical, unfamiliar things to my every sense and part of my body.

His wet hair looks jet black and in the water, obviously shirtless, his glorious upper body is on glistening display. He’s well over six feet tall and Ilovewhen a man towers over me, making me feel dainty and feminine. His arms are tan and very well defined with muscles, but nottoobulky.

And don’t even get me started on his stomach. Flat and rippled with a faint, dark line of hair extending down from his belly button, along his six pack, hinting at something even better than the deeply grooved dents of his oblique muscles. The ‘V’ women always look for first.

Found it.

I see good looking guys every day, but never have I had such a visceral reaction to anyone like I do to JT. There’s just something about him, a silent confidence that speaks for itself and a virility oozing off him that makes my heartbeat spike, insides tingle and eyes worship hungrily.

“Okay, all horny parentals, time to say goodnight.” It’s JT’s deep voice that clears my scandalous thoughts, pulling me back into the present.

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