Page 18 of Born to Make You Smile

“Do they have…?” I started, turning to Gavin.

“Yes,” he said, answering before I could finish. “Applied before we left.” He nodded with a smirk, knowing he had just read my mind.

I turned to Hunter, who appeared tense and unsure. “Are you ready to swim?”

“Um.” Hunter’s eyes darted around, and he shifted on his feet. “I’m a little scared.”

Michelle rubbed her son’s back. “Honey, Charlotte and Mackenzie are in there.”

“And I’ll be in there too,” I added with a smile. “Plus, you have your floaties.”

Hunter returned my smile, and Michelle got him ready to swim.

I removed my dress and draped it on a lounge chair. I’d decided to wear a modest black bikini from my collection, one that didn’t overexpose my ample breasts and somewhat covered my large bum. It was a work function, after all. Ethan wore bright blue swim trunks. His body was phenomenal. Even more so in person and up close. Tanned, smooth chest and chiseled muscles—his abs were so defined, he looked to be cut from stone. I had to admit, I felt embarrassed next to him. It wasn’t as if I looked terrible, but his seemingly flawless physique made me feel unpolished. Not to mention the bright light of day put focus on the bit of extra padding around my belly as well as the cellulite and faded stretch marks on my thighs.

I sat on the edge of the pool and timidly lowered my body into the water next to Ethan.

“You’d better not splash me,” I warned as he came close with a mischievous glare in his eye.

“All right, I promise.” He kissed my cheek. “But what about this.” He grabbed my waist and lifted me as if I were a feather, then tossed me over his shoulder while I squealed and swatted his back.

“Ethan!”

He belted out a laugh and lowered me down into the water with care. My eyes instinctively moved to Gavin, who stared at us in the pool with a flat, cool expression. He swiftly shifted his attention to the beer bottle in his hand, fiddling with the label. Michelle stood by his side, happily chatting, her arms in the air as she conversed with Tina.

Gavin appeared a bit bothered and didn't seem to be enjoying himself. I wasn't sure why. He was so much more relaxed when it was just us two. His boyish, fun side that had surfaced lately was temporarily hidden away.

Nothing about him looked summer-ready. His charcoal-gray polo was buttoned to the top and neatly tucked into pressed khakis. His brown loafers were out of place around the pool.

I wished he would have let loose a little and joined us in the water. For a moment, I imagined him laughing, splashing, and playing with me and the girls. A quick vision of Gavin in a swimsuit flickered in my head. It occurred to me that I had never seen his bare chest before. Suddenly, it was all I could think about, and I became curious to know how he looked without a shirt. I wanted to see the whole man under all the clothing.

An uninvited zap of electricity ran through me, and I blinked the thoughts away. Perhaps it was better he wasn’t in the pool.

“I want to get out!” screamed Hunter, startling everyone around him. He was next to me and waved his floaty-covered arms in a panic, splashing me with water. “I want my Mommy.”

“Okay, Hunter, come with me,” I said, guiding him from the shallow end to the steps.

We got out together, and I removed Hunter’s floaties and draped him in his Spider-Man towel. I fetched Michelle, who promptly took Hunter inside to get him dressed. They ended up saying their goodbyes and left shortly after since Hunter wanted to go home.

“You aren't coming in?” I said to Gavin, who was now all by his lonesome. I adjusted my pink towel over my body, tightening it against my breasts. “The water is so warm but still refreshing.”

“God, no.” He waved his hand about. “I didn't bring my trunks. Besides, I’m too old to frolic in the water with the youth.” His eyes moved to the pool. “Not to mention, I'd really look aged next to your very strapping suitor there. God, is he ever in great shape. He must have a cot set up at the gym.”

“Yeah, Ethan works out a lot. But don’t sell yourself short. You could model in a dentist calendar.”

Gavin rolled his eyes. “I doubt that even exists. I’m quite certain dentists don’t hold that kind of appeal for most people.”

He raked a hand through his luscious waves of hair.

“Then they’re missing out,” I said with a wink. I bounced on my toes, causing my towel to unravel and fall to the ground.

Gavin and I reached for it at the same time and bumped our heads in the process. He hit me a lot harder than I hit him, and the contact had me seeing stars. I smiled to diminish how much it actually hurt. We apologized to each other back and forth like some overly polite Canadian-British comedy skit. He picked up the towel and put it around me as I regained my vision.

“You have a small bump,” Gavin pointed out with a wince.

My head throbbed. I put my hand over the right side of my forehead and palpated the slight protrusion.

“Your hard head got me good!” I joked with a chuckle, running my eyes along his face. “You don't even have a mark.”

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