Page 16 of My Wife

If I refuse, he won’t argue. He’ll simply knock back the rest of his beer, tell everyone good night, and come with me to our cabin. They’ll all know I’m the reason he cut the night short, and whether I have valid reasons or not, they won’t care.

So I go with a flimsier one.

“I don’t know. I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”

“So what?” asks Vee.

“None of us look like we did when we were seventeen, Cyn. It’s fine. Don’t be a prude. Let’s skinnydip.” Summer’s gaze finds Tommy. The bonfire’s flames flicker in the dark depths of her irises as she smirks at him. “Unless Tommy’s afraid you might trade him in again.” Her smirk turns cruel as she looks at me again. “Got a taste for a lawyer?”

Madison narrows her gaze at me, scooting closer to Chase while he just chuckles and shakes his head.

I imagine grabbing Summer by her long hair and shoving her face into the fire the same way Chase yanked me against his erection that night.

“Funny, Summer,” I say, my tone making it clear that it isn’t funny at all. “But I’ve never been interested in Chase. Sorry.” I lean against Tommy’s side, stroking his chest possessively. “It’s this guy for me.”

“Yeah, but that’s only because?—”

I can only imagine what kind of bitchy response Summer had in mind for me that’s only cut off when Vee claps her hands, rising up from her log.

“I want to swim. Come on. Last one to the lake has to cover the bill for that deadbeat ex of mine.”

SEVEN

SPLASH

Walking into the lake is easier than I thought it would be.

I almost chickened out. When everyone else agreed to grab towels, plus our useless phones for flashlights, before taking the thirty minute walk toward the lake, I hesitated on the log as Tommy and Tyler started to extinguish the bonfire. By the time we were ready to go, I’d gotten so sick of Summer’s sly taunting expression, daring me not to join them, that I said ‘fuck it’ and went.

I drew the lines at skinnydipping. I stripped down to my panties and bra, a facsimile of a swimsuit, and waded into the chilly water before I lost the nerve. Standing on the edge, staring at the surface… that would’ve been a lot harder than dunking under and swimming out past the point where I found my mom.

Tommy’s right there with me. Like me, he kept his boxers on. So did Chase. Surprisingly, Madison went into the water fully dressed. She must’ve had a tank top on under her hoodie, plus a pair of tiny shorts while we were sitting around the bonfire. Tossing the hoodie to the shore one we arrived at the lake—Chase pulling up the rear as he ogled Madison’s—she’s playfulsplashing him in his bare chest as the lake water molds her think tank perfectly around hers.

No bra, I notice, not even a little surprised by that.

Thankfully, my underwear is black. Black bra. Black panties. It looks as scandalous as you can imagine beneath the moonlight, but at least it’s not see-through. I’m the kind of girl who will show off for her man.Onlyher man. With the others nearby, I didn’t feel comfortable stripping down.

Vee, on the other hand…

I nudge Tommy as she floats on her back a few feet away from us. Her eyes are closed, black hair fanning out along the serene water of the lake, nipples hard as they point toward the sky. Like Summer, she stripped completely out of her clothes before diving in, her naked body on complete display beneath the moonlight.

To his credit, my boyfriend glances at her, then looks down at me as though he barely noticed she was completely undressed.

“Think she’s still pissed at Aaron?” I murmur. “Or is this show for Chase?”

If it is, it’s not working. With Madison giving him all of her attention, Chase hasn’t said a word to Vee since they stepped off the dock with Tyler.

“Little of column A, little of column B. Or there’s a third option.”

The most likely one. “Vee just doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks.”

“Bingo.”

I like that about her. She’s never cared, and I envy her ability to just not give a fuck. If none of us had agreed to join her at the lake, I have no doubt we would’ve find her here like this anyway.

Of the group, Vee’s the only one I really consider a friend. Sure, she was Tommy’s first, but over the years, we were close. It used to be me and Vee against Summer and Madison, andthough she’s too busy with running her online jewelry empire these days—turning her small business into one that grossed more than six figures last year—I’m glad she’s here. At least, between Vee and Tommy, I don’t feel as outnumbered.

We’re standing in a shallower section of the lake. It covers my tits, reaching just under Tommy’s pecs. I’m glad Vee’s on her back. Seeing her face turned up toward the sky makes it easier to remember that she’s floating, not bobbing, and that her eyes are closed because she’s relaxing and not dead.

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