Page 69 of The Attraction

As we are about to finish up what we had already decided would be the last game, whistles and cheers come from the balcony off the villa’s main living area.

“Who’s pretending to be Maverick and who’s Ice Man?” Tori calls out. “Because we know that Flynn is Goose, there’s no debate on that.” All the girls are laughing so hard.

Nic rolls his eyes at all of us. “Oh my God, ever since the lastTop Gunmovie came out, she has been obsessed with the first movie as well. I’m sure she rewinds that volleyball scene over and over again. She wasn’t even born when it came out, for God’s sake.”

“Well, time to give her a show so she stops fantasizing about a movie and only pictures you in her real-life volleyball game.” Rem smirks and serves the ball up, and it’s game on. Like I said, we are competitive bastards, so regardless of the running commentary from the balcony, we ignore it and concentrate on winning the next point.

* * *

Walking out of the shower with the towel wrapped around me, I see all the shopping bags on the bed, but Harper is not in the bedroom.

I can’t help myself, looking into the bag and hoping that there may be a little present in there for me too. The smaller the better and lace preferably.

“Doubt anything in there will fit you.” Harper’s voice from behind me makes me step back and turn around to face her standing just inside the doorway to the room, closing the door behind her.

“Well, I’m hoping that something in there is so small it will barely fit you either.” I walk to the closet, finding my underwear and sliding them up under my towel as Harper just laughs at me.

“You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you. You aren’t the only one who gets to plan surprises this weekend.” Her eyes drop to my crotch as I walk back toward her with just my boxer shorts on and a very obvious growing cock showing that it’s already half hard.

“Nope, back away. We are not having sex now. Everyone is meeting downstairs in ten minutes for cocktails on the terrace.” She starts trying to move away from me.

“I know, I organized the weekend, remember?” I’m still following her as she circles around the bed. “And don’t worry, I can have you screaming my name in less than ten minutes, you know that’s a proven fact.”

“Maybe so, but not right now. Put that big boy away.”

I laugh at her panicked face as I get closer. “Well, at least you acknowledge the size.” I stare at her, trying to work out what her next move will be. And just as she is about to run, I torment her. “But it’s okay, it’s your loss, so don’t complain later when the same offer may no longer be on the table.” I run my hand over my boxers nice and slow, which sounded like a good idea in my head, but instead, it’s just making the torture worse for me.

“Who are you kidding? We both know that, and more, will be on my whole menu tonight. So, get dressed so we can get downstairs and not walk in to jeers for being late.”

And I can’t refute that because she’s right. I have plans for her, many, many plans. But they can wait, there will be plenty of time later tonight.

Now it’s time to continue the celebration of Harper.

HARPER

Walking over to where Cherie is standing looking out to the water, I figure now is as good a time as any to talk to her about Forrest. Just the two of us.

We became friends months ago when Flynn and Felisha got together, and I really like her. She is a no-nonsense kind of woman. Fierce but loyal, and I think she has a deep sense of kindness lying under the surface. She had a tough life growing up that I don’t really know all the details about but enough to know that she has worked hard to have the life she lives today.

“It’s such a spectacular view, isn’t it?” I say, leaning on the rail next to her.

“Not a place I ever thought I would be visiting when I grew up.” Cherie laughs to herself.

“Yeah, but we all know money isn’t everything. It doesn’t guarantee happiness. And for so many, money just makes them entitled assholes because they haven’t worked to get it. You, on the other hand, my friend, have earned the right to feel proud of what you’ve achieved, from what I’ve heard.”

Cherie shrugs her shoulders at me, and I can tell she doesn’t like to hear praise. “When you come from the bottom of the ladder, the only way is up, but you need to want to climb it. Don’t take the easy way out and jump off when you feel comfortable at that level. You need to keep climbing every single day.” Her words make so much sense, and I can tell why she is so good at working with the youth who are struggling to stay on the right side of the tracks.

“Besides, what about you? From what I know about the situation with your father, you had nothing either, and look at you now,” Cherie says, standing and turning around so the water is at her back and leaning against the railing.

Moving so we are standing the same way, I laugh. “True, but I also had Felisha to help me climb my ladder, and she would’ve picked me up if I fell.”

“Bullshit, you are a ball breaker. I’ve seen you in action when there is a crisis and the few times you have helped me out with things on the charity. You didn’t need her help. I can imagine you worked so hard on your own to get to where you are now. If you were shit at your job, no matter how good of a friend you were, Felisha wouldn’t have you as her second-in-charge. Own that.” There is something about Cherie that makes me feel empowered when she speaks.

“Thank you,” is all I can answer to that. But I know my time with just the two of us standing here on our own is running out, so I need to ask my questions.

“Can I talk to you about Forrest?” I blurt out.

She just smiles, takes another sip of her cocktail, and looks at me. “Let me guess. Because of the kind of man he is, he told you that he thought he felt something for me, but after I pushed back, he discovered we are totally wrong for each other. But you want to know my side of that. Do I want your man?” Just like I expected, Cherie is straight to the point, and that’s what I need.

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