Page 28 of The Emerson Effect
I’m being ridiculous, I know, but I’ll never forget the way my body reacted the first time I watched it. And every time thereafter. I wanted it to be real.
I wanted Emerson House to pine for and pursue me like that. The effect it had on me was, well…
The Emerson Effect.
Forcing thoughts of my future fake boyfriend out of my head, I refocus on the conversation flowing around me. By the time we reach the ocean, I’ve pulled myself out of my own head. And I’m excited for today. Not just because it’ll be a fun day with friends, but I have plans.
Underneath my shorts and tank top, I’m wearing a bikini fromBreezy Baywear,a beachwear company that I really want to partner with on BingBang. I bought the suit with today in mind, and I’ll have one of the girls film me wearing it at the beach so I can post it and tag the company. The hope is that they’ll see it, like it, and offer me a deal to promote them.
When we get to the harbor’s parking lot, Joey heads to the parking kiosk for a day pass while the rest of us grab our bags, blankets, and towels from the trunk. Linc parks next to us, and the guys are laughing and chatting as they unload the cooler, the chairs, and umbrellas from the bed of the truck.
We find an empty spot in the warm sand, and the guys start setting up our site as I stare at the bright blue sky with a smile. A cloudy day provides great lighting for photos, but for a video that’s supposed to scream “fun in the sun while wearingBreezy Baywear,” today is perfect.
I turn back to help set up the last of the chairs in the shade of the three umbrellas, then the guys crack open some sodas while the girls and I strip down to our bathing suits so we can lather on some sunscreen. Royal whistles at Callie, who laughsand strikes a pose in her high-waisted pin-up style bathing suit. Dallas stands to move in behind Joey, rubbing the sunblock over her back and shoulders without waiting to be asked.
Linc opens his mouth to offer help, but before he can utter a single word, Raven blurts, “Twila, I’ll do you if you do me.”
I scrunch my face at the urgency in her voice. “Okay.”
She grabs my wrist and pulls me a few feet away before handing me a spray can of sunscreen and giving me her back. I spray it all over her bare skin, then give the can back to her before rubbing it in.
“What was that about?” I whisper.
“What waswhatabout?” she counters, and I’ve known her long enough to know she’s dodging.
“Okay. Keep your secrets, hussy.”
“Ugh. Just turn around,” she says as she spins to face me and twirls a finger in the air.
I study Linc as Twila sprays me down and rubs it in. He’s looking at Royal and Dallas as they argue about some baseball game with Callie and Joey egging them on, but I get the sense that even though his eyes are on them, his focus is on Raven and me.
Or more specifically, Raven.
I’m not sure what’s going on, but there’s obviously tension between them that they’re both trying to pretend doesn’t exist.Interesting.
I push the thoughts away as Raven declares me done. I murmur a thanks and spray down my arms, torso, and legs before rubbing it all in. Tans look nice, and I will get a little color today despite my best efforts to protect my skin, but I don’t want the damage that will inevitably appear later in life if I don’t do my best to prevent it.
The boys head for the surf, determined to prove they’re manly enough to enjoy the water even though the temperatureis probably hovering around sixty-five degrees. The girls and I laugh as all three of them go rigid at mid-thigh depth. They stop wading and dunk themselves, shooting back up with matching shouts.
“It’s refreshing!” Royal calls out, and Callie laughs.
“No thanks,” she says, turning to shoot a look of silent question at the rest of us, and we shake our heads in unison.
“Can you guys help me with a BingBang before you get comfortable?” I ask, and they all chirp out an agreement.
I explain what I want, and Joey offers to film it while the other two wait on either side me, out of the frame, to ask beachgoers to wait until we stop filming before they pass. I don’t want any passersby in this one. I just want it to be me, the sun, the sand, and the water so all the focus is on me in this bikini.
When we’re done, I check out the video and smile. It’s perfect. It needs no editing, so I add a caption that says “The perfect bikini for the perfect day” and tagBreezy Baywearbefore tapping the icon to post it.
Closing the app, I think of Emerson as I tuck my phone into the deep pocket of my bag. What will he think of the video? Will he like it? Will he likemein it?
I shake my head. It doesn’t matter what he thinks.
Because this thing between us is an act.
And while I can’t pretend anymore that I don’t like him––because annoyingly, I do––we are just friends. Nothing more.
And when this whole thing is over, we probably won’t even bethatanymore.
