Page 47 of Girls Will Be Girls
I catch a glimpse of his annoyed face and absolutely revel in how let down he is by my muted response.
We reach the road by the bar, and a collective sigh of both“That was amazing”and “Thank god that’s over”washes over the group. I thank Willie and go to head back to the lodge when Otto touches my arm for a split second, stopping me in my tracks.
“Maybe I’ll see you around.” He smiles a flirty smile.
“Maybe.” I nod, putting on my best fake smile.
He grins at me before heading off in the opposite direction, and unlike his doppelganger’s grin, that one does nothing to me.
I feel like I’m in a different universe. Who am I? What’s happening? Why am I so sweaty?
I sit up and look around at the cute little lodge around me, clocking that I must’ve fallen asleep on the couch while I was working. I have crusted drool on my cheek, making the skin feel tight, and my hair is like a bird’s nest on my head.
It’s almost dark outside, meaning I must’ve slept for at least an hour or so.
The hike finished earlier than I would usually be awake, so I still had all day. I wandered all the way into town for the first time to eat breakfast and peruse all the little shops along the main stretch, then ended back at the same waffle place from the day before. Back at the lodge, I managed to reply to a few emails, regretfully accept requests for pointless meetings that could’ve been an email, and write up some notes from the hike, which is when I must have fallen asleep.
I lift my open laptop off the ground, jiggling the trackpad to wake it up.
I literally fell asleep mid-word. The cursor flickers at the end of ‘shimme-’where I’ve been describing the lake. I type in‘-ring’before closing the computer and placing it on the coffee table.
I touch the sticky, damp skin on my forehead, smell under my armpit, and immediately wince at how much I was sweating in my sleep. As I get off the couch, desperately racing to get to the shower, my eyes catch on the last rays of sun bouncing on the water. The word glittering comes to mind, and I make a mental note to add that to my written notes alongside shimmering.
Screw the shower when nature’s bath is right there.
I change into a lilac bikini, grab my towel off the rail, and slip on some matching sliders. As I walk down the garden to the bushy banks of the lake, I can’t help but glance over at Lou’s side, but the lodge is pitch black and quiet, with no sign of him.
I shake away the annoying disappointment I feel at that and drop my towel on a rock with my shoes next to it. There isn’t a beach of any kind, instead, the lake is lined with rocks and shrubbery, but it’s easy enough to step into.
The cold water on my toes instantly refreshes both my sticky skin and my nap-rattled mind. I push my whole body in, kicking off the rocks to glide further into the water. I dive underneath and revel in the cool release before I float further out and enjoy the last rays of dappled sun on my skin.
This feels like somethingThat Girlwould do, and I love this for myself.
I drift and shut my brain off until the sun fully sets and a shiver races up my spine. As my feet dig into the grass on the shore and I wrap myself in my fluffy towel, I spot a light coming from my neighbor. I feel a twinge of excitement, but I quickly stomp it out. I’m still annoyed with him, and I’m still not completely sure what’s going on with us, meaning I won’t act on anything until everything is clear and boundaries set. So, no more stomach-fluttering butterflies are allowed just yet.
It takes me a moment to spot him in the dim patio light.
In the hot tub.
His eyes are closed as he leans back, arms holding the sides and head resting back. He looks exhausted but relaxed.
I reach the decking, clutching my towel over me a little tighter. His eyes open towards me, his head lifting slightly.
“Hey, neighbor.” He smiles with tired eyes.
“Enjoying yourself?” I nod down at the tub.
He grins and drops his head back again. “Very much so.”
I lift a foot out of my sandal and skim the top of the water with my toe, feeling the steamy bubbles pop on my skin.
“You getting in?” He looks up at me again.
I pull my foot from the heat. “You don’t remember what we decided last time?”
He shakes his head. “No, I don’t.” He smirks. “But I’ll keep my hands to myself, I promise.”
I watch him suspiciously, memories of him holding me against the door creeping to the front of my mind. His warm breath on my neck, the way his fingers lightly brushed and squeezed me. He may be able to keep his hands to himself, but I’m thinking I can’t make that kind of promise.
