Page 90 of Girls Will Be Girls
I close my eyes and let the warm water ease my tight shoulders and arms while feeling thankful that I was able to submerge myself without him here to watch. I might feel good in this bikini, my boobs may look great in it, but the thought of him sitting and watching me walk out is a step too far.
I open my eyes to the sound of a chair scraping against the wooden deck. Lou lifts and places the chair closer to the tub with one hand, holding two unopened beer bottles in his other. He gestures silently at me with the beer, and when I nod my head, he pops them open with the bottle opener resting in his palm and passes me one.
“Cheers,” I say as he sprawls out in the seat, letting out a slightly exhausted groan.
He tips his beer up to me, and we both take a sip.
The moment stretches between us as we both stare at each other. He looks like some sort of god watching me from high above. His lips hold a small smirk at all times, like he knows something I don’t. When I notice my eyes dipping to his lips involuntarily, I break the silence.
“Today was fun.” I tip the bottle back up to my lips.
“It was.” He nods. “I’m glad I came.”
I nod back, my eyes focused on the water. “Me too.”
I look back up at that tiny smirk on his face, his eyes dark pools of nothing but pupil similar to the last time we were out here. Being here with him always feels like the most dangerous game.
I clear my throat, trying to keep things completely casual and platonic. “Sorry to take you away from your work, though. Are you really behind now?”
“I’ll catch up.” He drinks his beer.
We watch each other again, and the look in his eyes makes me want to squirm. I snap under his unrelenting gaze.
“Can you come sit closer, please?” I basically huff, splashing the surface with my free hand.
He chuckles. “Why?”
“Because,” I say loudly. “Because you sitting up there watching me is making me nervous.”
His face is covered in arrogant amusement. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
“Where do you want me to sit?” He asks.
“Just-” I wave my beer around. “Sit on the edge there.” I point next to me. “You can put your feet in the water.”
He stands up with a grin on his face and walks over to the spot I pointed at. “Okay.” He sing songs. “I’m just out here trying to follow the rules, but if you insist on being a rule breaker, then what can I do?”
I roll my eyes as he lowers down to the deck. “Has anyone ever told you you’re incredibly annoying sometimes?”
“Just you, baby girl.” He takes a sip around his shit-eating grin. “You feel better now?” He asks.
I nod once. “I do.”
He looks down at me, his eyes still black, and I wonder if maybe this angle is in fact worse than him watching me from afar. I all of a sudden feel very aware of what you can see through the bubbles.
Again, trying to distract from the tension, I change the subject. “Are you back to working all day tomorrow?”
He nods, his smile slipping for a moment. “I am at that.”
“Do you like it?” I ask.
“My job?” He clarifies.
I nod.
He bobs his head to the side once. “It’s fine.”
“So no?”
