Page 17 of Loving the Sinner
Robin is calling everyone over to separate into teams just as Matt and I finish setting up the net. “Alright, girls against boys?” She suggests.
“That’s not fair! Sav, Sam, and Lexi have all played volleyball in school.” Luke outrages.
Robin rolls her eyes, “Fine, we’ll split up. Sam, Izzy, Sav, Jack, Drew, Wes, and Luke on one team, everyone else on the other.”
“Sean and Matt can’t be on the same team, they’re the most athletic ones.” Luke says, “No offense, Wes and Drew.” I wave him off. He’s not wrong, I amnotthe most athletic.
“This isn’t the Olympics, Jesus. Fine. Wes and Sean switch teams. Let’s play!”
After an intense afternoon of volleyball, chicken fights- Robin and I lost many rounds because her clumsy ass can’t stay balanced for shit, marco polo, and races, we’re all ready to relax and watch whatever movie Luke’s picked out while we chow down on pizza. Robin and I are tasked with picking up the pizzas, which would usually be fine, but I know she wants to ask me about Elli and I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.
And if I’m not there, Matt has Elli all to himself and I don’t like that.
“Are we not going to talk about the fact that you and Matt have been throwing yourselves at Elli all day?” Robin asks as soon as we pull out of the driveway.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I mumble.
“Elli, be on my team. Elli, here’s some water, you look thirsty. Elli, be my partner in chicken so I can have your gorgeous thighs wrapped around my head. Do you need any more sunscreen applied? I want to kiss you, Elli.”She’s pitched her voice low to mimic a man’s voice.
“I knowIdidn’t say the thigh or kissing thing, did Matt?” Damn, I sound defensive.
“No, he didn’t, but I can tell you were both thinking it. So you’re not denying the rest?”
“Okay maybe we were being a bit… over the top. I just wanted to make her feel welcome is all.”
“See, I would believe you if you hadn’t told me you took a deep dive into her religious beliefs, or thought about if you were good enough to date her. Or if you and Matt weren’t having a pissing contest. Or, you know, didn’t have a semi all day.” Robin playfully pokes my arm.
“Jesus, Robin, what the hell? Why were you even looking? God, that’s embarrassing.” I’m half tempted to not even go back to Matt’s. I’ll just send Robin in my car and spend the rest of the day packing to move to a different country so I never have to hear my best friend talk about my dick ever again.
“Your swim trunks arerealthin, Wessy. If it makes you feel any better Matt and Drew had one too, but we all know that Drew’s was because of Sav.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.” I grit out through clenched teeth. “And we weren’t having a pissing contest. We’re just competitive.” Robin snorts in disbelief because she knows I’m full of shit, but she lets the conversation die there.
Okay, fine. Maybe Matt and I cost our team some points because we were acting like goddamn teenagers instead of grown ass men. Maybe Iwaswishing Elli would wrap her thighs around my head, though in a completely different scenario. Sue me.
I wish I could explain this attraction to Elli. Sure, I’ve seen women and thought “she’s pretty,” but I haven’t feltattractedto anyone in two years. It’s getting a little out of hand, to be honest. My thoughts should not be so consumed with a girl I met only yesterday.
After we’ve eaten our weight in greasy, cheesy goodness, everyone starts lounging around in the movie room, paired off into romantic- and platonic, in Robin and Sean’s case- couplings. Jack and Sam on one beanbag, Luke and Izzy on another, Lexi and Dallin on the floor, Drew and Sav on the oversized armchair. Robin and Sean are sharing the loveseat, and Ethan is occupying the hammock chair in the corner. My eyes roam over to Elli sitting alone in the middle of the three seater sofa, tapping away on her phone. Her hair is in a messy braid over one shoulder, a few stray hairs framing her face, and her cheeks are rosy and sun kissed.
She looks so damn pretty.
Elli glances up from her phone and smiles when she sees me, patting the cushion next to her in an invitation for me to sit down. I don’t know how I’m supposed to sit that close to her for an entire movie and not try to hold her hand. Maybe I can convince her to scoot over to one end and I’ll sit on the other and-
And then Matt pushes past me with a slight slap on the back before taking a seat to Elli’s right.
Damn it.
Swallowing down the groan that wants to surface, I take the seat on Elli’s left and scoot as close to the arm of the couch as I can. Elli’s in an animated conversation with Matt, but it halts as soon as the lights turn off and Sav starts the movie.
Luke decided onThe Princess Bridefor some reason-he usually opts for a sci fi or horror movie. This movie brings me a mix of emotions since it was my mom’s favorite and I was named after one of the main characters. Apparently, my confusion is evident because Elli leans over to me.
“This is the movie they watched at camp the first night they held hands.” She whispers.
As I turn to respond, our faces end up only inches apart. I could close the gap so easily and kiss her cupid's bow…
“I was wondering why Luke picked something so…cheesy.” I whisper back.
That earns me a light slap to the arm. “It’s not cheesy. It’s romantic. Have you ever seen it?” She cocks an eyebrow at me.
