Page 109 of Just for Fun
“She’s nervous,” he says. “She is not one for social gatherings. But you already know that.”
I nod as I listen to him tell me about his sister. The woman who I can’t get out of my mind for nothing. And I don’t even want to.
Now, as I watch, she looks like she is trying everything in her power to make herself as small as possible. She is not interested in drinking or giggling for no reason. I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight.
“She is also worried about seeing you again.”
I turn my head so fast, I get whiplash. “She knows I’d be here?”
“I told her,” Owen shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I was with her when you called, and I put you on speaker.”
I swallow around the knot in the back of my throat. “She heard everything I said to you?”
“Everything,” he confirms.
I nod while looking down at my feet. Nerves are getting the best out of me more than I imagine that they would on my way down here.
“Why did I have to come all the way here if she knows everything? I could’ve met with her last week. We wasted all this time…”
“I thought it would be more fun this way,” Owen snickers. “My plan was to humiliate you in front of all my friends in the same way that your friend humiliated my sister in front of all your posh friends.”
I clench my teeth at the reminder of what Alex did. Zara and her brother will always hate me for that, maybe even more than they’re hating my friend.
“What do you want me to do? Walk out there and let you two go through whatever routine you have planned to humiliate me?”
“Nah.” Owen waves me off. “Zara said that would be petty, and that it would help anyone.” He pauses for the longest time. “She is a good girl, with a good heart. I will beat the shit out of you if you hurt her again. For whatever reason,” he adds.
“If I ever hurt her again, I will personally ask you to beat the shit out of me.”
He looks happy with that. Taking me by surprise, he puts his hand out and we shake.
“Dully noted.”
Zara
I’ve been waiting in this same spot for the last fifteen minutes, and if Kyle doesn’t show up in the next ten, I am leaving. Owen didn’t give me an exact time of when Kyle would get here. I would go find him right now to ask, but that would imply me having to run into people as I make my way across the patio. I don’t want any part of this.
My knee starts bouncing at about the same time a bunch of guys jump in the pool. I recognize them from the fire station where Owen works, but I have nothing to talk about with them.
“Hey!”
I look up in surprise, recognizing Kyle’s voice but worried that I might be hallucinating. He is here though, in the flesh. I jump up from my chair, taking him all in.
“You look different,” I murmur. I can’t pinpoint what’s different about him, or how he could’ve even changed this much in the last two weeks that we haven’t seen each other.
“Well…” He opens his arms wide. “I got clean clothes on. Your brother threatened me with bodily harm if I didn’t dress for the occasion.”
I chuckle. “So I heard.”
My eyes run hungrily over him, desperate to touch him, assure myself that he’s real. Suddenly, I see what’s different about him.
“Oh my God!” I slap both hands over my mouth. “You cut your hair! And you you’re wearing your glasses!”
He looks so different, I can’t take my eyes off him. Reaching up, I reach up to run my fingers through his much shorter hair.
Kyle covers my hands with his, not letting me pull back when I try to move.
“Your brother ordered me to.”
