Page 21 of The Sky in Summer
Her fingers make an L, which she raises to her forehead.
I sit on the grass and wait for the obvious outcome. She is going to take this one. It doesn’t make me mad though. I’m smiling at how clever the girl is, even when drunk off her ass. Speaking of asses, hers is putting on a show. It makes me feel better than any first place bragging rights would. I am literally willing to lose this whole fucking contest, to sit and stare at those twin hard-packed handfuls. That orange thing she wears rides up her cheeks every time she takes a step. Thank you oh great god of bouncing booty. You have been good to me tonight.
“You are getting on my last nerve!” I lie to make her go slower.
She makes a turn at the smiling Kermit, and gives his one-eyed head a pat. It looks like he is winking at her. Who could blame him? Coming back my way, her stroll turns sexier. What’s this? Hips swing side to side, hands resting at the waist. An exaggerated swag. There’s one minor hiccup when she trips over a blade of grass. There wasn’t anything else detected. I decide to ignore it and add Eric Clapton music with my own lyrics.
“Layla! You’ve got me on my ass! Layla, I’m begging Peaches please, Layla!” I sing at the top of my lungs.
It pleases her. As she reaches me, her arms in the air like a close slow-motion race she breaks through the imaginary ribbon. The win is accepted because I was outsmarted. Can’t fight the facts.
“One minute exactly. Congratulations to Layla Silver, aka Miss Peaches, the winner of KO’s inaugural event.
“Thank you kindly, Rowdy! And thanks to all you little people!” She bows unsteadily to an invisible applauding crowd.
“Don’t get used to victory. It’s going to be your last one,” I say in low tones.
Taking a hard seat next to me, she stretches out on her back. I follow the lead, watching the clear starry night sky.
“The full moon is a sign,” I proclaim.
“Of what?”
“Not sure. But it’s definitely trying to tell us something. It may just be an homage to your ass. That makes sense.”
The field lights flicker for a full five seconds.
“Oh, that’s the half hour warning. The place will be locked down and all the lights will be turned off by then.”
I sit up. “We better get to the pool event. Let’s go.”
I have no intention of missing seeing her in a bathing suit. I stand and extend a hand for a lift up. She takes it, but doesn’t expect me to pull her close, which happens. Couldn’t help it. Our lips are inches apart.
“Is it proper for one Olympic athlete to congratulate another with a kiss?”
“No! It is most definitelynotallowed. Not on the mouth. But I will allow it here,” she says, touching and turning a smooth cheek.
Okay. I make the kiss as sensual as the location affords. I keep her close but use my fingers to slowly sweep her hair from her face and neck. Neither of us back away from the tidal wave about to hit. The moonlight is playing with the hazel flecks in her brown eyes. With one hand holding back the long waves, I lean in and tenderly take my due. Not where she pointed, but just to the right of her mouth. Dangerously close.
“As remembered, mon cheri.”
“We’ve never kissed,” she says softly.
I touch my heart. “You wound me. We had a kiss. Or at least a version of one. Right before we exited the closet. I believe you wanted to touch tongues.”
The memory lights her face and brings a sweet smile. I continue.
“Remember how it felt? I do. It was like an electrical charge. Never felt that with anyone again.”
Her eyes widen for a second then she moves away.
“I remember now. How funny.”
But there’s no laughter. We are too busy trying to get past the charge we feel in this moment.
“Let’s go to the pool. Good thing we put our suits on at my place. I don’t know if they lock up the dressing rooms first.”
Silently we gather the obstacle course items and repack them in the duffle. I bet Layla’s mind is as busy as mine. Right now, I have feelings I’m not completely familiar with.
