Page 159 of The Perfect Spiral
“Sorry, something... gross just touched me,” I turned to see half of Knox’s face hiding under the water, and I knew he was smirking.
He didn’t move his hand, instead, he tapped my butt lightly like he had the other day and started to play with my bikini bottoms.
His fingers hooked around the material at my hips, so I swatted his hand away underwater. But moments later, he brought it back and continued.
I made eye contact with Ben, who looked confused at myexpression. He glanced at Knox, then back at me, and I could see him putting two and two together. He smirked and winked at me.
Knox’s hand played with my bottoms, his thumb running along the crease of my butt cheek. I wasn’t going to lie—it felt good. I grabbed his hand to try to push it away, but his fingers interlocked with mine.
I managed to squirm my hand free. How was nobody noticing this? Everyone was too wrapped up in talking about going clubbing that night, while I was fighting off this sea monster beneath the water’s surface.
His hand slipped into my bottoms and rested on my butt cheek, squeezing it softly. I grabbed his hand again to remove it, holding his wandering hand in mine to stop him from feeling me up.
I whispered under my breath so he could hear, “Perv.” Bubbles erupted from his mouth as he stood up to his full height. Andy gave me a curious look, trying to decipher what was going on with me.
“So tonight? We’re all going out? Like out, out! We need to show Ben a good time! Also me, I haven’t been out clubbing here yet,” Andy beamed at Ben, who shrugged his shoulders to show he didn’t mind what we did.
“Alright, I’ll ask the rest of the girls, Sam, and Tyson to join! Hannah, you ask your brothers to come out too! So we have a big crew! Where shall we go, guys?”
We hadn’t actually been out clubbing since we all arrived here. We’d mainly been relaxing at the house. But I was excited to getdressed up and go out with my girls.
I hadn’t been out with Sam since New Year’s, and that hadn’t been the best night for me.
“Let’s go to Club 51 Degrees? That’s usually a good spot!” Kyle suggested. He was the party animal, so we all agreed. Knox’s fingers kept brushing against my leg and butt cheek.
I smacked his hand, telling him to stop, but he just smiled at Kyle, who thought he was agreeing with him about the nightclub. “Club 51 Degrees it is then!”
Kyle sealed it with a kiss on Andy’s lips, making her smile and wrap her arms around his waist.
Chapter 53
I’m perched at my vanity, the hum of my hairdryer filling the room, while Hannah stands behind me, her reflection in the mirror as she straightens her hair. Andy, Hannah, and I are all in our underwear, a typical prelude to a night out. The room is a sauna, thanks to the array of hot tools we’re using.
I’m the last one to finish drying my hair. Andy is on the floor, a mirror propped in front of her as she applies her makeup with intense concentration. She’s issued a stern warning: no talking until her eyeliner is perfect.
Music is blaring from my room when Sam swings the door open, Amy, Zara, Khloe, and Rachel trailing behind her. I catch sight of Knox behind them, his eyes widening at the sight of me in my underwear.
“Sam! Shut the door!” I snap. She glances back, sees why I’m upset, and quickly closes the door, shooting me an apologeticlook. Knox’s room—technically a guest room, but he practically lives here—is right across from mine.
Sam and her friends enter, their makeup flawless, their hair styled to perfection. I’ve just finished drying my hair.
I brush it out and heat up the curling iron. While it warms up, I’ll start on my makeup.
“Al, can I do your makeup?” My sister pleads. She’s got a knack for it, so I hand her my bag and she surveys her tools.
She glances at my dress options and declares that I’ll be wearing the red bodycon dress that falls to the knee, with what she calls “angel hair” straps.
The dress dips low in the front, revealing a generous amount of cleavage. I give her a wary look.
“You can pull it off, sis! You’re a Thompson,” she winks, and starts on my makeup. Half an hour later, after a few pokes, groans, and curses from Sam, my makeup is done.
I open my eyes to inspect her work. “Wow! I look so different,” I marvel at the transformation.
Dark, smoky eyes, long false eyelashes that I usually only wear when someone else applies them, and expertly applied contour and highlighter give me a natural glow. She finishes the look with a peach lip gloss, perfect for a summery vibe. I was just going to do my everyday look with some brown eyeshadow.
“Let me see,” Andy calls from the floor, now curling her hair with the iron I’d been heating up. “Woah! Alex, you look smokin’! I can’t wait to see you fully finished!” she exclaims, as proud as if she’d done the makeup herself.
I curl my own hair, creating soft waves that frame my face and add volume. I slip into my dress, strap on my nude heels, and smooth down my dress.
