Page 11 of Theirs

I don’t even have to ask twice; both of the guys slip into the pool. Colin tackles me under the water playfully, and then Benjamin dives under and lifts me up on his shoulders, standing up in the pool. I laugh so hard my belly hurts, and when I catch Kristen watching us goofing off in the pool, I tell her to bring us a round of drinks, after all, she owes me.

To my dismay, she has Shane bring us our drinks, but he refuses to give me my cider.

“Come on, Mac,” Colin says. I’ve heard a lot of people calling him Mac at this party. It doesn’t really suit him in my opinion. He literally showed up to a pool party in a pair of charcoal slacks, and a long sleeve button up dress shirt. “Just give her her drink.”

“Water first,” he says, cracking open a sealed bottle and handing it down to me.

I don’t take it. “Nah, I’d rather have my cider.”

His jaw clenches. “Water. Now.”

I blush, and take the bottle. “Okay, geez, don’t get your panties in a twist Mr. MacKenna.”

I chug the water, and hand him the empty plastic, reaching for the cider he finally gives me.

“Happy now?” I ask.

He nods. “Good girl.”

MacKenna turns on his heel and heads back over to the grill. I hand my drink to Colin so I can dismount from Benjamin’s shoulders. The guys flank me on either side as we lean against the pool wall and drink. I glance once over my shoulder to see what MacKenna is doing, and see that he’s staring right at me. I try to fight the shiver that comes through my body, when the boys ask me if I’m okay, I just blame it on the pool being cold.

The pool is heated.

***

“We should take a trip on my yacht next weekend,” Benjamin says.

Me, him, and Colin are lying on the pool chairs, most of the other guests inside now or have gone home. The party is getting ready to come to an end, and I’m still not wasted because Shane MacKenna kept coming over and demanding I hydrate after every cider I had. Responsible asshole.

I laugh. “You have a yacht?” I ask.

“Yeah, I love my yacht,” he says. “I’ve worked hard for it.”

I roll my eyes and take a sip of my drink. “Oh yeah, I’m sure giving women bigger titties is such a rough life.”

“I also do reductions for women who have chronic back pain from having big chests,” he says, defensively. “And facial surgeries on burn victims...”

“A true hero,” I say, but I reach out for his hand. “I’m just teasing. That’s actually pretty badass that you help people who need things fixed, that actually need fixed. Not just girls who hate their noses. Or women looking for one last chance to convince their husband not to divorce them because their chests aren’t still perky in their fifties.”

He gives me a smile. “But I also do get to fondle saline bags all day.”

“You think you can convince Mac and Alexander to leave their offices for a yacht party?” Colin asks Ben, smiling over at the two of us.

“Oh, hell no,” I say, sitting up abruptly. “Count me out of those two assholes are coming.”

Colin gets up and sits beside me on the lawn chair. “It’ll be fun, we’ll get them wasted on scotch. We can head out after hockey practice.”

“That does sound nice,” I say, and look over at Ben who has his arms behind his head, he hasn’t stopped smiling at me. “It won’t be weird?”

“Why would it be weird?” Ben asks, smirking at me. He knows damn well what I’m referring to.

“It’s just, all of you are technically friends,” I say. “Who have purchased dates with me.”

“In the name of the kids with cancer,” Colin adds, lifting his half empty beer.

“That’s not weird for you guys?” I ask, looking between the two of them.

“Well, you haven’t even gone on your date with Mr. Broody one and Mr. Broody two,” Ben says with a shrug. “And I believe we’re all friends, including you. You’re our friend now too, Lavender.”

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