Dirty Sweet Cowboy

“So, the Presidio? Later ?”

“Yeah, maybe,” I agree, but I don’t think we will. If our parents are talking about what I think they’re talking about, I don’t think we’re going to be hanging out here this afternoon .

The other sliding door opens slowly and Aden’s little sister Ava steps out, shielding her eyes with her hands and scanning the edge of the pool. When she sees us, she stops. She presses her shoulders back and drops her sunglasses onto her nose .

I don’t move. With my sunglasses on, she can’t tell if I saw her or not. I don’t want her to think that I did .

Sure enough, she takes a long way around the pool, switching her scrawny little hips back and forth, stretching her arms unnecessarily over her head .

“Aden, Mom says you need to start the grill,” she announces with her hands on her hips, rocking back and forth. I’m careful not to move .

“Why don’t you do it?” he shoots back .

“Because Mom says you’re supposed to do it, big shot .”

Aden sits up, groaning. He rolls his eyes at me, where she can’t see, before trudging over toward the outdoor kitchen to set up the grill .

Ava lingers, still rocking back and forth. I can see her hip bones jutting out, but I am pretty sure she can’t tell that I see .

“Are you going to the Presidio later ?”

“Nope. Are you ?”

She shrugs. “No way. That place is lame .”

“I heard you were there just last weekend. Are you sure it is lame? Mark Sheppard, right ?”

She bites her lower lip between her teeth. “He’s not anybody. He’s just a jerk .”

“He’s definitely a jerk,” I agree. “You shouldn’t be hanging around with guys like that .”

“I’m eighteen years old, Ethan,” she informs me. “I can hang around with whomever I want .”

I shrug. “Suit yourself .”

She sighs through her nose, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Usually she swims. I sort of enjoy that, watching her do lap after lap while Aden and I hang out, drinking his parents’ beer. This, though, is not so great. I should not be talking to my best friend’s eighteen-year-old sister. I hope she leaves soon .

“Do you want to race?” she asks me .

“No, you go ahead .”

“It’s not a race if it’s just one person,” she huffs .

“Not gonna race you, Ava .”

She quirks one eyebrow at me in challenge, an expression that is both adorable and tempting. I’m not even sure why it’s making me reconsider jumping in the pool with her, but it is .

“Are you scared I’ll beat you ?”

I just shake my head. “That’s not the issue .”

She twists, looking at the pool over her shoulder. Then she turns back to me, thinking .

“How did you hear about Mark Sheppard ?”

“I hear a lot of things,” I explain. “Or maybe I’m keeping an eye on you, did you ever think of that ?”

She giggles shyly. “Keeping an eye on me? Why would you do that ?”