Renegade Path

Sunlight glittered off the pool’s wavy blue surface. Kids were already cannonballing into the water and splashing each other.

I squinted and searched the area for Juliet or Vienna.

Vienna emerged from the girls’ locker room first. In big sunglasses, high sandals, and her barely-there white two-piece she looked like she belonged on a runway, not a high school field trip.

As if someone had tossed raw meat on the sizzling concrete, a wild pack of horny teenage boys stopped what they were doing and zeroed in on her.

Juliet popped out of the exit next. Unlike her friend, she kept her head down and shoulders hunched. My gaze traveled over the weird, loose dress-thing she was wearing. It was a dark, green abstract print with a ruffle at the bottom. The sheer material hinted at the bathing suit underneath.

Some sort of territorial need to stake my claim washed over me, and I stalked to her side, brushing my hand against her arm.

“Oh! There you are.” She grinned up at me.

“Let’s set up camp somewhere now,” Vienna ordered. “Before all the good spots are taken.” She grabbed Juliet’s hand and dragged her toward the far edge of the concrete pool deck.

“We saved you a spot, Vienna!” Stubby called out.

She nodded and waved but kept powering toward three lounge chairs clustered under an umbrella and a small table.

“Here!” She plopped her bag on the first chair and nodded to Juliet to take the one in the middle with the most shade. “You’ll fry like bacon if you sit directly in the sun,” she said to Juliet.

“I’ve got my SPF 50, remember?” Juliet wiggled a large green tube at her friend.

I spread my towel out on the chair and watched the girls arrange their stuff. They’d brought an awful lot for a day trip. “Do you need help?” I asked.

“No.” Juliet handed me a larger beach towel and a bottle of ice-cold water.

“Thanks. What else are you hiding in that bag?”

Her lips twisted with amusement. “Not much.”

I uncapped the water and took a swig, keeping my eyes on Juliet.

She lifted her dress, slowly pulling it up over her head.

I choked and sputtered on the swallow of water.

Vienna smirked at me and helped Juliet untangle herself from the sleeves of the dress. Still coughing, my eyes bugged.

What…the…

My gaze slipped from the deep green top that molded perfectly to Juliet’s chest all the way to the slick green fabric hugging her hips. My heart stomped a frantic beat. My fingers tingled as all my blood reversed course and headed south of my waistband.

Almost shyly, Juliet shimmied her shoulders. “What do you think?”

You’re stunning. Someone hand me a blanket to toss over my girl. I want to lick your stomach. Lots of answers popped into my mind. None seemed appropriate. I continued stuttering and drooling on myself in front of everyone.

“He’s speechless.” Vienna patted Juliet’s shoulder. “Perfect.”

Juliet blinked and reached for her towel. Aw, shit. My doofus act had punched a hole in her confidence.

“No.” I grabbed the towel, stopping her from covering herself. “You look spectacular. I, uh, love that color on you.”

Color, good one.

Her hesitant smile transformed into a full, glowing one.

Phew. I managed to compliment her without mentioning my hard dick, how fantastic her tits looked, or asking her to turn around. My brain still functioned. What a relief.

I held out my hand to her. “Want to test the pool?”

She wrinkled her nose. “If we’re going to swim, let’s do it now, before it’s just a sea of pee.”

“Eww,” Vienna groaned.

“When you put it that way…” I glanced at the pool again. The scent of chlorine hung heavy enough in the air to burn my nostrils. Bet the staff had tossed in extra when they found out a wild pack of hormonal teenagers was about to invade.

“Come on!” Vienna ran past us and launched herself into the pool, neatly slicing through the water, narrowly missing a group of kids slapping each other with long, foam noodles.

“Do you know how to swim?” Juliet asked.

I watched, fascinated and dumbstruck as she pulled an elastic off her wrist and bound her hair into a high, bouncy knot on the top of her head. Was it weird how much I loved watching her just do stuff?

“I can keep my head above water.” What a metaphor for my entire life. “Had a few lessons when I was a kid.”

We walked over the scratchy, burning concrete to the shallow steps leading into the pool.

“Same.” She laughed and dipped her toe in. “It’s warmer than I expected.”

I splashed down the steps and turned, holding my arms out for her. She jumped off the top step and I caught her, spinning us in a slow circle.

“Take it easy!” one of the teachers shouted. I couldn’t tell if it was directed at us or someone else. We were hardly the only couple with their hands all over each other.