***
Mia shoved her bag into her locker, trying not to let the weight of the Calculus text crush her lunch. She shoved the bag with the two oranges against the far-right wall. An orange could smash a sandwich as easily as a book.
“Did you like the flowers?” Quinn wore a rock concert T-shirt.
“Hmmm? What flowers?” There hadn’t been a notice in her locker or on her phone from the office. Had Quinn sent her flowers? “Did you send me flowers?”
Quinn frowned. “Yeah.”
A mix of why, that’s too soon, too much and, ‘Where are my flowers?’ hit her. Mia held open her palms. “I didn’t get flowers.”
“There must have been a mix-up. Forget I said anything.”
Like that was going to happen. The only flowers she’d seen had been dumped in the trash. Were those her flowers? Seeds of outrage and suspicion stirred inside her. She’d have a talk with Alexi when they got home.
***
The afternoon was one of those hot days that pushed her toward a dip in the pool, and given the date on the calendar, there wouldn’t be that many more opportunities for that. Mia wore her teal bikini into the game room under a white cotton swimsuit cover up. “Want to go for a swim?”
Alexi narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. “Staff could walk in. Is that a two-piece?”
“Are you kidding?” This family’s preoccupation with modesty was too much. Mia shook her head and walked to the door.
“We need a lock on our door. Wait, give me a second.” Alexi jogged to his room and quickly returned, changed and ready to go. Alexi wore a T-shirt, trunks, and carried a towel. He looked like an ad for summertime. “I guess it is okay because it is just us.” He eyed her suit again.
Mia rolled her eyes and went out the door. He’s more attractive when he keeps his mouth shut. “Look, I let Niko get away with the clothes stuff, but don’t think I’m going to indulge you, too.”
His mouth tightened, and he followed her to the stairs without saying anything.
Mia’s voice took on a playful note. “Besides, if there’s something I want to wear, and you try to stop me, I’ll just rush you, like your first day here, and watch you fall. Good thing you don’t play linebacker.” Mia grinned and pointed to the foyer, the scene of their first meeting.
Alexi bent, put an arm behind her knees and scooped her over his shoulder. Whoosh. He startled a laugh out of her and carried her in that position down the remaining steps.
Mia squealed, her hands against his back, trying to hold her head up to stop the blood from rushing to it. They passed Hope and Niko as they went through the living room.
“Should we stop them?” Hope said.
Niko raised his head. “Nah, they’re okay. Like brother and sister already.”
Alexi opened the double glass doors without dropping her, stopped at the edge of the pool, and let her down. Wise man. He knew better than to drop a female in the water.
He sat on the edge and put his feet in. Though the days were still extremely hot, it cooled off at night, so that’s when they ran the heat for the pool. The water was the perfect temperature once she’d been in it a while. The getting in was always chilly.
Mia threw down her towel, pulled off her cover-up, and dove in. “It’s like a Band-Aid,” she said helpfully as she came up, not gasping too much. “Rip it off fast. Don’t inch your way, or it’ll feel cold too long.”
“Greece has over 6,000 islands.” Alexi reached back with one hand, pulled his T-shirt off and tossed it aside before he slid in. “I can handle the water.”
Mia enjoyed the pull of water through her hands as well as the view. Alexi seldom went without a shirt. He was so modest. The view was unsurpassed. If her sister convinced him to sit for a portrait, she hoped she could talk him into doing it shirtless. The water rippled, and Alexi popped up in front of her. Holy crap, all that beauty, inches away. The sunshine highlighted the water droplets on his shoulders. His skin was such a beautiful golden color, very different from hers. Mia reached out a finger and lightly touched one of the drops, enjoying the contrast of her skin against his.
Glasses clinked against a tray as staff came outside carrying refreshments. Alexi immediately pulled away and swam, his arms cutting through the water in an easy lap.
Mia’s hand fell into the clear water, and she skimmed it under the surface. How thoughtful of the staff. She wished she could be more appreciative of the refreshments, but she’d rather fling the lemonade for their timing. She giggled at the image, then she shook her head. Alexi is family. She shouldn’t be touching him anyway. Family, she chanted to herself, then gave it up. She couldn’t kid herself. He wasn’t yet a relative. Yep, he’d break her heart and she’d have to suck it up, because Hope and Niko’s engagement had tied their future together.
Mia swam over to the sun shelf and pulled up. She braced against her palms and idly kicked her legs though the water. Mia was happy for Hope, though. Niko was great and they’d have kids one day and she’d be Aunt Mia. Fun. “You think we’ll be the godparents?
Alexi stopped his lap. “Hope’s pregnant?”
“No,” Mia said. “Of course not, I’m just thinking about the future.”