“Taking a swim? That’s fun!” Kelly yelled our way. After what had happened, I decided not to be so much of a bitch to her. I mean, it was clear Cane still wanted me. She may have been in the way, but I had a feeling I was more important to Cane than she was.
“Yeah, it should be!” I smiled at her, and she immediately looked over at Mom with wide eyes, like she couldn’t believe I’d given her such a chipper response. Mom returned the same shocked expression, and they both watched Frankie and me swim for a few seconds before chatting amongst themselves again.
Before I knew it, Kelly and Mom were walking to the pool with their wine glasses in hand. They sat and dropped their feet in the water.
“Girls, what do you think about going on a shopping spree in the morning?” Kelly asked with a bright smile. “On me.”
“Really?” Frankie exclaimed. “On you? Like you’ll be buying whatever we pick out?”
“Mm-hmm.” Kelly pressed her lips around the rim of her glass and sipped it.
“Sure, that sounds fun,” I said, dropping lower so the water could wrap around my shoulders.
“I’m always down for shopping,” Frankie announced, and Mom and Kelly smiled. They sat there for a while, talking and sipping, and then Mom got up, going for their table where the empty wine bottle was.
“Should I grab another?” Mom asked, waving the bottle.
Kelly looked over her shoulder and gave a swift nod. “Yeah. I think I can squeeze in one more.” Kelly got out of the pool and followed Mom to the door. They went inside, and through the window of the kitchen, I could see Mom opening the wide fridge while Kelly rested her elbows on the island counter, like she couldn’t handle another sip. She probably couldn’t, but was trying to wing it to get closer to Mom. Mom was a wine connoisseur through and through.
Frankie swam to the deep end of the pool, and I followed her, plunging beneath the cool water and letting it run through my hair. It felt good on my hot skin. I resurfaced and gripped the cement edge. When I looked toward the bar, I spotted Cane.
Dad was into the game, hardly paying attention to us. Cane had turned halfway, so that he could see both the pool and the game with just a simple turn of the head. He locked eyes with me, his face mellow. I couldn’t read his expression, but I did take note of the way his eyes lowered to my breasts.
I was wearing my favorite black two-piece bikini. It was the bikini Dad hated. It made my C-cup boobs look bigger, and the bottoms were cinched in the middle so it made my butt look more like a peach.
Water dripped from my hair and landed on my shoulders and lips. Cane watched my mouth again, eyes focused, hungry. He licked his lips once, and when Dad said something, he tore his gaze away, turned around, and focused on the game again.
He took a swift sip from his short glass, probably hoping it would erase the taste of me from his lips.
For me, the taste of his mouth would never be erased. Everything about him was engraved in me, seared deep, and soaked in my blood cells—his touch, his smell, even the taste of his cum.
Everything he’d given me was going to be cherished. I just wished he could say the same.
23
KANDY
Kelly couldn’t help but to try and please everyone.
I realized that as we shopped. It was in her nature, probably twisted into her DNA. She constantly asked if we were okay, if any of us were thirsty or hungry. She’d even asked Frankie if she needed her to come into the fitting room to see if the dresses fit okay, to which Frankie declined while fighting a laugh.
After spending three full hours around Kelly, I felt bad for being such a bitch to her. She only wanted to fit in and be liked. She was trying to understand me, but I hadn’t given her the chance. All because of a man.
I was truly in over my head. It wasn’t like that same man was ever going to call me his girlfriend or make me his wife someday, like he could with Kelly. It wasn’t like Cane had the option to put me on display and show me off to the world. I mean, he did, but neither of us were brave enough to do that. Plus, I loved my parents dearly. The last thing I wanted to do was break their hearts and ruin our bond, as well as their friendship with Cane. Our lives were much more fun with him in it than without.
After our three-hour shopping spree, we were sitting in the food court with bags of various colors surrounding us. When we first arrived, Kelly told us her credit card was loaded and of course Frankie went berserk. I didn’t blame her. Her mom wasn’t exactly the kind of woman to go on a shopping spree. Frankie’s Mom hated malls, and instead would give her money to go alone. Frankie usually ended up going school shopping with Mom and me.