Three Summers

“I’m fine, but I forgot my shampoo in my bag; can you grab it and bring it? The bag is by the door.” Before he can step in here, I also yell, “But close your eyes when you come in here. There aren’t curtains.” These are not private showers, like I said; they’re only here to wash off the chlorine.

I hear him chuckle. It’s nothing he hasn’t seen before, but we’re on a different playing field now. My breasts are fuller than when I was that tiny seventeen-year-old girl. I have more curves, and I look like a woman. I’m not ready for him to see me yet. I want to be ready, I want to be in sexy lingerie; I want it to be planned… I think.

“Okay, I’m coming in.”

When I see him walking into the locker room, holding my strawberry shampoo in one hand, I let out a little laugh. He has his other hand slapped across his face, covering his eyes. He walks in the direction of the sound of the water and I say, “A few steps to the right,” hiding my snicker. His foot hits the wall and he grunts.

“Stop messing with me or I’ll uncover my eyes.” I roll my eyes and glower at the tiny voice in the back of my head saying, “Do it.”

He walks a few more feet towards me and says, “It’s taking every bit of willpower that I have to keep my eyes shut… ” My heart starts beating even faster in my chest as I take the bottle from his hand, our fingers just barely skimming. He turns back around, facing the direction of the door, and un-prys his hand from his face. He walks a few feet as I pour my pink shampoo in my hand, letting the air fill with the smell of sweet strawberries. I rub the shampoo through my hair and stare at his back, feeling the intense desire between the two of us.

“That smells the exact same as it did three years ago. Sweet… ” His voice is hoarse and his back is rigid. I don’t say anything as I wash the shampoo out of my hair.

The time it takes me to wash my hair seems excruciatingly long. He doesn’t move the entire time and then I suddenly feel bold. “Rowen… ” He turns around in a flash and walks over to me, grabbing my slippery torso and putting his forehead to mine, barely glancing down at my exposed body. The water is pouring over the two of us and he inhales sharply, taking in my strawberry shampoo.

“You know, every time I smelled any type of strawberry scent, I wanted to bang my fist against a wall. Even the mere glimpse of a strawberry would drive me insane. I couldn’t keep the memories away, no matter how fucking hard I tried. Every single thing reminded me of you. Everything.”

I stayed silent, only nodding my head against his, because it was the same for me. Everything reminded me of him or of some type of memory. The boy in my Public Speaking class that would shake his hair out

of habit… Rowen. The smell of freshly cut grass… Rowen. A deep, musky scent… Rowen. Everything screamed Rowen.

Rowen’s hands trail up my bare back and I arch out of reaction, feeling his wet shirt on my breasts. How badly, I wish that he were bare-chested like me. I step up on my tiptoes and place my mouth on his, sensually and full of passion. My chest rises and falls with every stroke of his tongue. He dips his mouth down to my neck; I move it slightly to the right to allow more access. I can feel myself melting beneath his touch. I feel myself coming undone, just with his lips on my slick body. Maybe it’s the water, maybe it’s something in the air, but I can feel myself trembling.

I reach my hands under his shirt and pull the wet, heavy material away from his body. I run my fingers down his abs as his trail down past my belly button. I follow his cue and just as I’m reaching my hand into his shorts, I hear a woman’s laugh coming from near the door. My head snaps that direction and Rowen quickly spurs into action. He turns the water off, throws my towel at me, and gathers my bag, all while dragging me into the far bathroom stall. I wanted to laugh so hard. (It was one of those moments where you know you shouldn’t laugh and you should actually be quite nervous but the bubbling laugh inside of you desperately wants to come out—that was me, in this moment.) I snicker, unable to hold it together, and Rowen looks like he is going to bust at the seams, smashing his lips together and clenching his eyes. He covers my mouth and shakes his head “no” at me. I suddenly stop laughing, as I can still feel my desire to undress him the rest of the way, even in this tiny bathroom stall. We’d been interrupted and as much as I should be afraid that we are gonna get caught, I just want to do it all over again. When Rowen’s eyes meet mine for the second time, I can still see the desire swirling in them. I lick my lips, almost reaching up to get a taste, again.

“Are you sure no one will come in here?” a woman says. I can tell she’s an older woman; her voice is one laced with sophistication. It’s a woman whose heels are clicking on the wet tile.

“I promise.” I hear Sash’s voice and I meet Rowen’s wide-eyed expression. I know my my face has to mimic his, as I feel my own eyes grow large.

“You promise what… ?” The women’s voice is dripping with sex and I cannot believe what I am hearing.

“I promise, Mrs. Richards… ma’am.” My mouth opens up and I swear I could swallow the entire world. Rowen puts his finger to my lips, shushing me.

This woman, is the club owner’s wife. The wife of a man who is probably the richest person in this entire city, hell, maybe even this entire state. They have four kids, who are all teenagers—meaning that Mrs. Richards is definitely in her forties. Holy crap! Sash is having an affair with the club owner’s wife, and you know how I know that? Because I can hear the smacking of lips and audible moans coming from her mouth.

“Why is it wet in here?” she says, out of breath. I put my hand over my mouth, to keep myself from gasping out loud.

“I guess someone showered before leaving.”

“Ugh, disgusting. Let’s go somewhere dry. I don’t want my hair ruined.” I roll my eyes and almost snicker, but Rowen’s rough hand covers my mouth and he has on a small smile, holding in his laugh.

“Come on, hottie.” she says, and I shut my eyes so hard to keep myself from hearing anything else, although that doesn’t work because I hear with my ears, not my eyes. The second I hear her giggles become distant, Rowen’s hand leaves my mouth and I literally lose it. I crack up so hard that my stomach cramps.

“Oh my God!” I say, through another fit of laughter. I grip the towel I have around my body, just so it doesn’t fall off with my incessant cackling.

Rowen shakes his wet hair, spraying my face and says, “What a fucking night.” I meet his stare and we crack up a little bit longer, all while sneaking out of the bathroom stall. I throw my clothes on fast, watching Rowen’s gaze linger over my most intimate parts. I know that look, I remember him drinking me up when we were younger, although this look is filled with much more desire. The desire of a man. I’m thankful that Sash flipped the lights off; that way Rowen can’t see just how much he affects me.

“Camping?” I exclaim. “But Alicia is coming down for your party!”

Rowen, Kyle, and I are hanging out at the football stadium, our old hangout spot (minus Samantha). We all used to sneak out here, climb the metal football stands, sit up at the very top, overlooking the town’s lights flashing and drink whatever kind of beer we’d brought. Normally it would be the cheapest thing we could get their hands on. I didn’t usually drink, which led them to calling me, “Goody Two-Shoes. Everyone but Rowen called me that. He’d snarl in their direction and tell them I didn’t have to drink if I didn’t want to. But tonight, I’m totally drinking. After all, it’s legal now.

“Relax, it’s still a party. It’s just out at my parents’ lake house.” Kyle retaliates.

“Oh, okay then. Good.” Alicia is coming tomorrow night and I guess instead of going to Kyle’s fancy rich house, we’re going to the lake instead. I quickly grab my phone and tell her to bring a bathing suit and bug spray and she sends me back a thumbs up emoticon followed by another emoticon that shows a girl with her hands up in confusion.

“So, tell me more about this Alicia.” Kyle intones while Rowen grabs my tiny waist, snuggling my body in between his.

“Alicia is amazing. She’s kind-hearted but also a little wild. She’s never on time, for anything… ” Rowen laughs and responds, “Which probably drives you crazy.” I purse my lips, but he’s right.