“That really sucks.” Macon’s voice came from right next to my ear. He pulled me into a hug, while keeping us mostly in the water. “I’m hoping that since you’re staying with your brother, he believes you.”
“Yeah. Colin knows I’d never do something like that, he also knows my sister’s husband can be a royal jerk.”
“But your parents sided with her?”
“Of course. She’s the perfect one after all.”
“Listen, I can’t say I’ve been in your situation, but I do know what it’s like to disappoint people.” He didn’t let go of me and I was glad. The feeling of his warm body next to mine dulled the ache I felt thinking about how little my family thought of me.
“And how do you deal with it?”
“I say fuck them. The only one you need to impress is yourself.”
“Do you really believe that, or are you just saying it?” The sun fully disappeared, leaving us in only the faintest of daylight.
“Most of the time I do.”
I smiled. “Thanks. Most people aren’t that honest.”
“You can count on me being level with you.”
“Macon?” I wrapped my arms around myself.
“Yeah?” he adjusted his hold on me, and his hand moved up under my soaking wet shirt.
“How am I getting out of this water? It’s freezing.”
“Wait here.” He let go and ran off toward the beach. He looked up and down the shore. “Ok, take off your shirt.”
“What?” I gasped.
“Just do it.” He held out his t-shirt. “You were right about it being freezing, so could you maybe move faster?” I unbuttoned my shirt and took it off. I crossed my arms over my chest as soon as I was standing. Macon looked away, but he held the shirt out to me. I grabbed it and slipped it on as fast as humanly possible. “I’m sure we can find something of Maddy’s for you to change into.”
“I really hope my brother isn’t still at your place.”
Macon laughed dryly. “Me too.”
Darkness set in as we made the short walk home. The night was silent except for some faint laughter coming from a house along the beach.
We both got lucky. The only one home was Brody when we walked in.
Brody took in our wet forms. Considering Macon was in his boxers, and I was wearing his t-shirt it probably didn’t look good. “Uh, do I even want to know?”
Macon grinned. “We just went for a little swim.”
I didn’t stand around. I went right to Maddy’s room and searched her now mostly empty drawers for something to wear. I settled on a pair of running shorts and a tank top. My bra was soaked through, and I needed something that could work without one. Satisfied I looked halfway presentable, I walked out into the main room.
Macon now fully dressed sat on the couch. “A little warmer?”
“Much.” I held out his damp t-shirt. “Where do you want this?”
“Could you put it on the washer?” He gestured down the hall I’d just come from. I discovered the accordion doors that hid the washer and dryer, and I carefully placed the shirt on top of the washer. I found an empty grocery store bag to stow my wet clothes in until I got home.
I walked back out, picking up my purse where I left it on the side table.
“What’s the rush?” Macon asked.
“It’s late. I’m going home.”
“Do you like scary movies?” He turned on the TV.
“Yeah. Definitely.”
“There’s a Friday the Thirteenth marathon on, you up for it?”
“Sure, maybe I’ll stay for a little while.” I took a seat next to him.
He put an arm behind me on the couch. “Usually I’ve been dating a girl awhile before I let her borrow my clothes. I guess it’s okay that I made an exception with you since tonight wasn’t an actual date.”
“Do you generally date girls long enough for that to happen?” I needed to know if my player radar was right.
“I haven’t had a girlfriend, per se, in a while if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Gotcha.” That’s all I needed to know. If a guy didn’t do girlfriends, I didn’t do him. I was not the hook up kind of girl.
“Is there a particular guy whose clothes you borrow a lot?” He looked at me with that serious expression again.
“Is that your way of asking if I have a boyfriend?”
“Yes.” He didn’t break the eye contact.
“Don’t you think that would have been important to ask before you decided to go swimming with me half naked?”
Brody laughed from somewhere behind us. “That implies Macon would have thought something out in advance.”
“But to answer your question, no I don’t have one. I haven’t had one in a while.”
“Okay. Perfect. We can both be single together. Now that Maddy’s with your brother I’ve been in the market for a wing girl. I think I found mine.”
My stomach sunk. Wing girl? He wanted me to be his wing girl? So much for him having interest in me. I forced a smile. “Sounds great.”
“But before we worry about that, we need to find you a job. Oh, and I thought of a fantastic idea while you were getting changed.”
“Did you?” Brody asked before I could respond.
“Colin and Maddy want to move in together, right?” Macon sounded way too excited about the comment.
“Yes.”
“And you don’t want to stay at your brother’s house all summer.”
“Not a chance.” I had no idea where the conversation was heading.
“Why don’t you take Maddy’s room? She’s paid up through the end of June, so that should give you some time to get on your feet. Besides, I’m practically charging her nothing, and I’ll extend the same discount to you.”
“What?” Brody and I asked in unison.
My first reaction was hell no, but why? Live practically rent free right on the beach? Make my brother insanely happy because I’d be pushing things in the right direction with his girlfriend? Both of those things sounded awesome. The only problem was could I handle living with two guys, especially if one of them made me warm just by standing in the same room? I ignored the last thought. “Sure, as long as Brody and Maddy are okay with it.” I turned to look at Brody.
“Oh, yeah. That’s totally fine.” Brody seemed genuine with his answer, but it was hard to tell.