Chapter 36

I woke up Saturday morning wondering if kissing Rhys had happened or if it was just some crazy dream. I lay there for a few minutes, gazing out my window at the cumulus clouds drifting along in the bright blue sky. I couldn't stop wondering if I had dreamt everything last night. I picked up my phone, and there were no notifications. I thought about texting Chloe but knew she was still sleeping. I slid my feet out from under my warm comforter, tiptoed across my room to my window, and peeked out to see if Ashton's car was still in his driveway. I pressed my thumb on the fingerpad of my phone to unlock it, and the time fifteen minutes after nine glowed. I glanced out my window again to make sure his car was really gone. I closed the curtain and turned to go back to my bed when my phone vibrated. I unlocked my phone, and there was Rhys's name, staring up at me. I clicked on it to open the text.

I got your number from Chloe last night. What are you doing today?

Part of me wanted to tell him I was busy, yet he probably already knew that would be a lie.

Nothing.

Great! Would you like to go to the beach with me today? I can pick you up around 11.

I sent him my address and then started getting ready. I opened my drawer and started shuffling through all my bathing suits. I called Chloe on video, hoping she was awake.

"Hello..." Her groggy voice answered. "Gem, it's Saturday." She yawned, setting her phone down.

"Sorry, but I need your help." I glanced at my phone propped up on my dresser.

"Help with what?" She yawned again. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for a bathing suit. Rhys is picking me up at eleven to go to the beach." I held up a yellow bikini. "How about this one?"

"That one makes you look washed out. I'll be there in forty-five minutes." She flung her comforter off and then clicked end. I stared at the yellow bikini. My phone vibrated again, and Chloe's silly face flashed across my screen. I swiped accept. "I'll bring over some bikinis." She ended the video again.

I shoved the bikini back in my drawer and opened my short drawer, staring at them, wondering if I should wait until Chloe got here to help with that, too. I stared at the shorts for a few more minutes before deciding I could pick out jean shorts without help from Chloe. I started to reach into my drawer for a pair of ripped jeans shorts, ripped across the pockets. My hand paused a few inches from the shorts as my fingertips brushed against the frayed material. I clutched onto the drawer and pulled the pair of shorts out. I tossed them onto my bed and closed the drawer. I walked to my closet and started shuffling through my button-down shirts to wear over my bikini top. I got so wrapped up trying to choose a top that I jumped, fumbling a shirt to the floor when the doorbell rang. I tossed it onto the bed and ran downstairs to let Chloe in.

"Sorry, I'm late. I thought you could use some coffee." She handed me the drink carrier.

"Thanks." I headed up the stairs. "Why did I agree to go to the beach with him?" I glanced over my shoulder.

"Because you like him. Besides,  Sarah and I will be there with you."

I stopped at the top of the stairs and turned around to face her. "What?" My eyes widened as I gripped the carrier. "Uh..."

"Don't worry. We're going with Braedon and Ty." She pried the carrier out of my hands. "You're welcome." She motioned the drinks forward. "We need to get you ready."

"Oh...Yeah..." I turned and walked to my room. I pushed the door open and walked back over to my closet.  Chloe set the drinks on my desk and dropped her bag at the foot of my bed.

"Are these the shorts you plan on wearing to the beach?" Chloe asked. I turned to find her standing next to my bed, holding up the pair of shorts. She dropped them back down and walked toward me.  "Now, you need a shirt to wear over your bikini top." She bumped me with her hips to scoot over. She paused for a second with her hand on my blue denim shirt, staring at it. "Maybe we should pick out your bathing suit first." She dropped her hand, turned, and walked over to the bed. She grabbed and unzipped her bag, pulling out numerous bikini tops and matching bottoms. I eliminated the white bikini within seconds because I knew I wasn't tan enough to wear it. She scooped it up and tossed it back into the bag, not taking her eyes off the other bikinis scattered on my bed. "I think either the pink or lavender." She also picked up the baby blue one and tossed it in the bag. "Here, go try them on real quick." She handed me the pink and lavender bikinis, pushing me toward the door. "Hurry, we don't have much time."

"What are you doing?" Mom asked, walking up the stairs and glancing at the suits in my hands.

"Rhys called me to go with him to the beach, and Chloe's helping me pick out a bikini to wear." I held up my hands. She walked over, analyzing them closer.

"Which one do you like?" She asked, running her hand over the pink one. "Either will look great on you." She smiled, walking to her room. "I'm getting ready to head to lunch and shopping with Elizabeth. Have fun." She waved, disappearing into her room. I turned and walked to the bathroom to try on the suits, showing Chloe what each looked like. Chloe took a picture of me in each and sent them to my phone to see which one looked the best. She sent the photos at the same time so she could compare them more easily. After about ten minutes of studying, we decided on the pink one. She grabbed the rest of the suits, shoved them back in her bag, and told me to put on the pink suit. I brushed my hair, threw it up in a bun, washed my face, and brushed my teeth. She tossed a white button-down shirt at me when I returned to my room.

"Where are you going?" I asked, looking at her puzzled.

"I've got to get my suit on; Braedon will be here soon." She winked.

Ding Dong

I jumped, dropping the bottle of sunscreen on the floor. "He's here." I leaned down and picked up the bottle. Chloe giggled and told me to finish packing my bag, and she'd go answer the door. I stood there clutching the sunscreen, straining to hear what they were talking about at the foot of the stairs. A few minutes later, Chloe barged into my room, smiling from ear to ear. She grabbed the sunscreen out of my hand, tossing it in the bag. She motioned me to put on lip balm and grab my sandals. She pulled some hair down from my bun to frame my face, stood back, and smiled. "Does he look hot?" I whispered, putting on my sandals.

She peeked at me, smiling. "Hell, yes." She zipped up her bag, tossing me a towel. "He's waiting." She motioned her head toward my door. I grabbed my stuff and headed downstairs. I saw him standing by the staircase, looking down at his phone. He wore blue ombre trunks and a tight white graphic T-shirt that hugged his biceps. I just wanted to stand and admire his hot body.

I stepped down onto the first step; wood creaked under my foot. Rhys's head popped up, gazing at me. He pressed the button on the side of his phone and tucked it in his pocket. "Hey." He smiled, stepping closer to the stairs.

"Hope you don't mind if my friends meet us at the beach." I stepped onto the floor, moving to the other side of Rhys so Chloe wouldn't be stuck on the stairs.

"No. Maybe the guys and I can get a football game going." He smiled, taking the towel from my arms. "Then again, I might have to fight the guys away from you." He gazed down at my bikini top. I could tell my cheeks were blushing by the heat that was spreading. I glanced down, hoping the strands of hair hid the redness.

*****

"Hey, Braedon, Ty! Want to join in the game?" Ashton yelled, holding up the football.

Braedon and Ty held up their hands, letting Ashton know to wait. "Rhys, we could use another player. Ashton cheats." Braedon motioned him to follow. "C'Mon, man!" He jogged toward the group of guys waiting to play football. Rhys set his stuff down on his blanket, then jogged after Braedon and Ty.

"He likes you." Sarah beamed, spreading her blanket out. Chloe shook her head in agreement, sitting down on her blanket. I watched them swap glances with one another and giggle. I lowered my glasses off my head so they couldn't see me roll my eyes at them. "I heard about your tongue action last night." Sarah smiled, laying back. "He's hot."

"Wow... You two are something else." I huffed. "He's not that into me."

"Yeah...Right..." Chloe laughed. "Then why does he keep glancing over here?" She pointed her finger in the direction of the game. I grabbed her hand, forcing it down. She giggled, turning her head to the right at Sarah. "Wait till he comes back over here."

"Will you two stop!" I sighed, placing my hands on my forehead. They erupted into laughter because they succeeded in getting me riled up. This had become a ritual with them. Let's see how mad we can get Gemma. I closed my eyes for a few minutes, trying to calm down so I wouldn't bite Rhys's head off when he came back.

"Rhys will come to his senses and dump you. It's just a matter of time." The most annoying voice in the world approached me. I opened my eyes, about to say something when.

"Claudia, what are you doing out this time of day? Aren't you afraid you'll burst into flames in the sun?" Chloe smarted off before I could get a chance to respond. Sarah busted out laughing, not even trying to hide the fact. I raised up on my blanket; Claudia was standing close to me, glaring down at the three of us. Her lips pressed together, eyes narrowed with her hand on her hip.

"Why do you care anyway? Last time I checked, weren't you still dating Ashton?" I rested my sunglasses on the top of my head.

"Whatever...Just know that Rhys has higher standards." She scoffed, turning to go back to her friends.

"What the hell was that about?" Sarah asked, still giggling.

"I heard that Ashton broke up with her after the party last night." Chloe interrupted, glancing over toward the guys tackling one another. "Whether it's true or not is another story." She shrugged, reaching for her water bottle. I glanced at the guys, laughing and hollering at one another to get Rhys as he took off with the ball tucked under his arm. Ashton was hot on his heels, about to tackle him, when Rhys slowed down, holding up the football in victory of his touchdown. I got off the blanket and fixed my bikini when I heard whistles in the distance.

"You've got an audience." Chloe motioned her head in front of us. I lowered my sunglasses, glancing in the distance to find some guys staring in my direction. Rhys smiled, then chucked the football at them, laughing as they ducked to avoid getting hit. He took off running toward me.

"If I'm not careful, someone might try to steal you away from me." He smiled, brushing the back of his fingers down my cheek.