Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(162)

Just before I take my keys out to let myself in, I text Javier. “Thanks for a hot night!”

“Thank you! Anytime baby!” he writes. “Call me next time you’re in Vegas.”

Sunday, I decide to do an early morning yoga class and then hang out by the pool. Just after a quick dip in the refreshing water, as I get my sunglasses on and lay down on the lounge chair, I hear Jared and Nathan approaching. Sadie rushes over to them and I pretend to not notice.

I’m not mad anymore by their good natured fun from yesterday, but that doesn’t mean I still can’t have a little fun.

“Hey, Kitten,” Jared greets, sitting down on my chair.

“You’re blocking the sun,” I state flatly.

He shifts. “Is that any better?”

To comment, or not to comment on his blatant attempt to block more of the sun?

“Wonderful,” I retort.

“Come on, Kitten. You can’t be mad at us anymore,” Jared groans.

“Yes I can,” I rebut, lifting my sunglasses up.

“No, you can’t,” Maggie’s voice calls from a few feet away. “This is my weekend and everyone needs to be talking, having fun and being happy. Including you!”

“Next weekend is your weekend. I’ll be all of that then,” I playfully contend with her as I close my eyes and lower my sunglasses back down. The stinging of a towel being whipped on my leg jolts me up. “Hey!”

Maggie winds up for another blow. “What was that?” she threatens with a wicked grin.

“Okay. Okay. I’ll be nice. I’ll be happy,” I confront with a fake smile.

“Smile like you mean it,” she commands.

“That’s kind of hard with the pain in my leg,” I rebut, but still try to comply to prevent another attack.

“That’s better,” she accepts. “You two shoo. We’ve got some girl talk to do.”

Maggie delivers a stern look that she learned from M?qīn. A look they won’t dare to battle. Jared and Nathan retreat to join the men of our group as Amy and Kim hop over. Now I know what Maggie meant by girl talk.

“Did you really sleep with him?” Amy blurts.

I blush with embarrassment since all the guys from our group turn to look in our direction. I’m grateful when I notice that no one else is around the pool area.

“Why is my sex life the topic of discussion?” I ask, deliberately lowering my voice to give them all the hint to do the same.

“Maggie’s told us about, you know . . .” Amy says.

“No . . . I don’t,” I return, narrowing my eyes.

“About how you are with men,” Maggie explains.

“It’s perfectly natural for women of any age,” Kim interjects to my defense.

Kim knows more than Amy because if and when I do need to consult with a doctor, I make appointments with her.

“I know that. I wish I had the balls to do it before I was married. I did have a three-way with my roommate and a guy back in college one night . . .” Amy's voice trails off.

“You never told us that,” Maggie expresses.

“I’ve never told Eric and I wasn’t sure we could share that kind of stuff. Besides, M?qīn or Nǎinai are always around,” Amy adds. “I like this. We should have a girls' only weekend again.”

“Definitely.” I concur.

“Emma and I deflowered each other,” Maggie offers.

My hand instinctually launches in Maggie’s directions, clipping her in the shoulder.

“I did the same with a girl in college,” Kim admits.

The four of us giggle at our openness and I feel much better overall.

“So do you two still, yah know?” Amy searches.

“Sometimes,” Maggie discloses. “Emma’s not into as much because of Henry.”

“Why not? You’re into men, obviously,” Amy investigates.

“We’ve shared a man or two, but she would never with any of my past boyfriends, let alone Henry,” she reveals.

“And, I don’t plan to,” I inform them. “It’s just too weird.”

They all nod their understanding.

“So how was he last night?” Maggie presses.

“Javier?”


“Ohhh . . . even his name is sexy,” Amy comments.

At this moment, I have the desire to tell the three of them what really happened. I want to tell them, but something is telling me to hold off even though I’m really enjoying our current girls’ moment we’re having.

“Better than the majority,” I offer with a wicked smile.

The three of them squeal loudly which causes all of the men to turn in our direction. Jimmy and Allen come running over, jumping in to find out what’s being shared. The four of us refrain from anything other than giggles.

By late afternoon, our whole group decides to go on another hike, wanting to catch the beautiful sunset off of the mountains before returning back for dinner. The four of us girls gravitate towards each other more during the hike. I think we feel more connected after our poolside gossip session. The boys try to listen or join in, but we’re able to keep our voices low for just the ladies.

After dinner at a little local restaurant that we find on the way back from the hike, Maggie walks me to my cottage. Our conversation is light as she joins me, lounging on my bed. We don’t have sex, we just sit and talk like we used to.