Loving Me, Trusting You(45)

“You're absolutely gorgeous, you know that?” she says, and I raise a dark brow, taking in her petite perfection and her soft curves. So this is the kind of woman that Austin was after all along. Nice. The polar opposite of me. Where I'm dark, she's pale and light, where I'm gruff, she's polite. Fantástico.

“I'd thank you for the compliment, but then I'd remember you stole my boyfriend and I'd have to get pissed off. I don't really want to deal with that right now if you don't mind. Why don't you go back inside and watch Lifetime or something?” Amy laughs again and the sound doesn't echo like mine. It's light, like bells, and simply peals away into the silent evening. Bitch.

“I didn't come out here to talk about Austin,” she says and my lip curls as I pull out the cigarette and toss it into the pool. Amy looks at it aghast, but clears her throat and says nothing.

“Gaine then,” I say, figuring that must be it. She saw us f*cking, and I'm sure she figured out what we were doing in the bathroom. Plus, I know she sees the way he looks at me. “The last thing I need right now is for you to throw your two cents in. He still loves me. Fine. I get it. But I don't want to love him. That's all there is to it.” Amy's smile grows a little wider and then she's glancing over her shoulder and checking to see if she can spot her bodyguard. Beck is visible now inside the glass doors, flirting with one of the night staff. I roll my eyes.

“That's not it either,” she says as she reaches down and unbuttons her top. Underneath, she's got on a swimsuit. It's the color of honey and half as sweet. This thing looks like it was designed in the early fifties or something. It covers everything. Amy takes off her pajama top and lays it aside, standing up and dropping her pants to the cement. “I just wanted to come down here and make sure you were alright.”

“Yeah, so that's why you wore your grandmother's swimsuit under your pajamas, right? To check in on me?” Amy laughs again and sweeps her hair up on top of her head, twisting it into a bun and snapping a hair tie from around her wrist onto it to keep it still.

“This,” she says, pausing to gesture at the beige jumpsuit she's got on. “Is most certainly not my gram's swimsuit. It's far too scandalous, don't you know?” Amy points to the curve of the suit on her upper thigh. “Gram's was much more conservative. Went straight down to her knees.” With a wink and a nod, Amy launches herself into the cold water and disappears in a perfect swan dive. I watch her move beneath the water for a moment, and don't even bother to look up when boots appear beside me. Beck is an idiot, but he's good at what he does.

“Are you two skinny dippin'?” he asks, squinting into the darkness and trying to catch a glimpse of Amy. I put my cigarette out on the toe of his boot, and he doesn't even notice. He's too focused on trying to catch some free tail. Wish I was that single-minded. Must be nice being Beck Evans.

“Only in your wildest f*cking dreams,” I tell him as Amy surfaces with a gasp and treads the water with a smile on her face.

“Everything alright?” she asks him as he tucks his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and grins.

“Be even better if you two lovely ladies were to put on a show for me.” Amy laughs, but I don't. Beck might seem funny at first, but after a couple of years, he just gets annoying.

“That desk clerk is leaning over the counter,” I tell him and he moves back, so Amy can swim forward and lean her arms on the cement edge near my feet. “Her ass is in a prime viewing location. Go away and do what you do best.” Beck pats me on the head and laughs again. He's always f*cking laughing. Must be nice.

“She's more colorful than a leprechaun's ass burstin' with rainbows,” he says and Amy snorts.

“What?”

“He thinks she's gay because she's not interested in him. Beck always thinks that.” I start to stand up, irritated that my quiet slice of space has been ruined and pause when Amy's hand touches my foot.

“I mean, who wouldn't want a little cut of this beefcake?” he asks, and then laughs at his own joke. See what I mean? Sometimes, I think it's a front for something darker, but I guess I'll never know. I don't have the time or leisure to delve into Beck Evans and his many intricacies. “Only reasonable explanation is that she prefers titties. Can't say that I blame her.” Beck shrugs and, satisfied that he's not missing any nudity, moves away again. As soon as he's out of earshot, Amy grabs my attention.

“You know, I brought a book with me, one of my favorites. I think you might like it. I'd be happy to let you borrow it if you want to read it.” Before I can object, she forges on, leaning out of the water, eyes sparkling. Reading is obviously her thing, but it isn't mine. I don't want to get lost in somebody else's story. I'm already having enough trouble trying to navigate my own. “There's a character that kind of reminds me of you. Sali Bend, I think you could relate.”

“Bonding with fictional characters isn't my thing, but thanks for thinking of me.”

“The only good lie is one that sticks. Otherwise, it's just all bullshit.” I give her a narrow eyed look, and she smiles. “A Sali Bend quote that I happen to think fits.” Amy reaches up and hauls herself out of the water, plopping down next to me with a splat. “We all need an escape every now and again, an opportunity to lose ourselves, if only for the moment. I look at you sometimes and I can't help but think of my mother.” Her face falls, but the expression doesn't last. It hits rock bottom and bounces right back, leaving her with a bittersweet smile.