Mistakes Were Made(90)

Cassie was on her back on a pool float when Erin came out of the house in the suit Rachel had made her buy when they went to the Bahamas together. It wasn’t inappropriate, but she could feel Cassie’s eyes on her, even though they were hidden behind sunglasses. The bottoms were black, plain, full coverage. The mismatched top was white, triangles and string ties and admittedly some side boob.

“I hope you don’t mind if I share some of the sunshine with you guys,” Erin said.

“Of course, Dr. Bennett,” Caleb said.

“Caleb, I’m kicking you out of my backyard if you call me Dr. Bennett one more time.”

“Aren’t you used to how chronically over-polite he is yet?” Parker asked. “Anyway, that lounge is open.” She gestured to the chair next to the one where Cassie’s stuff was.

It wasn’t the lounge chair Erin had planned to take. There were three open—Lila’s stuff on one while Parker, Caleb, and Madison sat at the table playing a complicated card game Erin had never had the patience to learn. Walking past an open lounge chair to take the one next to Cassie’s would’ve been too obvious had Parker not suggested it. But given the excuse, Erin was glad to stretch out beside Cassie’s chair. Unsurprisingly, Cassie was soon out of the pool.

She “accidentally” dripped water on Erin’s bare legs before flopping down next to her. Cassie’s sunglasses were still on, but she couldn’t hide the way her tongue darted out to lick her lips.

“What’s up, doc?”

Erin rolled her eyes. Hard. “Never say that again, Cassie.”

Cassie laughed and relaxed on her chair.

Erin wished she’d worn sunglasses herself, so she could drink her fill of Cassie. Her high-waisted bottoms and bandeau top matched, both bright red with white polka dots. She looked so … wholesome, and yet Erin couldn’t stop thinking about riding her face.

Caleb, Lila, and Madison filtered out eventually, sun kissed and damp from the pool as they made their way home for dinner. Erin sat up, swung her legs to the side of her lounge chair, and stretched. She did not look at Cassie, who was being too obvious now that her sunglasses were sitting on top of her head.

“What do you want for dinner?” she asked.

“Burgers,” Parker said without lifting her head from the next lounge chair.

“I’ll have to go to the store and get buns,” Erin said. “Do you want anything else?”

At that, Parker sat up. “I can go.”

“You don’t have to.”

“No, I will,” Parker said. “You’re cooking. I can pick up buns.”

Erin eyed her. “Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?”

“I’m growing up,” Parker said. “You raised me well. Good job.”

“I suppose I won’t argue with that. You can grab a twenty from my wallet.”

Parker got up and pulled her cover-up over her head. Erin and Cassie stayed put.

“We need anything other than buns?”

“Sweet tea,” Cassie said.

“Pretty sure they don’t sell the good stuff in New Hampshire, babe,” Parker said.

“Ugh. This state is useless.”

Erin pushed at Cassie’s chair with her bare foot. “I’ll see if I can’t scrounge up some homemade stuff for the next time you come.”

“Parker, your mom is better than you. She offers solutions.”

Erin didn’t have to look at Parker to know she was rolling her eyes.

“Text if you need anything,” Parker said, and left.

It was like Pavlov’s dog. The moment she was alone with Cassie, Erin was ready. Cassie, on the other hand, stayed completely still. She didn’t even turn her head. Parker’s car started on the other side of the house. The tires crunched down the driveway.

Then Cassie was up, pulling Erin out of her chair.

“Thank God,” she said, slipping her hands around Erin’s bare waist. “Were you trying to torture me all day?”

Erin laughed and let Cassie’s hands wander. “What do you mean?”

“You’re in a bikini, Erin.” Cassie dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “I thought I would never get to touch you.”

“You touched me this morning.”

“And then you came out here in a bikini and I wanted to touch you again.” She was already tugging at the knot in Erin’s halter top.

“The store isn’t very far away,” Erin said.

“Better get you out of this quick, then.”

She didn’t really get Erin out of the suit, just untied the top and then got her hand inside the bottom. It was indeed quick—Erin was already wet; she’d been thinking about this just as much as Cassie.

Parker took a long time at the store. Cassie and Erin changed out of their suits and had the burgers on the grill by the time she got back.

Cassie never came up weekends when Parker was at Adam’s. Erin worried that was too obvious, but then again, Adam didn’t have a pool. Even when Parker was supposed to be at her father’s, she spent plenty of time in Erin’s backyard instead. The benefits of keeping the house with a pool. One day after Parker had left for Adam’s, Erin dangled her legs in the pool and texted Cassie.

Erin [Today 3:23 PM]