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“You should wait with your water show until Lotti returns. I’m sure she’ll appreciate how your muscles glisten when they’re wet,” I said.
He gave me the finger, then dove into the water in perfect form.
I stormed up to my room, utterly furious at myself. Soft steps followed me.
I didn’t stop until I was in my room. When Carlotta closed the door, I began to tug my bikini from my body. The red juice on the white fabric really made it look as if I had my period. My eyes burned with mortification, even if it wasn’t the case. I’d spent days working up the courage to wear a bikini. Not because I was shy about my body but because it simply wasn’t my usual style, so it was a given that everyone would notice.
I had wanted Nevio to notice, but not like this, though.
“We should return. Don’t make a big deal out of it. If you downplay the situation, the boys won’t care. They probably don’t either way. They don’t feel embarrassment like we do,” Carlotta said in her reasonable voice.
It was one she had to use often when Nevio was concerned.
I nodded, even if I really didn’t want to go back down there. It wasn’t the first time I’d acted like a clumsy cow around Nevio, but that didn’t make it easier. “Why am I like that?” I asked angrily.
Carlotta shrugged.
I grabbed a familiar sporty bathing suit from a drawer.
“Put on another bikini,” Carlotta said.
I raised an eyebrow. “Lotta, are you trying to turn me into a sinner?”
I sometimes teased her about her prudish bathing suits and gym clothes.
“It’s not sin. I just feel more comfortable if my most private areas are covered up. But it would draw even more attention if you switched back to your old style only because of a little accident.”
I grabbed the second bikini I owned, a turquoise piece that brought out the blue in my eyes, according to Carlotta.
Carlotta gave me a thumbs-up, then she checked her own reflection. Her bathing suit was modest with a high neckline, though I knew it was mostly to cover up her scar. She still managed to look effortlessly sexy.
She took my hand, and we headed back downstairs. Pretending nothing was up, we headed straight to the pool and jumped in. The cold water cleared my head.
When we emerged, both Carlotta and I were laughing.
Davide popped up right beside me, startling me and tried to dunk me. Despite him being three years younger than me, he was already stronger and taller, and managed to push my head underwater. Carlotta fell victim to Nevio’s little brother, Giulio, who was only seven but a force to be reckoned with.
I spluttered when I managed to resurface after almost a minute.
Carlotta coughed somewhere behind me, then screeched again.
Through blurry vision, I saw Nevio and Massimo dive into the pool. Shortly after, Nevio was by my side and dunked my brother with a devious grin.
Massimo helped Carlotta, but his intervention looked less fun. He grabbed Giulio by the throat and shoved him away. “Be careful. Carlotta has a heart condition.”
Giulio rubbed his throat and poked out his tongue at his cousin, then dashed off and began to splash Alessio, who’d remained on the lounge chair.
Davide followed suit, leaving me with Nevio. “All good?” he asked, then his eyes dipped lower. I glanced down and flushed. A tiny sliver of my nipple peeked out. I quickly tugged my top back into place. Something on Nevio’s face made me feel hot and not from embarrassment.
“I’m fine, really. I won’t have a cardiac arrest from a bit of water play,” Carlotta said, looking embarrassed. Massimo seemed to disagree, judging by the stern look on his face.
“Young love must be sweet,” Nevio muttered.
“Yeah,” I agreed. Our eyes met, and the heat in my cheeks intensified. Nevio searched my eyes, and I couldn’t look away. I had no hope that he couldn’t see my stupid crush on my face.
Alessio flung himself into the water with an ass bomb, dousing Davide and Giulio.
Water splashed Nevio and me in the faces too.
