He follows me out to the cold, midfall air. It’s colder here than Nebraska since we’re up in the mountains, which makes it the perfect weather to get in the hot tub.
Lana and Derek already seem to be getting acquainted. They’re sitting pretty close in the hot tub together. I catch Derek with a real big smile when I walk out, but as soon as he makes eye contact with Aspen, his smile fades and he tries to play it cool.
“Sup,” he says.
“What up guys,” Aspen says.
“Hey!” Lana says.
I take my fuzzy socks off and dip my toes in the water. An immediate rush of warmth surges through my body. Once I’m all the way in, the steamy hot tub warms every body part of mine in the water, while the rest of my body sticking out is filled with goosebumps.
I look over to Aspen who is slowly making his way in the water and once he’s in all I see is three heads bobbing out of the water.
It’s dark out already so the only thing lighting up our faces is the multicolored lights from the hot tub and the warm glow coming through the sliding glass door from the kitchen light turned on.
“Wanna play Never Have I Ever?” I ask everyone.
“You girls sure love to play games huh?” Derek says.
“It’s okay, you can admit you’re too pussy to play,” I tell him jokingly.
“Oh, you’re gonna be like that. Okay blondie, it’s on,” he says.
Lana and Aspen share a laugh.
“Never have I ever made out with the same gender,” Derek says looking at Lana and I to see if we’ve kissed each other. I roll my eyes.
“Really? Never? You girls are lame,” is all he adds. Then he puts a finger down.
“Wait, you can’t say something you’ve done,” I say through laughter. “Plus, what guy have you made out with?” I ask him.
“Homeboy in seventh grade never had his first kiss and was scared he’d mess up. I manned up and taught him,” Derek says. I’m trying so hard to hold in my laugh.
“For clarification, I am not homeboy,” Aspen adds and that makes my laugh explode along with Lana’s.
He cuts off our laugh, “Okay, never have I ever stayed at a ski resort, but didn’t go skiing,” Aspen says. Lana and I look at each other and laugh while we put our first finger down.
“Never have I ever taken molly,” Lana says. Aspen, Derek and I all put our fingers down. “Gotcha! You druggies!” Lana exclaims. We all shake our heads.
“Alright, alright. Never have I ever told anyone “I love you” before,” I say. Lana and Derek both put a finger down.
Now it’s back to Derek to say his second statement.
“Never have I ever been in an orgy,” Derek says. I put a finger down. I am the only one to put a finger down. I hope Aspen doesn’tthink differently of me. “Oooo, blondy’s freaky! Told ya Aspen,” and he gives Aspen an elbow to the ribs.
“My turn?” Aspen asks and I nod my head to give him the go ahead.
“Never have I ever had sex in a hot tub,” he says. As soon as he says it, Derek gets real quiet. Him and Lana give each other the weirdest look and put a finger down. Now Aspen and I look at each other putting all the pieces together.
“Ew! Gross!” I say, getting out of the hot tub as quickly as I can.
“Fucking nasty bro,” Aspen says to Derek. “Not you, Lana, just Derek,” he clarifies.
“I probably have Derek’s tadpoles swimming all around me,” I say grossed out. I hop on the cold cement switching feet with each step and I have my arms crossed in front of my chest so that no one can see my hardened nipples. Aspen and I get out and head back inside, tracking water in with us with every step we take.
I lead us towards the shower, tiptoeing as I do so to track the least amount of water in. I need to rinse off whatever was left from Derek and Lana floating around that hot tub. I feel gross. Gotta hand it to Lana though, she’s had sex in a spot I have yet to conquer.
I switch the light on in the bathroom and turn the shower knob to hot. I hop in without looking behind me, hoping Aspen has taken my cue and just followed me in. I know he’s in once I hear the glass door shut and feel his arms wrap around me. His strong arms hold me close and it feels… safe? A feeling I’m not familiar with.
