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“He likes her. That’s obvious,” Barbara says.
My dad absent mindedly bites into his hotdog as he watches Charlie. He chews and swallows, then turns to me. “He’s a good man. But I don’t think he’d be a good match for you.”
Curious, I raise my eyebrow. “Why not?”
He shrugs. “Just a hunch.”
Satisfied with his non-explanation, he returns to his hotdog. After three decades on the police force, I’ve learned that my dad’s hunches are spot on. But he’s not aware of the intense attraction I have for the man.
My mom reaches over and wipes barbeque sauce off the corner of his mouth. He grins at her and takes another bite, making an even bigger mess. They both laugh and I have to admit, they are cute together.
I glance Charlie’s way and find him watching us. He smirks and takes a sip of his beer.
We finish our food and my dad stands. “Alright, well, we’ll leave you kids to party with people your own age. Have fun tonight.” He and Barbara wave as they make their way down the dock.
“She’s hot and funny? Damn, Liv. I think I’m in love,” Garrett says as he clutches his heart.
I ignore him and settle onto the towel on my stomach, facing Charlie. He bends to pick up a frisbee and tosses it back to a guy about twenty feet away. “You’re going to have to fight my dad for her. Good luck.”
Garrett chuckles and lays next to me. “And that’s why I’ll never have her. I’m way too chicken shit to fight Henry.”
The sun peaks and begins its slow descent towards the horizon. I flip over as Garrett heads down the dock to grab us a drink. He returns with Tina, who hands me a red solo cup rimmed with salt.
“We’re going to cool off, want to join?” Garrett asks.
Tina begs me with her eyes to say no, so I take a sip of the margarita and shake my head. I don’t want to be the third wheel anyway.
Tina heads over to the ladder and Garrett leans in. “Stay close.”
I give him a half ass salute and he rolls his eyes, but he’s all smiles as he helps Tina down the ladder. They grab their drinks off the dock and lounge together on a raft. I lean back on my hands as Tina’s giggles float through the air. The one-night Garrett planned turned into more than he expected.
I glance around and realize I’m surrounded by couples. Some are already drunk and making out. Some just chat and relax under umbrellas or hold hands walking down the shore. I’m ok with being single, but does everyone have to rub their happiness in my face?
“Mind if I join you?” It’s no surprise Charlie found me. I stick out like a sore single thumb.
I look up and smile at him, gesturing to Garrett’s towel next to me. He lowers to his ass and copies my posture. Without thinking, I reach over and wipe a smear of sunscreen he missed by his ear.
When our skin touches, that strange awareness of him tunnels my vision and all I can see is him. He grabs my wrist and squeezes and I blink as I come back from wherever the hell my mind just went.
He presses his lips together and yanks his gaze away from my face, landing on my legs. “Are you ok?”
“Yea. Sorry, you had some sunscreen on your neck. I should have asked permission to touch.”
He rubs his thumb over my pulse before he releases me with a smile. “You can touch me whenever you want. You just looked like you went somewhere.”
I shrug, trying to play it cool so he doesn’t think I’m a complete psychopath. “Just zoned out I guess.”
“You do that a lot around me. Should I be offended?” he chuckles.
I blush and shake my head no, unsure of what to say.
“Maybe you’re just overheated. Want to go for a swim?”
Smiling, I nod and he holds out his hand to haul me to my feet. Before I can blink, he dips and throws me over his shoulder. I laugh as he speed walks to the end of the dock and tosses me ahead of him as he jumps into the lake. I come up sputtering and laughing and he grins as he splashes me.
We get into a losing splash war like we’re ten years old and I giggle like a kid. I race away from him and head for the buoy that separates the boats from the swimming area. He catches up and races past me, grabbing onto the orange buoy a few seconds before me.
“Show off,” I grumble, and he chuckles as he wipes water out of his eyes.
