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He sets our floats down near the water and jogs toward me. He has already taken off his T-shirt, gracing me with a view of his muscular, tan body.
Once in front of me, he takes the bottle from my hand and squirts some of the white lotion onto his hands. I pull my hair into a bun and give him my back. He warms the sunscreen by rubbing it between his hands so it's not cold when his fingers touch me. I relax against his long fingers, allowing him to rub the lotion into my back and massage it thoroughly.
Dean surprises me by rubbing down my entire body. I had only expected my back, but I'm not arguing. The feel of his strong hands is nice on my body. He makes me feel warm under his touch.
Once he's finished with me, I rub him down in exchange, my hands lingering a little too long on the washboard abs he's been forming over the last few months. He has a nice body. He works out and plays sports. He's nice to look at, but I'll never tell him that. He's my best friend, and I worry I might scare him away if he knows how much I like how he looks. So, for now, it's my secret. Spencer told me it's best to keep my feelings for Dean to myself for now, so I do. No matter how badly I want to tell him.
The last time we kissed or talked about marriage was three years ago when I was nine and he was twelve. We're much more grown now and haven’t had any further kisses. Much to my dismay.
Once we're both lotioned up, we remain silent as we race toward the water. I pick up the hot pink raft that matches my swimsuit and carry it into the water, waiting until the water reaches my knees before I climb on.
Pulling my sunglasses over my eyes, I adjust myself on my back, place my hands behind my head, and allow the water to float me away.
Inhaling the warm summer air, I smile and say, "Ahh, this is the life."
"It sure is." Dean splashes around beside me, then gets on his raft.
We remain in the water for hours, taking turns splashing each other. Several times Dean even flips my float over, causing me to crash into the water.
When we finally return to shore, there is no sign of Spencer or Dallas anywhere. I'm sure they're off somewhere making out, but that doesn't bother me because I'm having so much fun with Dean.
We sit side by side on a towel in the sand, eat our sandwiches, and gulp down two bottles of water each.
"So, Dean… can I ask you something?" I ask nervously, munching on a cookie after I finish my sandwich.
"You know you can ask me anything." I can see him looking at me from my peripheral, but I'm too afraid to look at him, so I keep my focus on the cookie in my hands. "Why are you acting shy?" He nudges me in the shoulder playfully.
I shrug my shoulders, picking the cookie apart into small pieces. "I heard that Sadie asked you out," I blurt, holding my breath while I await his answer.
Dean is fifteen now, and he's the hottest boy in school. He's popular, and all the girls want to go out with him. I know this because Spencer told me. He and Spencer go to high school together, while I'm left behind in middle school because I'm only twelve.
Spencer has told me a lot about Sadie, and she doesn't like her either. I've only met her once or twice when I've been at Spence’s cheer practice. They're on the cheer team together. I know just enough about her to say that I hate her. I hate her even more because she's set her sights on what's mine.
Dean is mine, and stupid Sadie needs to keep her stupid cheerleader paws off him.
"How did you… Spencer told you?" He does not deny it, which means it's true. My hands ball into fists, crumbling the cookie even further. The chocolate melts in my palms.
"So, it's true? You're going out with Sadie?"
"Well, she asked me on a date. She wants to go to the pizzeria." I'm getting angrier the more he speaks. Props to her for taking charge and asking him out. Usually it's the guy asking the girl. But girls are just as capable. Girl power and all that. But Sadie doesn't seem like the type to go to the pizzeria for bowling and pizza. She's too prissy to eat that delicious cheesy, doughy goodness.
Do you know who isn't too good to eat pizza and go bowling? The real type of woman that Dean should go on a date with?Me.
He’s my best friend and has been since I was eight years old, but now I’m developing feelings for him. I want more than friendship.
"Well, are you going to go?" I should shut up, but I can't stop. I want to know. I want him to tell me he's not going, and I want him to finally ask me to be his girlfriend. Even though my parents say I can't date yet. I'm willing to keep it a secret for now. Parents don't need to know everything. They can't control my life. I’m my own person.
"Why are you asking? Are you jealous?" He turns to face me. I look up at him and shake my head.
Busted.
He knows me too well and will see right through me.
Scoffing, I shrug my shoulders, acting like I'm unbothered. "What? No! You can date whoever you want." He laughs. This punk is laughing at me! I shove him in the shoulder, crossing my arms over my chest, my eyebrows pulling together in a scowl.
"You're cute when you're jealous,” he says, laughing his deep laugh that's been my favorite sound since I was only eight years old.
"I'm not jealous. You can date stupid Sadie if you want to."
