FIC SUMMARY: Jai reflects on an argument he had with his girlfriend and makes it up to her.
RATING: MA
WORDS: 2134
NOTES/WARNINGS: I wanted a to write something tender and fluffy, I hope you guys like this. This was also inspired by the song “White Blank Page” (hence the title) from Mumford & Sons.
Please let me know if you want to be tagged in my future stuff and I will you to the list, plus a huge thank you to my wonderful beta @anditcametopass for helping me with this.
He hadn't meant for it to happen, he had never meant to do what he did to her. She had pushed his buttons and he had just snapped, even he was shocked at his reaction.
He sat beside the bed and watched as she slept soundly, unaware of the guilt burning a hole in his chest. Her cheeks were flushed from crying, tear streaks stained her face, making him face the awful truth, that she had cried herself to sleep.
Jai recalled the argument that had ended this way. He had returned from a rough day at work, where the director had made him do several takes of the fight scene for his new film. When he finally returned home, he wanted nothing more than to crawl in bed and sleep, but his girlfriend had other plans.
She had greeted him at the door with that beautiful smile of hers, the one that could chase away any dark thought he ever had, the one the warmed him on the coldest day. Even though was exhausted, he found himself returning the smile, that was the power of her smile.
She was absolutely gorgeous, with creamy jade eyes, long brown hair, and the curves of her body that he had memorized underneath his curious hands. He had mapped every dimple and every scar of her body, showering them with kisses because they were a part of the incredible woman he had been so lucky find.
“Hello, handsome,” she beamed at him scratching the beard he had grown for his new film.
“Hello, darling,” he murmured back before capturing her lips in a sweet kiss.
He didn’t hesitate to take her in his arms and take comfort in the way her soft body molded with his. Where he was hard muscle, she was soft and pliable, her body fit perfectly against him like she was the matching piece to his.
“How was your day?” She chuckled as she ruffled his hair.
“Awful, Richard, the director, wasn’t satisfied with the first fifty takes of the fight, so he made us do another fifty and I’m absolutely knackered,” he complained with a tired smile.
“Aw, I’m sorry babe. I’ve made dinner,” she told him before turning to enter the kitchen.
“It smells incredible,” he said, following after her.
When he entered the dining room he saw that she had prepared his favorite, a big juicy steak paired with a fresh garden salad. His mouth immediately began to water as he sat down at the table.
“So, I told my sister we would meet them later for those drinks,” she told him as she took a bite of her own salad.
“I’m sorry?” He perked his head up a frown on his face.
“Yeah, don’t you remember? We told Julia and Steven that we’d meet them later at that new bar in town?” She asked, surprise evident her voice.
“Babe, I completely forgot.” He ran a tired hand over his face before scratching his beard, heaving a deep sigh before continuing.
“Can’t we postpone?” He asks, hopeful that she would agree.
“Jai, we’ve already canceled twice already,” she reminded him quietly.
“I know darling, I’m just knackered from today,” he said before smiling that charming smile of his, the one he only used when he wanted to get his way.
She quietly sat her fork down before taking a hefty swig of her wine and dabbing at her mouth with her napkin before settling her gaze on him.
“Jai, I understand that you had a hard day at work, I really do, but you also made me promise and you made them one as well. We’ve rescheduled with them twice before. I’m not going to do that again, you know how difficult it is for them to find a babysitter.” She explained.
Jai looked down at his plate before responding,
“Babe, I understand that as well, but I’m so tired I could nod off just sitting here,” he said with desperation in his voice.
He had done more preparation for this role than any roles he had had before, he was also dedicated to giving an honest portrayal, but, he was afraid he had stretched himself too thin this time, he was tense all the time and even had trouble sleeping at night.
“Are you even listening to me?” She questions in an annoyed voice.
“I’m not going” Jai simply stated, placing his napkin on the table and taking his plate to the sink.
He had hoped that she wouldn’t follow him into the kitchen, but he knew she would. Not only was she gorgeous, but she was also stubborn. That was another thing he had fallen in love with, she wouldn’t back down.
She had placed her plate with his and crossed her arms and straightened her arms and raised up her chin in defiance.
“Excuse me?” She asked.
“It’s done, I said I’m not going and that’s it,” he said as he began placing the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
“They want to see you too Jai!” She told him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“I know, but, I just want to go to bed.” He told her firmly.
She looked at him with her penetrating gaze, then cupped his cheek forcing him to look at her.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, her brows furrowed in concern.
“Nothing,” he lied steadily.
“Tell me,” she pressed further.
Jai narrowed his eyes in annoyance before shrugged her hand away in annoyance. He didn’t want to admit that he thought that he wasn’t enough for this roll, that maybe he had gotten in over his head.
“Just go and have a fun time without me,” he muttered.
She had squeezed her way between him and sink and grabbed his face with her hands with a stern expression.
“I’m not leaving this spot until you tell me what is bothering you.” She demands.
Jai would have looked away if it weren’t for the fact that she had his face in her hands.
“I’m just tired,” he murmured once again.
“Liar,” she whispered.
Jai’s eyes snapped to hers in an instant, the anger rapidly growing.
“Excuse me?” He scoffed at her.
“You heard me…” She replied.
Jai knocked her hands away from his face and shoved her gently away.
“You call me a liar?” He asks her, his eyebrow quirking.
“Yeah,” she widened her stance and squared her shoulders.
“I’m a liar just because I want peace and quiet with my beautiful girlfriend?” He asked, his voice growing an octave louder.
“You’re a liar, because you won’t tell me what’s really bothering you. I know you’ve worked really hard for this roll, but you’ve always told me everything, why can’t you tell me what’s going on now?” She asks her hands in the air.
“You’re just upset because I don’t want to have drinks with your sister!” He accused.
“Oh please, I’m not that petty,” she argued, her voice growing loud also.
“Yes you are!” His voice rose higher.
“I am not!” She argued again.
Whether it was exhaustion or the fact that they were going around in circles, he couldn’t quite decide, but something snapped inside of Jai, his patience had finally worn out.
“Why can’t you get it through your thick skull that...I DON’T WANT TO GO!” He screamed in her face.
And as quickly as the outburst came, the quicker it left, leaving him breathing heavily and her staring at him like was a total stranger, her green eyes shiny with unshed tears. she was trembling. He took a step forward and she stepped back.
She quickly ran to their bedroom and slammed the door, and that’s when he heard it, the sound that shattered his heart, the sound of her sobbing loudly. He stood there in shock at what had transpired, guilt filling every part of his being.
Now he was at the side of the bed, observing her sleeping figure. The fact that she had changed into one of his shirts gave him a sliver of hope that she would forgive him.
He crawled into bed next to her and pulled her body back into his. She mumbled something before turning towards Jai. He was never an emotional man, he didn’t cry easily, but as he took in her tear streaked face, it broke him as tears of his own began to fall. And so he kissed her neck lovingly, seeking comfort in her embrace.
She shifted lightly against him and turned to face him, hearing his soft crying, and opened her eyes, taking in his frown.
“Jai, baby,” she murmured taking his face once again in her hands.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered sadly.
“I know,” she whispered back.
His gray eyes found hers before he lowered his mouth to hers in a soft kiss that quickly turned passionate. He pulled back only for a moment.
“Please forgive me, say you forgive me,” he pleaded, running his fingers through her hair.
“Always,” she said.
Jai began to smile as he peeled his shirt from her body, his hands mapping out her skin, his favorite thing to do. She giggled as he peppered kisses to her neck before nibbling at her collarbone, then moved to kiss and lick his way to her breasts. He swirled his tongue over each hardened peak, causing her to squirm and moan.
“Jai,” she ran her fingers through his hair and lightly scratched at his scalp.
He looked up at her for a moment, and she smiled at him, tears once again in her eyes, but this time, they were tears of happiness. He couldn’t resist the urge to press another sweet kiss to her mouth before continuing his exploration of her body.
He licked a trail from chest to her navel before blowing gently. She stretched out like a cat, his fingers rubbing up her sides as he pressed his fingertips into her ribs before cupping her breasts and massaging them.
He placed open mouth kisses to her hip bones, taking time to nibble the small scar he had there from her appendectomy she had when she was eight. Then he pressed another wet kiss to the mound above her slick folds. He groaned in satisfaction at the fact that she was so ready for him. But he was focusing on her tonight, he wanted to make up for what he had done.
He very lightly ran his finger up her folds, tickling her and smirking when he saw her stomach quiver. She had her bottom lip between her teeth. And then he then gave her a full lick, increasing the pressure as he reached her engorged clitoris. He then brought the bundle of nerves between his lips and gently sucked, her hands once again finding his head and she stroked his hair, soft moans of pleasure escaping her.
“Oh God,” she whimpered desperately.
“No, just Jai,” he smirked against her center.
She snorted with laughter before giving him a light hit to the head before he resumed his divine torture. He could tell she was getting closer by the way her thigh muscles quiver, she was holding back.
“Don’t you dare hold back, I want to hear you, darling.” He growled before increasing the pressure of his mouth.
“Oh...my…” She whimpered loudly. A flush had begun to spread over her creamy flesh, letting Jai know that he was doing his job.
“Please!” She pleaded desperately.
“Please what?” He asked.
“Don’t stop!” She sobbed with want.
That’s when he inserted two fingers inside her and pressed upward against the special spot that resided deep inside, the one that made her come undone.
“JAI!” She cried as her back arched off the bed, her whole body stiffening as she was lost in pleasure. His mouth resumed the small light licks as her cries died down. He licked her clean before kissing his way back up her body.
She smiled dreamily at him before snorting with laughter.
“What?” He asked nipping at her neck.
“If that’s how you apologize, then we need to argue more often,” she smirked before claiming his lips in a soft kiss.
Jai’s face fell “I really am sorry,” he traced her lip with an index finger, which she captured between her lips giving it a long suck before releasing it, causing Jai to swallow heavily.
“Give me a few minutes, and I”ll show you just how I well I can forgive.” She snuggled up to him and he chuckled, placing a kiss to her forehead.
A/N: This is the first part of the short fic that I’ve mentioned before. The ‘Jai/OFC’ fic that was based off of the convo that I had with @bookwarm85 .
Rated M (NSFW)
Jai/OFC
Adult language. Adult Content. Eventually, there will be lemons.
Girl Code
Your ears picked up the sound of your low inhale as your brain muttered a surprised ‘Shhh-it!’
Your eyes took in the spectacle that was presented in front of you. They widened while your breath managed to get stuck in your throat. Without taking your sight off of the imposing gate and the mansion’s façade, you spoke to the other SUV’s occupants. “Ah…Guys? Who-Who…” There was another shocked-tinged inhale. “How did you meet this guy? Where did you meet this guy?” your soft voice sputtered into the vehicle.
“We met them at Club Buddha, last night…” You recognized the voice belonging to Jolene, one of your best friends and traveling mates. “…They were leaving at the same time that we were leaving and Diana ended up bumping into one of them—
Carolina, another one of your best friends, ended up interrupting Jolene by adding a snarky-filled, fake cough. “Intentionally,” she muttered, in between coughs.
“Oh, shut up!” stated a giggling Diana.
You felt a curt breeze strike your left shoulder milliseconds before you felt Diana’s hat graze you as it whizzed by. You peeled your sight away from the beautiful house and you catch Diana’s hat striking Carolina’s kaftan-covered, chest. The SUV’s interior began to be filled with laughter.
Seconds later, Diana had gone on to explain to you about the previous night’s activities. Last night, while you were lounging in your hotel room with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia and remnants of Chinese Take-out food, your friends had ended up meeting some guys. They ended up going to an ‘after-hours’ bar, where they mingled. Before splitting up for the night, the women were invited to attend a barbecue, by one of the men. He ended up giving the young women his home address and the directions which led them to this elaborate ‘beach house’ in the affluent-section of Manhattan Beach.
“Now, see…” Maggie said from the driver’s seat, glancing at you with her aquamarine eyes. “…what happens when you decide to stay-in, when you should’ve been hanging out with us?” she jibed with a hint of a smile on her full lips.
“Yeah-yeah-yeah,” you muttered while rolling your eyes. Your lips pursed as you returned your observatory glance at the property that was presented before the Nissan Pathfinder. After a multi-second stream of silence, a thought popped up in your head. It was a repeating thought, one of the many that popped up in your mind after you arrived. “Do any of y’all guys know what this dude does for a living?”
“What does it matter?” The inquiry was decorated with a Spanish-tinged accent, but was also coated with a sense of mild irritation.
Your own sense of irritation peaked, once you heard the sassy statement. Once again, your eyesight was peeled off of the property and it landed on Vivienne’s headrest, which was directly in front of you. Your eyes took in the image of the wisps of blonde curls that were sticking over the chair’s horizons. You couldn’t see her face, but it didn’t stop you from assuming that she was wielding one of her infamous looks of contempt. It also didn’t stop you from imagining your fist punching the leather headrest just so her head could violently snap forward.
“You are here… You were invited… So it doesn’t matter what he does for a living. Just enjoy yourself and be grateful that you’re even here,” Vivienne pointed out. As she spoke, her hands and fingers fluttered in front of her, which was a habit that you’ve noticed, five days ago, when you first met her.
Your eyes twitched in their sockets and they peeped Carolina, who sat next to you. She offered you a look of consolation. After all, she was the one, who was responsible for bringing the pretentious twat on this vacation. ‘She’s great! You girls are going to love her! She is sooo cool and she has the best style!’ your brain whined, which was a mimic of your friend’s proclamation, which was made prior to the start of your vacation. Your eyes narrowed and your top lip performed a light snarl. It made the Puerto Rican beauty lightly giggle.
“Alright, girls!” the usually-fiery, driver announced as she unbuckled her belt. She slightly turned in her leather seat, so she could face her friends. “Okay, what’s the game plan? Who’s interesting in who? We should put this out now, so we won’t step on each other’s toes while we’re in there,” Maggie proposed. “There’s the Girl Code that we need to follow.”
Diana, who sat in the front passenger seat, spoke up. “I think Jah—
“I’m taking Jai,” the flaxen-haired, Vivienne curtly announced to the other occupants that filled the Nissan Pathfinder. Her voice contained an energy which let everyone know that this action wasn’t up for debate.
You started to believe that Vivienne was the type of person that wasn’t used to not getting her way. It just made you dislike the gargantuan, snobby heifer, even more.
“Well… Glad to get that one out of the way,” Maggie quipped. She looked towards the rear of the car. “Anybody else? Who’s interested in the other guys?”
“Wellll…”
All of your eyes were drawn to the reclining lump that was in the second row of seats. You watched her right hand reached up and peel the baseball fitted cap from off of her face.
“…I ain’t interested in none of them,” Dixie announced. “So, you don’t have to worry about me,” she announced as she rose the back of her seat into an upright position. Her fingers rubbed at her eyes, chasing away the embers of sleep that came from her nap. “They’re…” Her statement changed into a deep yawn. Her limber hands lifted into the air. Her manicured, fingernails grazed the roof of the vehicle. “…cah-ooooooollllll-lah…” Her arms dropped to her lap as a sharp sigh was made. “…and all, but…” Her hands reached for the green, baseball cap that was resting on her right thigh. “They’re too young-actin’ for me. I already have to deal with little, hormone-driven boys, at my job. I… I just can’t, honey,” she concluded as her hat covered her sandy-brown, kinky curls.
“Oh my God, Dixie,” Jolene groaned. Her eyes were focused on her iPhone’s screen as she spoke. “We ain’t saying that you need to marry them and have their babies. All you gotta do is have some fun with them. We’re on vacation, for fuck’s sake.”
“Excuse me?” drawled Dixie. Her fingers pointed to her chest. “I do have fun… Wherever I go. I just don’t…” Her right hand performed a few flimsy waves to the windshield, silently addressing the house’s occupants. “…find these Californian… Los Angeles… Surfer-boys…Dudes… to be fun,” she clarified. “So…” Her hands touched her cap, once again, to adjust the hat. “Y’all have some fun. Don’t worry about me. I’ll have my own brand of fun. It’ll just be me and (Y/N)’s ‘Naughty Berry Sangria’, living it up on that beach.” The truck’s cabin was decorated with a wave of light but joyful laughter.
“Is it even Sangria?” queried Vivienne with a haughty tone in her voice, disrupting the jubilant mood. The laughter stopped and the truck became silent with the exception of her voice. She didn’t acknowledge the altering mood as she continued to stare at her reflection from her cell phone’s mirrored casing. “Or is it one of those sugary drinks that you Americans use just to get drunk off of cheap wine?”
Once again, your eyesight found the headrest that was in front of you.
“I’m surprise…”
‘Dixie…’ your instinct alerted you. You looked away from the headrest. You took a gander at Dixie, who was staring at Vivienne.
An expression of bewilderment was etched into her cute, elvish features. “…that you’ve never had the shit-kicked out of ya yet, for having a fresh-ass mouth,” she told the woman, who sat next to her.
A boorish snort cut through the Pathfinder’s interior, which was followed by the sounds of laughter that came from the front row of seats.
‘Glad to see that I’m not the only one,’ you said to yourself as you listened to Maggie’s and Jolene’s laughter.
After Maggie commandeered the large SUV past the twenty-foot tall fence with the electric gate, she drove the truck down a lone asphalt road which led to the circular driveway that was in front of the house. She parked the Pathfinder behind a truck that was similar in size and color to the rented vehicle. Once the engine died down, Maggie glanced at her friends. “Alright girls, it’s time to get shit-faced!” she said eagerly.
A gentle giggle escaped you as your head shook. Your hands, then, proceeded to unbuckle the seatbelt, so you could gather your things. Once outside, you took in the scenery that surrounded the front of the massive property. Your nose easily picked up the familiar salty scent that only came from the sea. It was attached to the Californian, hot and muggy air like it was stitched onto the atmosphere. Your hearing picked up the sounds of crashing waves, which sounded as if it was in the house’s backyard. As you listened to roaming sea and smelt its formidable presence, you ogled. You realized it was a far contrast to the scene that was on the other side of that gate. Outside of the fence, there was a neighborhood that looked like every typical American neighborhood with its asphalt-paved streets, tree-lined sidewalks and fenced-in houses. However, the mysterious homeowner’s driveway and the mansion appeared as if it was a part of a movie set that was settled in an exotic location. In particular, someplace tropical and foreign with balmy weather, as well as, that was built smack-dab in the middle of a jungle. A family of lofty palm trees decorated the landscape, along with plants and shrubbery that appeared to be not native to California.
‘Whoever he is… He must pay his landscapers a lot of money,’ you silently concluded before you strolled to the boot of the car to fetch your belongings.
You received your tote bag from the trunk of the vehicle before you joined Jolene and Dixie, who were in the midst of strolling down the walkway that led to the front door. You wiggled your way in between both moving bodies. “So, for real…” You glimpsed at the two. “…Do you two know anything about this guy?” Both of your friends chuckled. “What?!”
“You’re still on that?” Jolene queried, with a giggle attached to her tone.
“What? Why is it that such a bad thing? I just don’t… I don’t know this man from Adam and he invited us to his big-ass mansion that’s almost in the middle of nowhere. For all we know, he could be a drug smuggler or a pimp that’s looking for…” Your voice was drowned out by the sounds of your friends’ laughter. You glared at the two women. “Again… What’s so funny?”
Dixie decided to answer her question, this time. Still giggling, she said, “He’s not a drug dealer, or a—What was the other—
“She said that he could be a pimp,” Jolene pointed out before her voice dissolved into laughter.
“Or, a pimp. Jai is none of those,” Dixie clarified.
“Jai? J-Jai… That sounds like an Indian name. Is he–He’s Indian or something?” you asked her.
“It’s more like ‘something’. No, he’s Australian, in fact. He’s a famous actor, actually,” Jolene informed you.
“Really?” you hummed. ‘What are the odds of bumping into a famous actor and then being invited to his home?’ you quietly pondered. Your eyes glanced at the structure again. “What’s his name again?”
“Jai Courtney,” both women announced.
You glanced at the two women. “Mmmm… Never heard of him,” you informed them.
“You’ve probably seen him in stuff, but you can’t put a face to the name. He was in plenty of stuff,” Jolene told you.
“Name some of them,” you asked, hoping that you did know some of his projects.
“Okay…” sighed Dixie. “He was… Um… He starred in ‘Spartacus,’ the show that was on the Starz Network.”
“Now you know that my broke ass cannot afford cable,” you informed her. There was a wave of giggling from the three of you. “Name something else,” you asked, seconds later.
“Ummmm…” hummed Dixie.
“He was in that last ‘Die Hard’ movie,” Jolene pointed out.
“Oh yeah!” chirped Dixie. She snapped her fingers and then pointed over to Jolene. “I had forgot about that movie! That movie wasn’t as bad as people said it was. There was some cheesy dialogue in it. But it wasn’t as bad.”
Jolene shook her head, softly. “No, it wasn’t as bad. It wasn’t as bad as some other movies that I’ve seen. Now, back to the topic at hand…” Her right index finger touched her pointed chin. “Ummm… What else?” Then she sang the inquiry, repeatedly, under her breath. “Um, he was also in a movie with Tom Cruise,” Jolene added. “He recently was in a movie with that ‘Shailene’ girl.”
An expression of confusion touched your face. “Who?”
Jolene giggled while Dixie deeply sighed. Dixie’s hand clasped the sloppy bun that was on top of your head and she gave it a gentle tug. “Child…” she hummed. She released your hair. “You need to get out more and live and start watching some TV,” she declared.
“Well…” You glimpsed at your friend. “…I wish that I was able to do that, but I can’t, thanks to my job. BBBBuuuttt… If you want to, you could always call my sergeant and tell him that I need to stop working the double-shifts at my job, so I could develop a social life. If you could convince him to do that, then I would be able to catch up on the latest episodes of ‘Gilmore Girls’ and ‘Charmed’,” you sarcastically told her.
Jolene and Dixie exchanged looks with each other before giving you a glare of disbelief. Jolene wrapped her left arm around your shoulders while Dixie grabbed the back of your head with her right palm. “Awww, honey,” groaned Dixie. Her hand gave your head a sympathetic rub. You all shared a laugh as you traveled to the grand staircase that led to the front doors.
As you walked with the neck-breaking speed of a roaming snail, the memory of Vivienne’s declaration, popped up into your head. It was followed by an assumption about this ‘Jai Courtney’ guy. “So, that’s why ‘The Spaniard Snob’ was sooo eager to declare dibs on him,” you contemplated loudly, seconds later.
Jolene softly snickered. “’The Spaniard Snob’?” she chuckled. “Is that what you’re calling her?”
You tossed your friend a smile. “Don’t look at me!” Your head nodded in Dixie’s direction. “Dix’s here… Gave her the nickname.”
“And the pain-in-la cula has been living up to the name since we’ve got here!” Dixie declared. She pointed her face to the sun-lingering sky and a soft frown fell upon it. In an over-exaggerated indignant tone, she spoke. “No! I only drink Perrier Water… No! I only wear designers. I don’t wear department store clothes! America is so dirty! So much pollution! In Seville, we take pride in our city! Ugh! American women are sooo fat! They don’t take pride in themselves! I am perfect! I come from a perfect country! I breathe in perfect air! I have perfect lungs! Perfect-perfect-perfect!”
Jolene and you laughed at your friend’s act of impersonating Vivienne. “If you can’t tell, Y/N, Dix had to baby-sit royalty, last night,” reported Jolene.
“Too bad that I was the designated driver last night,” grumbled Dixie. “I really… Really… Really… Wanted a drink, last night, after hanging out with her. When we were at Buddha, there were some men who wanted to dance and talked to her, but she shoo’ed them all away. None of them was worth her time. I’m sure she wasn’t even thinking about Jai until Diana started up about seeing his movies.” Dixie scoffed while Jolene chuckled.
“You should’ve seen her last night, though,” Jolene stated as she stared ahead. Her green eyes glimpsed at Dixie and you. “She was practically acting like—
“Skanky?” you suggested.
“Nah.”
“No.”
Both answers were spoken simultaneously.
“More like ‘thirsty, clingy and bat-shit crazy’,” Jolene explained.
“What?” you giggled as you eyed Jolene. “How?”
“She was practically covering him with her own body…”
You looked at Dixie.
“…like she was a cheap, leisure suit,” Dixie clarified. “Whenever someone would come up to him, whether if it was a fan or just a friend of his, she would stand in front of him like she was his bodyguard or something. Just blocking the person from talking to him, or, like she was afraid that they were going to take him away.”
“Oh God!” you guffawed, in between your laughs. Your right palm covered your right cheek as you continued to laugh. In your mind, you imagined the statuesque woman committing the very acts that Dixie was describing.
“Or… As if she was trying to keep him from making an escape attempt,” Jolene uttered.
A hearty snort came from your nose while an un-ladylike chortle came from your lips. You slapped your left hand over your lips.
“She managed to scare off a few of his female fans. Adorable girls, who looked like they were teenagers who were just grateful to see him, face-to-face,” interjected Jolene. “I think the ‘Spanish Fly’, back there, was trying to come off as the ‘take-charge, passionate Latina’ to him. But, all she was doing was coming off as a potential possessive, bunny-boiler.
Your mouth spewed more laughter.
“I think he’s slightly afraid of her, to be quite honest with ya,” Dixie suggested, seconds later. “Don’t be surprised if there’s bodyguards in his house. Just waiting to taze her crazy ass.”
At this moment, your chuckles managed to get the best of you. You stopped walking and you found yourself bent at the waist. Your right forearm was lain across your quivering belly while your left palm cupped your mouth, an attempt to hold in your voracious laughter. Your blushing face was coated with another level of heat that just added to the humid, Los Angeles weather. A blanket of numbness also covered your face. Your chest began to release pangs of exertion from the act of releasing the heavy laughter. Then a series of hoarse-sounding coughs escaped your mouth, which gradually managed to deter your throat from making any more laughs. There was a fluttering sensation welling up inside of your chest by the time you were able to stand upright.
“You alright?” Jolene asked as you as soon as you were able to catch up with them.
You nodded your head and gave them a smile. “Yeah,” you mumbled, with your voice sounding craggy. You proceeded to walk with your friends down the stone-paved walkway. You continued on with your conversation with Dixie and Jolene. As you walked, you sensed Diana’s, Carolina’s, Maggie’s and Vivienne’s presence, strolling behind you.
You were in the middle of conversing about your future plans for the rest of your vacation, when you caught the sight of the front doors opening, in your peripheral view. When you full attention turned to the staircase, it was met by the presence of a man. He looked friendly. His bearded face held a smile and his left hand was tossing out waves in your direction. He built with a stocky fashion: typical height with a thick body that reminded you of an average football player’s form. He was wearing a set of casual clothes with his beige cargo shorts, gray shirt and sandals. “Is that him?” you asked both Jolene and Dixie, as you kept your eyes on him.
“No,” Dixie informed you. “It’s one of his friends.”
“Ohhh… Okay,” she softly sighed before taking your first step onto the stairs.
Once your friends and yourself made it onto the porch, you stepped into the background and allowed your friends to take the reins, ever since they were more familiar with this guy. He gave each of you short, warm welcomes before leading you all into the house. Each one of your buddies re-introduced themselves to the friend, who inadvertently informed you about his name. Then, ‘Floyd’ formally introduced himself to you. You recited your first name, which was the moment he decided to tell you that he would stop referring you as ‘Mystery Girl Who Stayed in Her Hotel Room’. He explained that it was the nickname that was being tossed around, on the previous night, for you.
Your mouth spewed out a polite-sounding giggle, in response. Yet, your mind swiftly recollected about the previous night’s activities, which consisted of you eating a shitload of take-out food while watching rented films from off of your iPad. The night’s function ended with you almost falling asleep with a spoonful of ice cream in your mouth. The memories ended up leading your brain into an emotional landmine, which took place two nights ago. It was during your first attempt at club-hopping in the Los Angeles’ club-scene. Vivienne and Carolina convinced the rest of you to attempt to patron a popular and well-known L.A. club, which also served as a staple for celebrities. Your brain recalled the moment, when you watched the bouncer point to every one of your friends, granting them the permission to enter the nightclub. His meaty index finger pointed to all of them, except for you. Then, you recalled his statement about not having the “right look for the club,” after Jolene and Maggie questioned him. You remembered the moment when you felt the embarrassment and the sour feeling of rejection, which caused your stomach to rumble. As you reminisced about standing on that line, you began to think about the process of getting ready for that night. About how you, honestly, felt great on that night. You didn’t nitpick about your outfit, about your hair or about your body. You recalled the way your voice stuttered and stammered as you told your friends to go ahead and enjoy themselves. That you were okay and you would take a taxi cab back to the hotel. Then, there was the remembrance of the insecurity that stained your spirit as you rode in the taxi, back to the hotel.
You felt pressure drop into stomach, as you remembered the event. It began to splinter off just as your felt the familiar stinging in your eyes. ‘No-no-no-no…’ you silently chastised yourself. ‘…Don’t ruin today by thinking of that. It happened. The bouncer was a jerk. And you already know that those types of clubs are owned my superficial assholes, anyway. So… Let the past stay in the past. Enjoy this moment. Enjoy today,’ your instinct told you. You realized that you needed to move on. So, you took in a deep breath and swallowed the burgeoning lump out of your throat. You decided that your experience from that night wasn’t going to ruin the rest of your vacation.
After the introductions were made, Floyd led you all out of the elaborate beach house’s foyer and took you on a tour of the first level. You made your silent inquiries as you observed every feature in every room. You assumed from the lack of furniture and other interior amenities that this Jai-character either recently bought this home, was renting it or he was too busy working and traveling to even focus on this task. ‘But, he must not be working too-too much, because even I don’t know who he is,’ you muttered inside of your mind.
The tour came to an end, when you reached the kitchen. Your eyes took in the spacious and well-designed room in appreciation.
“It’s like something out of a magazine,” Diana crooned. You realized that this kitchen was considered to be a good, wet dream, for her, ever since she was a chef.
A sultry, feminine giggle floated into the room. You immediately identified the owner and it caused you to curl your top in annoyance.
Vivienne, who somehow made her way to the front of the small group, looked at Diana from over her right shoulder. She was still giggling. “Don’t worry… Después de que me muevo en, a contratar a ser chef,” she said softly in a whisper. She gave a bewildered Diana a tight-lipped grin before she turned her head forward.
Carolina giggled and gave her friend a soft nudge on her left shoulder. Her lips mumbled out a statement, but you couldn’t hear it. “…mala,” she whispered into the blonde’s ear.
You weren’t familiar with the Spanish language, with the exception of a few words, so you had no idea what the twat had spoken. You informed Diana of your ignorance for the statement.
She, then, looked towards Jolene, Maggie and Dixie. “What did she say?!” she whispered, making her sense of confusion more pronounced.
Maggie decided to fill her in, inadvertently, you as well. “She said that you…”
The mousy-haired driver didn’t get the chance to tell you two the statement. The raucous sounds of masculine cheers disrupted the explanation.
“Look who’s here!”
“Ladies…”
“Well, hello there!”
“…it’s good to see that you’ve made it!”
All the greetings were simultaneously thrown into the air, where they clashed into one another. You were able to picked out bits and pieces of their voices.
Your eyes watched three men, one by one, enter the kitchen from the entrance that led to the backyard. Your eyes took in each man’s appearance as they entered the kitchen. They were all handsome men, in their own way. None of them fitted a particular mold. They weren’t the male-version of the ‘Midwest Farmer Daughter’, or, ‘The Rebel from the City’ and the ‘College Jock’. However, they were still good-looking and possessed the confident aura to match. Every one of them, you’ve swiftly assumed, would’ve caught each of your friends’ attention under normal circumstances. So, it wasn’t a surprise to you, when you noticed each man approach a particular woman first, before they had gone on to greet the others. It was quite noticeable that each man was attracted to your friends, with their greetings of tight hugs and the pecks to either the woman’s forehead or to their temples. You smiled as you watched your friends become flushed and flattered from the acts of affection. You continued to survey the unfolding scene of the men traveling around the kitchen to greet every one of your friends. When they came upon you, you made your introductions brief, yet, friendly. Then, you surveyed the men as they returned to the sides of the women that they found alluring.
You suddenly became distracted by the distinct sound of a creaking step and the image of a large moving shadow as it danced into your peripheral view.
“I love how all you fuckers just left me…”
Your eyes’ full-attention was drawn into the sliding glass doors’ direction, where the jovial, shouted statement originated from. He entered the kitchen at the right moment. He entered, as the sun decided to apply some extra luster in its rays, which made him become cast in an almost-ethereal glow. The orange-yellowish light also showcased the latent blondness in his curls and the light pigment in his eyes. There was a toothy smile on his handsome face, which conveyed a happy, harmless energy from him. You’ve noticed that he was carrying his weight very well, even under the layers of clothes that he was wearing. Very-very-very well. You picked up the bulges of muscle under the cotton, long-sleeved shirt and the thick thighs, which pressed themselves against his shorts’ fabric with every step. He looked to be the quintessential ‘Californian surfer boy’ with the hint of ‘meat and potatoes-eating, lumber jack,’ thanks to his robust facial hair and crown of thick curls.
‘Ho-lee… Shit!’ you secretly whimpered as you eyeballed him. Fringes of your lust was immediately awakened as you took upon the sight that was heading into the kitchen. A wave of heat caressed your skin and left a peculiar chill in its wake. “Hubba-hubba-hubba,” you mindlessly spoken as you eyed the spectacle of a man.
“Hello, darls!” he boisterously greeted your friends with his arms extended to his sides. He may have looked like a stereotypical Californian, but he didn’t sound like one, you’ve noticed. A heavy accent came from his mouth.
You spent a minute trying to decipher which part of the world did this mysterious and handsome man had come from.
“Hey, look, it’s the Aussie and he’s managing to stand upright and walk!” Maggie jubilantly proclaimed as she raised her arms in the air in mocked celebration. The kitchen became filled with laughter.
Okay, so apparently, ‘Tall, Brawny and Blond’ wasn’t from California. Shit, he wasn’t even from anywhere in this country.
‘…It’s more like ‘something’. No, he’s Australian, in fact. He’s a famous actor…’
Jolene’s voice managed to cut through all of the thoughts that were running through your mind. It was the bit of information that she told you about the homeowner, the Australian actor-dude, who had gone by the name of Jai—
“Jai!” Vivienne managed to squeal out with her naturally-husky tone.
You watched a blur of blonde and red flash across your eyes before it morphed into the image of the blonde nuisance, as she crashed into your dreamboat’s arms. You heard a low grunt escape from the handsome, flaxen-haired devil after she colliding into him. His arms were still extended to his sides. A look of surprise and confusion decorated his face. It was such a look that you didn’t expect from such a burly-looking individual. Unprepared from the sudden action, you weren’t ready to control the laughter that came from your mouth. You viewed his bluish-grey orbs lock onto you, as a result. ‘Oh shit,’ your conscience murmured. Your hand had gone up to your lips and tried to coerce your lips from releasing any more laughs. ‘Stop laughing at him!’ You watched Jai’s eyes perform a brief widening before returning to their natural state, as he stared at you. Then, you noticed his cerulean orbs fill up with a gleam that made his eyes appear darker and more mischievous. ‘Shit-shit-shit… Okay. Stop laughing, Y/N. Stop laughing at him! He’s getting pissed, now,’ your conscience reported. But your lips and mouth couldn’t stop laughing. So, you turned away from the sight and found yourself staring at a wall.
‘She was practically covering him with her own body like she was a cheap, leisure suit,’ you recalled Dixie’s voice saying to you, moments ago. A new wave of laughter bubbled up in your throat. ‘Ah, damn it,’ you internally groaned as you laughed.
A warm, soft hand clamped down on your bare right shoulder. “Dude…” Dixie chuckled. “…are you alright?”
You could only nod your head. Right now, you could barely breathe. Your nostrils fought to inhale while your lungs were busy, trying to exhale more laughter into your mouth. Your right hand touched down on your chest and you felt the steady, hard thumps that your beating heart was creating. Your palm and fingers performed soft caresses against your skin, in hopes of calming yourself down.
“Are you sure? Because right now you’re a giggly mess. The…” Dixie came to an abrupt pause.
The sudden silence caused you to glance at your friend. You found her staring straight ahead, into the view that was behind you. There was a sly grin on her lips and a light that wasn’t the sunlight, dancing in her eyes.
“Ah-ohhh,” she groaned, in a mischievous manner. It was like she fell upon a juicy secret. Her eyes turned into your direction. The sly grin turned into a full-blown smile. “Ohhhh…" she crooned.
‘What?’ you queried. Her all-knowing smiles and the energy that was radiating off of her caused the stream of laughter to split apart and crumble down into whimpers. “W-What?” your voice whimpered as you eyed your best friend.
“Mmmm… Hmph!” she hummed, with a jovial inflection in her tone.
“What, Dixie?” you asked. Your voice was back.
“Noth—
Suddenly, her head snapped forward and her eyes landed on another view that was behind you. Her face’s features swiftly changed into a happy expression. Her left hand raised in the air.
“—Jai!”
‘W-What?’ You immediately were struck with surprise. Before you could question Dixie’s shenanigans, you were guided by her forceful hands to turn back around. Your sight landed on the sexy Australian again. Vivienne was still using her body like it was a towel for Jai. Her lips were moving and were talking into the right side of his face. But, it was obvious to you that he wasn’t paying the would-be seductress any mind. He was focused on something else, which was you. He held a steely-eyed glare in his orbs, which caused a heat to crawl up from the pit of your stomach to your throat.
“This…” Once again, you were a recipient of Dixie’s rough ministrations. This time, the high school gym teacher doled out a soft shove to your back. In Dixie’s case, a self-proclaimed ‘fitness junkie’, a ‘soft shove’ contained enough force to cause your sandaled feet to make a clumsy step forward. “…is my cousin…” She stepped up to join your side and to toss her thick arm around your shoulders. “…Y/N…” She looked at you and gave you a subtle wink from her right eye. “…Y/N, this is Jai,” she finished introducing the two of you. “Go on, Y/N…” She gave you a stronger push against your back. “…it’s impolite to not shake his hand after an introduction,” she said in a teasing lilt.
Once again, you were propelled forward and your flip-flops clattered against the kitchen’s floor as you teetered across. You came to a halt, when you were a few feet in front of the duo. Your eyes glimpsed at your feet to make sure that you wouldn’t move again. Then, your sight landed on Jai and then you made an observatory glimpse over at Vivienne. The stately, model-esque woman was staring at you with a glare that was filled with contempt. She still stood in front of the handsome man with the front of her body pressed up against him and her arms draped around his neck. ‘Calm your tits, lady, I ain’t trying to invade your territory,’ you silently admonished the woman. Your eyes turned their attention to the man that was now standing directly in front of you. He was still doling out his soul-penetrating gaze at you, which caused a full-body shiver to erupt. ‘Oooh, boy!’ Your right hand lifted away from your side and extended in front of you. “H-Hey,” you practically sighed. You took note of the ‘breathlessness’ that was in your greeting and your spirit winced as the embarrassment grew. ‘Greeeeaaatttt-tah! All you need is the ripped dress that has the bodice-covered breasts and the heaving bosoms,’ your conscience alerted you. “Y/N…” you recited your name. “…nice to meet you,” you said to him, with your voice slightly warbling.
Jai’s eyes took a quick gander at your offered hand before he returned to his gazing of your face. His right hand lifted away from his side, but came up short due to Vivienne being in the way. His lips made a tighter clench against each other as his jaw twitched, in annoyance. His eyes glanced at the woman that was holding onto him. His right hand clasped onto her waist and then gave her a gentle push. “Love…” He mumbled the rest of his statement to the overbearing woman. A few seconds later, she released her hold on him and she took a few steps off to his side.
Jai returned his attention to you. This time, his right hand was extended in front of him. “Jai,” you heard him say to you. Your hand slipped into his hand’s vicinity and rested on his palm. Both hands embraced. “Nice meeting you…” he said to you. You watched a smirk slowly crawl onto his lips. “…Finally.”
You were quickly conjuring up seductive ideas for his hand, when his final bit caused you to become distracted. Your brow scrunched up and you gave him a look. ‘Wait…. ‘Finally’? What does he mean by that?’
His eyes peered away and he stared at the other occupants. “Alright, um, steaks and chicken are still cooking on the grill. We have beers out there and…”
At this moment, his groping hand released your hand. You strangely began to miss the warmth and the feeling that came from his appendage. Your hand dropped down to its side.
“…other drinks outside. We can chill out in the patio until then,” he proposed.
The kitchen filled up with sounds of agreement from your friends’ and from Jai’s friends. Everyone began filing out of the kitchen and leaving the house, so they could enter the patio. Your eyes performed a brief glimpse into Jai’s direction and caught sight of his broad back as he also retreated to the rear of the property. You also caught the sight of Vivienne as she faithfully followed the Aussie out of the house.
“Hey!” you heard Dixie hummed just as you felt her bump into your left side.
Your head performed a sharp turn and leveled your cousin with a glower. “If you keep on pushing me…”
Dixie’s hands raised up in a mock surrender. “Alright! I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!” she announced with a bit of a jovial lilt to her voice. Her hands dropped to their sides as she stared out of the glass from the doors. “He likes you, you know,” she suddenly announced.
‘What?!’ Your mouth spewed the same shocked inquiry as your glower softened into a wide-eyed stance. “…What do you mean? He… He doesn’t like me! Chances are, he finds me to be annoying, especially ever since I was laughing at him!”
“Which, by the way…” Her hazel eyes landed on you. There was a happy energy circulating through her eyes, you’ve noticed. “…is something that you tend to do, whenever you meet up with a guy that you find attractive,” she pointed out.
Your mouth dropped open while a shocked gasp came tumbling out. “I… Do. Not!”
Dixie proceeded to mock you by mimicking your laugh.
“I don’t act that way—
She dropped the act. “Yes, you do! You do it, every-single-time, Y/N! Since we were kids and you started to look at boys differently. ‘Member Brian, from our eighth grade Social Studies class? Every time he would enter the classroom, you would release those hyena laughs like a nutcase in a funny farm. What about Jackson Cleveridge, back in tenth grade? The same thing…” Once again, your cousin, by marriage, mocked you. Her voice mimicked yours, when you would giggle. Her right hand was brought to her lips and her face performed a comical expression.
‘She has a point,’ your conscience alerted you. But you couldn’t let that meddlesome, busy-body know. “Shut…” Your left hand reached out and slugged Dixie on her thick, right bicep. “…up, Dixie,” you chuckled.
“Nooo!” she chuckled. She pointed her right index finger at you. “Cause, you know that I am right about everything!”
“Shut up, Dixie,” you repeated, still giggling.
“You have nothing to doubt. He likes you,” she told you.
“He doesn’t like me,” you corrected her.
“Mmm-hmm,” she hummed, not believing in one word that came from your mouth. “Whatever you say, hon… You’ll see.” She pulled away from you and walked a few backward steps, towards the sliding doors’ direction. “He’s not the type of guy that’s shy. He’s gonna make his move. Then, it’s up to you to make yours, Y/N. I hope you do…” She spun around and faced the sliding doors’ direction. She glanced over her right shoulder to stare at you. “…Because you need to let loose. But not too loose. I promised your mother and your uncle that you wouldn’t come back the same way that you left,” she said teasingly. “Now… lemme go asked him where he keeps his pitchers, because I am in the mood for your sangria and I would like to be good and liquored-up while I’m eating!” Her glare turned away from you. She stared into the backyard. “AAYYY YO!!!” she screamed into the backyard, making her East Coast vernacular more apparent.
The sudden scream caused you to flinch in your flip-flops. Your left hand touched at your chest, in order to soothe your raging heart.
“DO YOU HAVE ANY…?” Dixie raised her hands in the air and they proceeded to pantomime the action of pouring liquid into a cup. “… PITCHERS IN HERE?!!”
Your hearing picked up a soft, masculine voice as it floated into the kitchen. It sounded like a simple “What?”
“PITCHERS!!!” Dixie screamed into the backyard. She repeated herself, a few milliseconds later. There was another faint sound that came from the backyard. “PITCHERS!!!… PITCHERS!!! YOU KNOW… THE THING THAT HOLDS JUICE!!! PITCH… PITCHERS, DAMNIT!!! PITCH—DO YOU EVEN HAVE PITCHERS IN AUSTRALIA?!! PITCH…” Her hands performed the pantomime once again. “…PITCH—PITCHERS, YOU HARD-OF-HEARING, MOTHER…”
“Oh… God,” you lowly groaned as you braced your forehead in your right hand. “Dixie…”
“Yeeeeeaaahhh!" you heard a slightly-tipsy Dixie shriek at you.
After coming to a graceful turn put from the spin that you performed, your sight landed on your cousin. She was standing several feet in front of you with her iPhone’s camera lens pointed in your direction, clasped in her right hand. Her red, Solo cup was being held in her left, whose rim didn’t stray away from her lips, for too long. As she cheered you on and recorded your dancing antics, she performed her own subtle movements to the music.
“…un hombre sincero, de donde crece la palma
Yo soy un hombre sincero, de donde crece la palma…"
You were tipsy yourself, which didn’t come as a surprise. Since arriving onto the patio section of the house, your lips were getting acquainted with bottles of imported beer and ale. Then, you moved onto the sangria, when it was ready for consumption. The food was also ready around the same time, which you were grateful for, ever since you didn’t eat anything since this morning. One of your last stone-cold, sober thoughts was about having the food soak up all of the alcohol that was swishing around in your stomach. You usually didn’t drink this much, especially when you weren’t in the privacy of your home. You tried to lie to yourself by stating to your conscience that you wanted to loosen up and enjoy yourself without any social restrictions. But, you knew that was bullshit from the second it was birthed.
“…Cultivo una rosa blanca, en julio como en enero
Cultivo una rosa blanca, en julio como en enero…
You were drinking like a complete ‘noob’ in order to numb yourself. You wanted to hush up that nagging voice inside of your head, which was trying to cast doubt onto you. The voice that was telling you that Dixie’s proclamation wasn’t true. ‘She was lying to you,’ it was saying to you as you spent time with these people. ‘She was saying those things because it sounded nice,’ it cackled into your mind.
“…Para el amigo sincero, que me da su mano franca…”
You tried to ignore the voice, which was really your insecurity, by adding positive reinforcements. You’ve tried blocking out the voice and focusing on the other guests’ antics. It wasn’t until the first sip from your third cup of sangria, when your head began to fill up with silence.
“…Para el amigo—
“Whooo!" Dixie yelped as she tossed her right hand into the air. “I need to sit down!” she decided. “The ground is starting to spin on me.” Her feet sifted through the sand and she made her way back to her beach chair. She looked over to you. “Come over here!” she told you as her hand waved you over. “Bring that beautiful ass over here!” She released a low chuckle. “And while you’re at it, you might as well add some swing to those hips, so Lover Boy behind you could get a lasting view!” she joked before plopping down in her seat.
Her comment made you stop swaying your hips to Celia Cruz’s jovial voice. A strange wave of air brushed against your backside, which left you feeling heat and then a chill. The hairs on the back of your neck rose up. ‘…like I’m being wat…’ You turned your head to your right side and your eyes made a glimpse at the scene that was close to a few hundred feet behind you. Your sight scanned the backyard that belonged to the opulent-designed home. You, then, eyed the patio and came across Jai, who was leaning up against the patio’s railing with his forearms resting against the bannister. You couldn’t see those heavy and intense, blue eyes but you knew that he was glaring into your direction. ‘…ched…’
You ran the notion that he was watching you dance a few seconds ago, in your mind. Your cheeks blushed with a mild embarrassment as you realized that he was watching you…
Dance provocatively on the beach…
In your two-piece bikini. A bikini, which had the bottom of your ass peeking out.
‘…Shit.’ The mild case of embarrassment turned into a full-fledged case for you. Your face frowned up and you quickly turned away. Then you made your way over to the unoccupied folding chair that was next to Dixie’s reclining spot while resisting the urge to cover your backside with your hands. As soon as you sat down in your seat, you heard Dixie speak.
“Goodness…” sighed Dixie as she stared out, at the ocean. “…would you look at that?”
You looked into the direction and gazed at the scene that managed to capture her attention. Your sight landed on the sun as it prepared for dusk. The spherical, orange ball of fire made the once-blue sky turned a shade of periwinkle with streaks of lavender and purple. Below the horizon, the ocean’s waves continued to ripple into huge mounds and then crash to the shore. It was a majestic scene that made you feel at ease.
“This…”
You turned your sight onto your cousin. She was still eyeing the same scene. You noticed the glaze covering her orbs. You wondered if she was talking to you or if this was the sign of an alcohol-induced rambling.
“…may be the alcohol talkin’…”
‘Oh, she’s drunk,’ you’ve concluded with a smile forming on your lips.
“…but, ah…” Her dazed eyes found you. “…have you ever stand at the shoreline and…” She gazed at the ocean, once more. “…felt so small… just standing next to it?” A short and low snicker fell from her mouth.
‘Oh yeah… She’s really feeling that sangria,’ you said to yourself.
“Stop staring at me like you think that I’m drunk,” she slurred, with her right index finger pointed in your direction.
“You are drunk,” you softly laughed into her direction.
Dixie chuckled. Her right hand lazily brought the cup’s rim to her lips. “Damn right, I am,” she muttered before pulling a sip.
You lightly chuckled before reclining deeply into your chair. You draped your left arm over your eyes and you immersed yourself in the shallow puddle that was mild state of your intoxication.
“Sooo… When are you gonna stop actin’ like a pussy and go talk to the man?” you heard Dixie inquire.
A groan of irritation was burned from your throat. ‘Not this shit again,’ you groaned inside of your head. Still settled in your current pose, you spoke up. “He’s not—
“Bull… Shit, Y/N. He’s interested in ya. I’ve been watchin’…” Dixie called out. “…He’s interested. Shhhh-it… the way he’s been all day…Laughin’ and gigglin’ at all of ya jokes. Findin’ ways to touch ya—
“All he’s done was give me a hug, Dix,” you corrected her. In your head, you recalled the moment in which the sexy actor had draped his meaty arm around your shoulders. Jai’s hug was an unexpected move, so you had initially gone rigid in your stance and surprise ran through your spirit. Before you could fully embrace the moment, it ended, when he was pulled away by one of his friends. It occurred a moment before Dixie and you decided to head onto the beach for a swim and an opportunity to soak up the sunrays.
“But hasn’t stopped him from thinkin’ of touchin’ ya. I’ve been watchin’ him. He was starin’ at ya like he was a dirty old man, most of the time…”
You unleashed a snort from your nose, the only sign of your disbelief.
“…I’ve been expectin’ him to whip his dick out…”
‘WHAT?!’ Your arm dropped from your face and you shot your cousin with a glare. “Wait… Whaaat?!” you chuckled.
“…and piss on your leg, like he was a dog that was markin’ his territory…” Her left hand performed a sluggish perusal through her sandy blonde, thick coils. “‘Specially when his friend–Wha-What’s that boy’s name?” Her eyelids peeled away from her hazel eyes and her dulled orbs locked onto you. “The one… You know what I’m talkin ‘bout!” Her fingers performed a clumsy snap. “You know ‘im,” she muttered. She sighed and then closed her eyes again. “Anyway… He likes you.” Her left pointer finger was aimed at you. “… Jai… Likes… You…" With each enunciation, her finger jabbed the air. Then her hand collapsed onto her thighs. “…He thinks you cute… You’re sexy… To him… Wants you make him some babies…Babies…” she slurred. Then she became silent.
You continued to witness your cousin’s descent into her drunken stupor. The red, Solo cup was now forgotten. It was now abandoned, on the sand and left capsized. You glimpsed at the sand as small creeks and rivers of red slowly crawl across the surface. Then you returned your observation to Dixie, who was in the middle of shifting her position in the chair. Her head remained resting on the back of the chair while the rest of her body fought to get into a comfortable position. Once she slipped into a comfortable position, you spoke up again. “What about the Vivienne? She likes him. She interested in him, too. Plus…”
Dixie’s head abruptly shot up. Her eyes, at half-mast, stared at you. Her body’s posture gave off the energy that could only be found in sobriety. “Fuck… Vivienne,” she announced in a monotone voice, interrupting you. “She… Is only interested in his fame and his money. Do you think she would be interested in Jai, if he was a waiter at some restaurant? Or, if he was parking cars?” She rested her head back on the chair. She nuzzled the fabric and then closed her eyes. “The answer to that is ‘Fuck, no!’ He likes ya, Y/N. Ya just gotta stop actin’ scared. He wants ya. You want him. Fah-la-la-la, jingle bells…” She huffed. “Ya only live once.” Her head bowed forward, to her chest. “Is he still looking over here?” she asked you without looking at you.
“I don’t know,” you answered.
“Look, damnit,” she groaned.
A creepy chill ran its breath along your skin while your nerves stood on edge. Your stomach became taut. You took a deep breath, and on the exhale, you looked into the patio’s direction. Your eyes came across emptiness. No sight of the man in question. In fact, no one was on the patio, or, hanging out in the backyard. You quickly guessed that everyone else had gone inside of the house. You returned your attention to Dixie. “No,” you reported to the top of her head.
“Mmmmm,” she groaned. “Go, girl,” she slurred.
You knew the message behind that statement. ‘What do you have to lose?’ your conscience called out to you. ‘Just some good ol’ fashioned rejection, that’s all.’ You sighed and then you stood up. You looked towards the house and you stared at the patio’s doors. ‘You could do this—I can do this! My goodness… What-in the-hell am I afraid of?! He’s just a guy! A guy, whose famous and more than likely make more moolah than I will ever see, but a guy, nonetheless. I’m not looking to marry the dude! Just… Perhaps… Maybe… Possibly, be able to sit on his face… Possibly. But that’s only if he doesn’t say anything dumb.’ You looked towards the ocean. ‘Okay. Okay, I’ll go…’
Without allowing your hesitation to seep into your soul, you broke out into a sprint. You didn’t slow your pace until your feet broke the water’s surface.
‘…but lemme take this swim, first!’
As the top of your head made contact with the water, your heard your conscience mutter ‘Coward’.
