“Whatever. Anyway, Brooke totally calls her on it. And… she really loves her. I thought it was puppy love, but it’s for real.”
I nodded.
“As far as that goes, you should watch out. She has a pretty serious crush on you.”
“Who? Brooke?”
“Duh! Who else?”
“I don’t think so. I’d’ve noticed.”
“Uh-huh,” Wren said insincerely. “Think what you want, but I know I’m right.”
“Not this time. But it isn’t worth arguing about. Besides, she knows Christy and I are serious.”
“Oh, she knows. But that doesn’t change things.”
“We’re friends. That’s all.”
“Whatever. I’m just saying… Be careful.”
“I will.”
“I like her,” she repeated after a moment, “but I’m glad she lives on the other side of the country! She knows exactly how hot she is, and she totally uses it to her advantage.”
“Not really,” I said, “but that isn’t worth arguing about either.”
Wren let it go and nodded at the box in my hand. “Have you decided when you’re going to ask her?”
“No.”
“Hurry up. You only have a few days to figure it out. Erin and Leah will be here tomorrow. They leave Thursday.”
“How do you know?” I challenged. “When they leave, I mean.”
She blessed me with a look of disbelief.
“Oh, right! You’re the camp manager now.”
“Uh-huh. So…” She snapped her fingers and channeled Trip. “Hustle up. Time’s a wastin’.”
“I don’t know who’s worse,” I laughed, “you or him.”
“I am. He’s basically a nice guy. I’m a scheming bitch who gets what she wants.”
“I wouldn’t say ‘bitch,’ but the rest is about right.”
“Yeah. So, figure it out. And you know how she is. She’s gonna want something romantic. So, don’t just roll off her and ask if she wants to ‘get hitched.’”
“Why?” I teased. “Is that what Trip did?”
“No! He planned a nice romantic evening. He got down on one knee and everything.” She gave me a pointed look. “You could do a lot worse.”
“Thank you, Dear Abby.”
“Whatever,” she said dismissively. “In the meantime, I’m supposed to be thanking you.”
“For what?”
“Working with me for a change, being Trip’s friend, nudging Brooke in the right direction, that sort of thing.”
“It’s what I do.”
“I know. Now, put that back in its hiding place.” She reached into the closet, opened my sports coat, and scoffed, “Very original. She’d never think to look in there.” Then she laughed. “Actually, you need to thank Brooke that she didn’t.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. Christy was talking about snooping. After she figured out you’d been to San Diego. She was only kidding, but Brooke told her to leave it alone. She said she’d tell you if she even thought Christy had been snooping for real.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. That’s when I really started to like her. She put Christy in her place.” Wren nodded at the coat. “Speaking of which, in you go.”
I dropped the box into the inside pocket, and Wren let the coat fall closed. Then she pushed it to the back of the closet and moved the other hanging clothes to cover it.
“There you go,” she said. “Like we were never here.” She closed the door, caught my hand, and tugged me toward the front room. “Come on, I owe you a blowjob.” She fluttered a wave over her shoulder without looking back. “Don’t bother. I know… my wish is your command.”
* * *
Trip and the girls were looking through his case of cassette tapes when we emerged from the bungalow. He glanced at me before he looked at Wren to make sure she was happy.
“See why I love him?” she said to me in an aside.
“What’s not to love?”
She huffed at the sarcasm but didn’t reply.
“What took y’all so long?” Trip asked when we joined them.
“I had to go to the bathroom,” Wren lied smoothly. “And then we were talking.”
“Oh, okay.” He dropped a tape into the boom box. “Party mix, spring ’83, number two.”
“Ooh, my favorite,” I mocked. He’d probably made fifty mix tapes since I’d met him, and I didn’t know spring ’83 from Spring Session M.
Be nice, Christy said with a look.
Wren was more direct. She pinched me.
“Ow!” I shot her a glare, which she met with a cool challenge.
Do it again, her expression said, and see what you get.
Serves you right, Christy added.
Yes, dear. Sorry.
Better.
“Just for that,” Trip said loftily, “you can’t listen.” He turned the boom box toward the pool and extended his hands to Christy and Brooke. “Ladies? Would you care to join me?”
“We’d be delighted,” Christy said.
David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” started as he escorted them around the pool. Christy recognized the song and twirled away from him. She danced into the pool, while Trip and Brooke walked down the stairs like normal people. Wren slid under my arm and drew my attention.
“What’s the matter with you?” she said, exasperated more than angry.
“What? The mix tape comment?”
“Duh. And the one before it.” She waited with eyebrows raised. “Well?”
“I don’t know what to tell you. Sometimes he just annoys me.”
“He annoys me too, you big butthead, but that doesn’t mean I make fun of him.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Sorry.”
“Real people? Real feelings?”
“You don’t have to rub it in,” I grumbled. “I said I was sorry.”
“Yeah, well, don’t do it again.”
I sighed. “I won’t.”
“Good. Now, I promised you a blowjob…”
“Seriously? You’re still in the mood?”
“I will be. Besides, I promised. Now, kiss me before I change my mind.”
I did. She leaned into me, and the kiss heated up. Then the little head decided to see what all the commotion was about.
“You’re so easy,” she laughed. Her amusement lingered and then softened into affection. “I do love you.”
“I know. I love you too.”
We fell silent and enjoyed the moment, until her eyes flashed playfully.
“Are you ready?” she said. “I’m not as good as Christy, but I’ve never had any complaints.”
I snorted to myself. Only a self-centered prick would complain about a blowjob.
“Where do you want me?” I said aloud.
“Right here’s fine.”
She guided me toward a chair, grabbed a cushion from another, and tossed it to the ground. I slouched in the chair, and she sank to her knees between my feet. She smiled up at me and caressed my inner thighs. Then she wrapped both hands around my semi-hard dick. All of a sudden she laughed and had to explain.
“I think I’m finally used to you shaving down here. I still prefer the natural look, but smooth isn’t so weird anymore.”
“Uh… I’m glad?”
“Yeah. Anyway…” She rose on her knees, rested her breasts on my thighs, and stroked my cock.
I took the opportunity to glance at the pool. Trip and Brooke were talking in the shallow end. Christy was still dancing and enjoying herself, which gave Trip and Brooke time to flirt and work up to more. Wren turned and followed my gaze.
Trip said something funny to Brooke, who laughed and twisted a strand of coppery hair around her finger. Christy noticed Wren and me watching, and her smile lit up like the sun.
“God, I love her,” Wren said, almost absently.
“No kidding.”
The two girls exchanged a long look before Christy grinned and spun toward the deep end.
Wren returned her attention to me. “Where were we? Less talking, more sucking?”
“You said it, not me.”
She rolled her eyes but suited actions to words. I casually rested my hand on her head. Then I closed my eyes to enjoy the feeling as her lips and tongue caressed my cock. When I opened them again, Christy was watching. She absently moistened her lips. Then she said something to Trip, who looked our direction.