Warmth | ✔️ #wattys2021

24. sun

The sun beamed down dangerously hot on London ground. The bright light illuminating Adeline's hair, made it look almost gold as her waves flowed over her dark grey graphic dolphin shirt which she wore to cover most of her body. While she still was concerned about her friends seeing her curves, feeling it barely covering the swell of her butt. She was laying more or less relaxed on one of Adam's sun lounger's on the side that was not covered in a semi cold shadow. It concerned her a bit that she didn't catch one of those which stood in a colder spot. It was probably only a matter of time for someone to ask her if she wasn't feeling too hot with her shirt on. She hoped the book that covered her face along with her dark sunglasses let her go by incognito.

They've been chilling in Adam's garden for an hour now, Kate still didn't arrive and she was slightly worried she wouldn't find the place, having had texted her 20 minutes ago and still didn't receive an answer. Adam wasn't too fond of the idea of her bringing Kate along at first. He was more protective of her now than ever. Not wanting strangers to know his address or so many people close to his heart. Perhaps she was naïve, but she thought her new friend would be trustworthy.

Jim and Nora laid together on the sun bed next to her being obnoxious and putting sun screen on one another's body's, now trying to solve a cross word riddle together. Jenna was inside somewhere, probably fixing everyone drinks, the boys standing in the pool throwing a ball back and forth which seemed to be great fun. Adeline got a bit lost for a second looking at Adam as he had the ball in his right hand and drew back his arm to throw it to his friend, showing off his muscles. And quickly looking away when Jenna indeed came up to her and put a strawberry mojito on her side table. She smiled and thanked her even if she wouldn't drink it, she couldn't know. Plus, Adeline didn't want to be ungrateful she was still recovering from her break up and earlier in a somewhat melodramatic manner sat down on her chair and widely proclaimed she would only go for girls from now on. Her phone ringed, it was Kate saying she'd be here in a minute.

"Hey George!" Adeline yelled at him now sitting up. "Hmm?"

"Kate said she'll be here in a minute, remember I'm not officially setting you up, please be good to her!"

"Don't know what you think of me, darlin'" He just answered and was interrupted by the ring of the door.

"I'll get it!" She said and ran to the door, she felt at home here and knew Adam wouldn't mind. As she opened she was met with Kate's friendly face. She wore a tight plaid sun dress her hair was straight and open and her lips covered in the signature pink color that always adorned her face.

"Hey! I'm sorry I'm late! Fancy house though, it's so hot out oh my god." She definitely was talkative.

"It's alright, come in, I'll get you a water bottle and then I'll introduce you to everyone.

Adeline got her a cool water bottle from her friends' double door fridge and then walked out through the glass door with her. A chorus of friendly "Hi's" were heard when they stepped out. "Hey everyone! I'm Kate, it's nice to meet you!" She said and soon enough introduced everyone but Adam. "Heir of the house that man." Adeline said jokingly and Adam came up to her personally to shake her hand. He was still in his dark blue trunks, soaking wet of course, a towel hung over his shoulder. He stood next to Adeline and threw his arm over her shoulder, tugging her in close. She would've complained because he made her all wet now but was rather concerned about his connection with Kate as they looked at each other a second too long. Wait was he into her? Or was this a part of his protective thing?

"Oh my god, it's so nice to meet you! I love your movies!" She beamed. Perhaps she was just star struck.

"Thank you, appreciate it! Just go and find yourself a place make yourself at home!"

"And you..." He pointed at Adeline. "Are so coming into the pool with me now, it's great really."

"Hmm..no don't really want to at the moment, my book is fucking thrilling right now."

"You mean that one about Western politics?" He asked nodding at his left where her book laid. Her excuse was not truly thought through it seemed. "Okay." She said, giving in, not fully confident or convinced. She breathed in and out turning around for a second and taking off her shirt, now showing her dark blue swimwear, coincidentally matching his trunks. Adeline knew if she protested any further she had to give her reasons and she didn't want to have that conversation.

Adam was halfway in the pool already while everyone else just hung around in his garden. She was glad to see Kate and Jenna chatting on a blanket, deeply involved. Adeline went straight to the stairs of the pool and watched Adam's back as he swam to the edge with a slight smile. She put her hair into a bun and from the distance could see him watching her intently. It was moments like this when she was scared. Not scared because of her image of her body anymore but life gave her a feeling when he looked at her like that as if he felt everything for her in an unconditional way. It wasn't a feeling that convinced her, it was more like a single drop of color on a plain canvas almost out of eyesight, but still there. She let the water flow over her body and swam over to him. He was smiling. What she didn't know was how much he longed for her just seeing her familiar body, the slight cleavage and her full butt. He was full of desire and lust, he wanted her. He needed her. And perhaps the moment was right to tell ask her to be his again, but not with all their friends around —he'd find a moment tonight.

As she swam so far that their faces could almost touch he found a cuteness in her face he has never seen before. He sure knew of her beauty but today she looked especially appealing to him. They swam back and forth for a bit enjoying the refreshment. Once in a while he'd sneak his arms around her body and though she liked his presence she always swam away quickly.

Adeline left the pool after a while to talk to Kate, she was her guest after all, she had to explain to Adam. Kate found her own place between Jenna and George on a blanket on the grass as they were slurping on their drinks. She went back to her place to find her towel, drying off the water of her skin and then putting her shirt back on to sit down with them.

"Hey guys what are you playing?" She asked as she observed them playing cards. "Romme" Kate answered still concentrated on the cards in her hand. "You can join next round, we're almost done, kicked G right out." Jenna said.

George sat next to her secretly whispered a thank you in her ear. She could only suppose it was for bringing along Kate even though she brought her because of herself than him.

"Hey Adeline!" Nora yelled at her from her right.

"Come here for a second." She waved her over. Adeline went to see her friend sitting on the chair on which Jenna used to sit on earlier. She was probably bored because Jim was in the pool now with Adam and had no one to entertain her.

"Did you already text that guy from yesterday?" She asked out of the blue and Adeline had a feeling she said it louder than she normally would. "No, why?"

"I mean I think you should, he's cute." "Yes, well... I don't know, I might."

"Why are you even thinking about it? Go for it!" Nora asked and probably only did that to set her mind straight, she knew just as well as her why she was hesitating.

"Adeline! Come here new round!" 

A/N: pic: https://www.rivierapool.com/fileadmin/_processed_/6/2/csm_hamburg-slider_5b280b2ee4.jpg