Wrapped around your finger - Post Malone

32

"There you go. Get in," Evelyn says as they reach the river edge. Hazel looks down at her with big eyes. "You just want me to jump in, clothes and all?" she asks already shivering a little at how cold the river looks. Evelyn laughs and walks behind a bush. "You can if you want but then you will be sleeping in wet clothes and that would just make you sick," she says from behind the bush. "Strip down to your underwear and then get in," she says then steps out from behind the bush in a costume and puts her hands on her hips with a broad grin on her face. "You brought a costume?" Hazel says frowning. Evelyn nods and then points behind Hazel, "we all did," she says. Hazel turns and sees all the cowboys walking toward the river in swim shorts. " No one told me. I don't have anything," she complains. "Use your underwear," Ace says as he walks by. "Basically a bikini isn't it?" Jack says as he too walks past. Hazel watches as they all jump in, including Evelyn. "Well, how do you wash...you know...your bits?" Hazel calls out to them. "Like this!" Josh says standing and shoving his hand in his pants as the rest of them laugh. They are mocking her, none of them want her here and they are making no bones about it. "Pay them no mind," Austin says walking up behind her, also in swim shorts.

He hands her his undershirt and points at a bush. "Strip, keep your underwear on. Put this over," he says pointing to his undershirt. "But...I don't want them to see my underwear even if it's just like wearing a bikini," Hazel complains. Austin watches her for a beat, a small smile on his lips then turns to the river. "Turn around, all of you!" he shouts. They all groan but do as he asks. "There you go," he says turning back to look at Hazel. "And you?" she asks with raised eyebrows. Austin smirks and shakes his head at her but turns around and walks off to the river. Hazel watches him step into the river and then wade over to the rest of the group, keeping his back to her. Hazel goes behind the bush and strips down to her underwear then puts Austin's undershirt on. Every movement she makes is painful and she curses Austin as she walks out from behind the bush.

When she dips her foot into the river she lets out a whimper, is freezing. But she knows she has no other choice, if she refuses to get in Austin will no doubt chuck her in himself. She takes a deep breath and holds it as she wades in, letting the icy water consume her when she gets deep enough to sit down so only her head is sticking out. "O-ok, you c-can turn a-around," she manages to stutter out as her teeth chatter. They all turn back around and then busy themselves with washing while chatting and laughing amongst each other while Evelyn jumps around and tries to catch trout with Ace and Austin. Hazel stays where she is only because she is pretty sure her blood has turned to ice if her blue lips are anything to go by. She looks out at the horizon and watches the pink sky slowly dissipate as the black night melts into it. Evelyn suddenly squeals excitedly and when Hazel turns her head she can see that both Ace and Austin have managed to catch a huge fish each. They both laugh as they flick them onto the river bank.

One by one each cowboy gets out of the water, including Evelyn as she runs behind her bush to get dressed excited about getting the go-ahead from her father to cook the fish on the camp fine. Austin swims over to Hazel and then grabs hold of her legs. He curls his fingers over her calf muscles and squeezes, not too hard, but hard enough to make her flinch. He kneads them and she tries not to cry out in pain. His hands and the cold water are most definitely helping to ease her pain. He points to her thighs and raises his eyebrow in question. Hazel's heart races. She nods and then her breath hitches when he slides his hands up resting them midway on her inner thighs. Then he squeezes. She can't help the groan that softly emits from her mouth, his hands feel amazing, and although it's painful his squeezing soothes her painful muscles. "You did well today, darlin'," he mumbles as he continues to knead. Hazel rolls her eyes and then clears her throat. "Darlin', right now it seems your job is to be a permanent pain in my ass," she says putting on a gruff Southern accent. Austin stops kneading and looks at her with a scowl. "I don't sound like that," he says as the last two cowboys get out of the river while chatting happily with each other. Austin moves his hands back down to her calves and starts kneading again, slowly moving his hands up her legs again.

"I don't think they like me much."

"Pay them no mind."

"But I want them to like me."

"Then give them time."

"Austin."

"Hazel."

Hazel stares him down while he keeps his eyes on his kneading hands. Eventually, he looks up and cocks his head. "All those boys have earned their spot on my team, including Evelyn. They expect the same from you"

"How do I do that?"

"You will know when you know."

Hazel pouts. What's that supposed to mean? She watches Austin's hands move down and then up again but this time he does not stop, choosing rather to rest his hands on her hips. "Can't you help me?" she asks cupping his cheeks with her hands. "That's between you and the ranch, darlin'," he whispers then he leans up and kisses her. The icy river seems to turn warm around them and she finds herself sucked back into that vacuum that only she and Austin exist in.