The Only Exception

Twenty Six

~Lainey~

"So what are they fighting over again?" Jace flopped down onto the lounger beside me, watching Noah and Spencer battle it out on the island in the middle of the pool, giant inflatable Q-Tips in hand. Neither of them had a say on this today and I'd needed Chelsea's dad's pool and Jason's inflatables so it had just developed into a minor pool party. 2 almost 30 year old men fighting for dominance as the entertainment. 

"Me." I smirked when Spencer whacked Noah over the head. This was the exact laugh I needed today. "Noah's pissed Spencer's dating me. Spencer's pissed at Noah for forgetting my birthday and everything else so - Giant Q-Tips." I held my hand out for Jason who grunted, sitting back on his seat. 

It's not as big as a usual party. In all honesty it's just immediate friends. The band and the girls. All of whom Spence had met. None of them had met Noah though. Outside of Chelsea and Spencer, he was a mystery to everyone else. That was probably a mistake because now the girls were ogling my brother in his soaking wet swim shorts and that should be illegal. No one should be checking Noah out. He's gross. 

"I can not believe you have been keeping him from us." 

"Hey!" Chels giggled as Jason pulled her over into his lap. "I'm right here." 

"Nothing wrong with window shopping as long as I'm not thinking about buying it." 

"And you're not?" Chelsea leaned for her drink, sucking on the straw with raised eyebrows. "Chelsea!" 

"I'm kidding! I'm kidding!" 

"No she's not."  Amara shoved her nose in, smirk on her face as she tugged the sunglasses over her eyes, using them to act like she wasn't staring the boys down like pieces of meat up for display. 

I turned my attention back to the boys who were now shouting stuff at each other just to wind the other up. Spence was telling Noah about the dates we'd had and Noah was just getting wound up about it before beating him with all the strength he could muster. Spencer was enjoying this a little too much. Those two always loved to wind each other up and it always ended in someone getting pushed into something. Pool, bushes, oncoming group of people. Anything. 

Spencer knocked Noah into the pool and he turned straight to me. 

"Right. I win. Are we done now?" I raised an eyebrow as Noah pulled himself back up onto the ledge. "Lainey?" 

"Depends. Are you both over it?" 

"No." They both scowled in unison. 

"Then no. Neither of you are moving until it's completely out of your system. You wanna act like children, I'll treat you like it." 

"Oh come on- OW!" Noah whacked Spencer's arm, almost toppling him into the pool but not quite. "OH, YOU-" I rolled my eyes, laying down to soak up as much of the sun as I possibly could. 

They might think this is pointless but I don't want to have to choose between them both. If Noah was serious this morning about being around more he'd have to get used to me and Spence being together whether he liked it or not and Spencer would have to get over whatever anger he had towards Noah and move past it in the right way. It's not like we had time for this to just die off. 

My mom obviously had something she wanted if she wanted contact with me and right now, I wouldn't put it past her to go to extreme lengths to get whatever she wanted. Her intentions were still unclear and because of that, I was very aware how risky existing was right now. 

I sucked in a sharp gasp when ice cold water dripped onto my bare stomach, shooting up in my spot, to glare at Spencer, beaming at me with cheeky smile. Water slipped down his skin, almost making him glitter under the sun. 

"SPENCER!" 

"Had to get your attention somehow Sunshine." He pressed his hands into the lounger at either side of me, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "I've done beating your brother up now." 

"Congratulations. Do you want a sticker?"  He pulled my sunglasses off and I scowled, bringing my hand up over my eyes to block the early afternoon sun. 

"Cheeky fucker." 

"You said it like you wanted an awa- Put me down." 

"Nope." Spencer grabbed my thighs, pulling me up around his waist. "You're being cocky." 

"No I'm - Spence." I looked over my shoulder, the edge of the pool quickly approaching. "Don't you dare." 

"Or what Sunshine?" I pushed on his chest and one arm wrapped around me to keep me steady and stop me from getting out. "Nice try." 

"Spencer!" He chuckled and pulled his head back to smirk at me. 

"Wanna go to Italy tomorrow?" 

"Tomorrow? Are you insane?!"

"Nope. I'm not. We both need a break and we can only get it if we're away from everything. Besides. You in a swimsuit isn't fair. I've never wanted to pull something off you so bad." He moved forward slightly and I gripped my hands onto his shoulders. "Take a deep breathe." 

"No." 

"Why not?" 

"Because you won't jump in if I don't." 

"Oh really?" 

"Mhm." I wasn't even confident right now. 

"God I love your smile. Stop being nervous." 

"No." He rolled his eyes. "Step away from the water and I will." 

"Fine." He turned around, walking away and I let out the breathe I'd been holding. "Didn't know you're scared of water." 

"I'm not. It's just cold." 

"It's not bad once you're in. You get used to it." 

"I'm good thanks." 

"So Italy? I have everything booked, just need to rearrange the flight time. 3 weeks just you and me in the sun with good food and crystal clear sea and not a single problem in the world. How does that sound?" 

"That sounds nice." 

"Good," Spencer spun on his heels, smirking at me as my eyes went wide. "Because you didn't really have a choice." Air pulled around me as Spencer took huge, quick steps back to the pool, not giving me any warning before jumping in. 

The shock of the cold water pulled the air out of my lungs but he didn't let go. Barely 3 seconds later he pulled us both up to the surface and it took me a few deep breathes, staring at his smug face before I realised what he'd done. I slapped his arm, making him burst into laughter. 

"CANNON BALL!" I turned my head to Jason screaming behind me, immediately followed by a series of splashes as everyone else joined us in the water. 

"You gotta promise me one thing though Beautiful." Spencer pressed one finger to my chin, pulling me to look at him.

"What?" 

"Once we get on the plane everything going on here is left here. It's not coming with us. Noah, your mom, your dad. Everything. You give yourself time to relax without worrying about a damn thing." 

"I'll try." I nod. 

"Good girl."