Not so fake love

Part 8

The pool sparkled in the Italian sunlight. They were going out for dinner in Savona later which is when they would be touring the city. The heat beat down on the group as people stripped down to their swim costumes. "Last one ins a rotten egg!" El yelled before cannonballing into the water. The group laughed as one by one they leapt into the chlorine. Soon only Lily was left lounging on a sun bed, "guess your the rotten egg Lily!" El called over the water.
"Colin likes me tanned." Lily smugly spoke in Penelope's direction. "Isn't that right Colin?" Lily sickly sweetly sung over in Colin's direction.
"I couldn't give two shits what you do Lily." Colin yelled. He was still mad that Lily had ruined his first kiss with Penelope. It had been such a perfect moment and he was sure she felt something too when she looked into his eyes. But then Lily had to come along and interrupt them making Pen think he only kissed her because of their plan which he no longer cared about. He'd kissed her because it was the only thing he'd wanted to do in that moment. The only thing that made any sense. And the kiss itself had been heavenly. All he wanted to do was kiss her again. And never stop. Suddenly he was broken out his thoughts by a ball sailing past his face.
"Someone's distracted." Benedict teased. "Still thinking about earlier are we lover boy?" Colin stuck out his tongue and grabbed the ball from floating beside him in the water. He chucked it over at Anthony who was sniggering at his humiliation.
"Theres nothing wrong with a couple expressing their affection for one another Benedict." Penelope played along. She winked over in Colin's direction and though he knew she was only doing it to play up their fake relationship he couldn't help the way his heart sung for joy when she flashed those beautiful sky blue eyes in his direction.
"Yeah brother! Jealous of us are you? Me and Penelope being in the honeymoon phase of our relationship?" Marco glared at him.
"You're not married you bastard." He spat. Before throwing his fist into Colin's face. An angry atmosphere fell over the pool. Anthony waded over to the pools edge. He reached into Kate's handbag and pulled out his phone. He tapped on it for a few minutes before turning solemnly to Marco.
"Your booked for the flight at 9pm tonight Marco. I'll have the staff pack your things and arrange you a car to the airport. You are uninvited from this holiday. First you body shame Penelope and now you abuse our brother. I think I speak for all of us when I say we no longer enjoy your company." Anthony crossed his arms and glared down at Marco who looked like a scolded puppy.
"Fine! Pen babe we're leaving let's go." Marco aggressively grabbed Penelope's arm and pulled her through the pool with him.
"Marco let go of me." Penelope said in a tone none of the Bridgertons had ever heard her use before it sent fearful chills running down even Anthony's back.
"Oh Penny you can't tell a man what to do your a woman!" Penelope huffed in anger. She was quite literally radiating venom, quite the change from her usual kind demeanour, the wedding party - if they truly cared - felt they should fear for Marcos life. "Let go of me or I'll recreate that scene with El on the corresponding cheek." The family smirked as Marco gulped. But still he yanked her through the pool and they were reaching the edge. Once again the echo of flesh against flesh reverberated around the deck. A bright red mark bloomed on Marcos cheek. But he didn't falter. This time he brought her inches from his face and purred "your mine Featherington get that in your head."
Suddenly Pen saw a shape sail past her and felt Marco fall to the floor. "She said let go." Colin growled shaking his fist which tingled with the impact. Slowly Marco raised himself from the ground and after sending a dirty look in Colin's direction slinked away down to the lower deck.
The Bridgertons all gathered round Penelope as she rubbed her wrist which had a glowing hand mark wrapped round it. Violet, who was normally so calm and collected, hissed some choice words that made her children's eyebrows raise in shock. "Mother!" Hyacinth gasped.
"Darling!" Marcus gasped stifling a laugh. Violet shrugged.
"Are you going to insist I'm wrong?" That her children and husband couldn't disagree with. "Anyway weren't you beginning to play the annual competition of Bridgerton water polo?" The tense atmosphere fizzled away and the crowd all leapt into action. Water splashed onto the sides as the players became aggressive and the competitiveness mounted as the two sides came 5-5 at the half way point during the game. Team captains Anthony and Eloise sent each other a look of pure adrenaline and fight. As Penelope leapt up into the air to hit the ball down the other side of the pool she felt a sudden weight force her underwater and she winced as her ankle slid out from under her.

"Lily! What the hell are you doing?" Colin screamed as he watched Penelope be dragged under the water by his exes body catapulting on top of her. The family all exuded furiousness at the display.
"What? I wanted to join in the fun. Not my fault she takes up half the pool." Angry exclamations came from everyone even non-bridgertons. Colin went to yell at her but saw the pain in Penelope's expression.
"Babe what's wrong?" He asked and the name babe just felt so right as it left his lips. The rest of the group all turned to see the woman trying to swallow the pain her ankle was currently exerting.
"I think it's twisted. It really hurts I don't think I can keep playing. Sorry El." Colin watched as she pulled herself out the blue chlorine and limped over to the sun beds.

"Guess that's the game over then." El sighed sadly.
"What are you talking about I can take her place! And I'll be far better cause I'm not lugging around a hundred tons of extra weight." Lily grinned wickedly.
"The thing is I don't want you on my team." El spat in Lily's direction. "If I wanted a warty toad I'd have visited a local lake." Penelope appreciated her friend's support and sniggered at her creative jibe but didn't want to ruin the groups fun.
"It's fine El. We can't end the annual Bridgerton water polo game on a tie." El looked in her eyes for a second making sure it was really ok. Penelope nodded and El gave in. But Colin wasn't so easily convinced. Plus he really didn't want Lily as a teammate.
"Want me to sit out with you? I could use a break." Penelope smiled appreciatively.
"Oh come on you. There's only half an hour left of the game and there's no one left to take your place. I know you Colin you can't leave a match unsettled." Penelope sighed lightly. She didn't like the idea of him playing with Lily but they weren't really dating so she couldn't say anything.
"Yeah Colin! What have you got something against me?" Lily laughed.
"Actually yes. Yes I have. I don't like the way you talk about my girlfriend who is the most wonderful woman I've ever known and you make her feel bad about herself. So yes I do have something against you." The rest of the group all nodded in agreement. Lily scowled.
"This is all your fault! You came along and now Colin won't even look at me. You great fat worm you ruin everything!" She screamed at Penelope. Anthony went to speak but Penelope held up a hand and shook her head.
"I'm going to have a shower. As the bride pointed out I've just noticed a toad leapt on top of me in the pool and I'm really not keen on toads. With all those warts." The Bridgertons snickered at the affronted look on Lily's face. "See you all at dinner. Let me know who wins."