Summer loving

Splash

He hadn't meant to stare. It was beneath him, he knew that. He could do it any day, at any time, and everywhere but here. Here was off limits. Here was exposed, like an open wound, gushing and bleeding out. No way was he to stare.
"Hey!" Patrick was startled out of his deep thoughts by a splash of cool pool water.
"You gonna get in?" Ellen asked, hands on her slender hips. Patrick gave a grin in response, nodding. She walked closer, her bare feet squelching as she stepped across the wet red brick. Ellen dropped down, crouching next to him. "You know...if you don't ever go in I'm obligated to push you." She teased, whispering in his ear. Patrick reached over, nudging at her in response. His feet dangled lower, over the side of the pool.

"I said I would go in!" He protested, watching Ellen hop back to her feet and saunter off. Patrick laughed as he watched her go. She headed to a secluded corner where the drink coolers were, bending over to open one. Patrick's legs froze mid swing, entranced by Ellen's dark olive green bikini. The fabric clung to her, revealing the outline of her ass very well. She snapped up, cold beer in hand, and handed it to the man next to her.

"Aye! Paddy! In you go!" Patrick turned his head around too late as Justin and T.R ambushed him, into the pool. After the initial shock of being shoved into the cool water, secretly he thanked them for now Patrick could conceal his growing arousal. He swam up to the surface, spitting out chlorinated water.

"I warned you!" Ellen giggled, her face shining down at him. "I warned you to get in the pool! It's hot Paddy!" She said. Ellen pushed her wet hair back gently, blinking her sea colored eyes in the harsh sunlight. Patrick swam up, grabbing hold of the edge.

"Oh no, come back here Ellen," he called out, one hand grabbing hers and yanking. Ellen fell backwards into the pool, but safely into his arms. She shrieked,laughing while pulling away from him.

"Patrick!" Ellen playfully pushed his shoulder. "Seriously?!" She asked. Patrick shrugged sheepishly, aware of Ellen's close proximity. He hated the way his legs grew weightless underwater, his stomach like gelatin.

"Yeah. I thought you might look cute in the drenched rat look." He teased, smile wide. Ellen rolled her eyes and swam to the steps, getting out. Patrick's jaw slackened as he watched her step out, sun illuminating the water dripping off her small frame.

"You know what I think? I think you're a boy on the playground pulling the pigtails of the girl you like." Patrick turned to see Kate Walsh smirking at him. He furrowed his brows,

"I am a 34 year old man, I don't have to resort to antics to show a girl I like them." He replied, blue eyes dark. Kate laughed.

"Not even when it's a certain 30 year old?" She asked, a thin red brow raised. Her hands went up and she shrugged, letting Patrick make his own claims. He rolled his eyes, denying it. He stepped out of the pool and began walking to the drink coolers, his stomach still tossing around his lunch. Patrick felt confused, and knew he felt something for Ellen, there was obviously something there as his swim trunks grew tight- but Patrick wondered how obvious it was. Was Kate really right? Was he teasing Ellen because he really wanted to date her?

"You going to get something?" Patrick looked up, startled. He turned his head, seeing the man behind him. He saw him earlier, by the drink cooler. Ellen had handed him a beer. He was tall with dark skin, and cropped hair.

"Oh! Sorry," Patrick grabbed a beer, quickly shuffling out of the way.

"There you are! Ellie said you were in the water still! You want to play some beer pong?" T.R asked him, grinning. Patrick blinked, nodding after a moment. He began walking back towards the set up with T.R and quietly asked,

"T.R...so, man to man, do you think I have a thing for Ellen?" T.R stopped mid step, choking on his drink.

"So you caught on to the fact that you have feelings? I owe Justin ten dollars goddamnit." He pulled out a crisp ten from his pocket, shaking his head. Patrick rubbed the back of his neck while they walked, embarrassed.

"You placed bets on us?" He asked, surprised. T.R clapped him on the back, laughing.

"Patrick. Everyone but Ellen noticed. You two are ridiculously close. I can see that blush," He told Patrick, shaking his head as Patrick's neck grew red.

"I'm- it's hot out-"

"There you are! Join my team!" Ellen came up, waving the boys back towards her. Patrick breathed deeply through his nose, overtly aware of what he and T.R had just discussed. He walked towards her, moving through the crowd so they were next to each other. Sara poured the drinks, hyping them up. She handed Ellen the ball, with which she squeezed, leaning over the table. Patrick blinked, licking his lips as he noticed her bending over, much like a cat. Ellen stretched her long torso out, and then gave a little toss, hitting a cup. The rounds continued, shots were taken, chugging was done. Every time Ellen moved Patrick could feel his body grow warm, and his heart skip at her beauty. The radiant sun had finally dried her hair into small, fluffy, waves that brushed her shoulders while she concentrated on throwing, and being tipsy herself.
The sun finally began to set in the sunset strip, people moving indoors or going home.

"Ellen, hey! It, this was fun but I have to head out. I'll see you around soon. Maybe we can meet again in the frozen peas." That black man from before appeared again, saying goodbye to Ellen. Patrick watched him, leaning against the table. Ellen hugged him, apologizing that he had to leave but thanking him.

"Chris! It was good to see you again. I'm sorry you gotta head out I hope that you weren't too out of place with all my cast mates here." She was saying. Chris shrugged,

"No it wasn't too bad Ellen. It was lovely, real great. Don't fret. You host a good pool party, for a Boston kid." He replied, waving as he left. Patrick grew increasingly aware that the party slowly became all Ellen's cast mates.

"Now that you know you have feelings for her why don't you do something tonight. You know that we would cover you two. I mean the entire cast and crew knows Patrick." Justin asked. Patrick looked at him, startled.

"Do something like what kiss her? Look I don't know how she feels, Justin I couldn't-"

"Sure you could. Everyone knows Patrick. We'd cover you two under wraps on set. I promise. Go pull a McDreamy on her." Justin egged him on, brows high. Patrick grumbled,

"She is a great kisser," as he pushed his hair back. Ellen stood back by the drinks, checking her phone messages. Patrick licked his lips, watching her. The idea of kissing Ellen seemed so detached, unreal despite him having done it thousands of times. Patrick knew how her lips tasted like the very small hint of coconut from her smooth lipgloss. He sighed and walked towards her, biting the bullet.

"Ellie," Patrick grinned, keeping the conversation light, even if Ellen rejected him, he knew she wouldn't be one to make it ruin their professional lives. She looked up, those bright eyes meeting his.

"Patrick! How's the night going? You have enough drinks?" Ellen asked, crouching down to open the cooler, making Patrick's blush return.

"Oh. No I'm fine," He said, shaking his head at a drink. "I- is there somewhere we can talk, alone?" Ellen set her drink down on a side table, nodding. She took his sweaty hand in hers, leading him into the house which had cleared out considerably. Ellen took him to her bedroom, closing the door.

"This is probably the most private area right now. What did you want to talk about?" She asked, leaning against the door. Patrick looked around, giving a quick smile to the style that surrounded the room. It was so obviously Ellen. He sat in a chair beside the bed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"It's painfully obvious, I- I feel like a teenager, god Ellen...I like you. a lot." Patrick rambled, exhaling deeply. "You're charming, funny, and cute...Ellen you're hot as hell right now, I haven't dated since my divorce, but I'd like to-" Ellen cut off his rambles with a kiss. It was light, her hands on his, leaning over him in the chair.

"I like you a lot too." She laughed, her eyes bright.