The S.U.N. and The Peter Pan Project

Chapter 4

My bodyguards were waiting for me when I came out of the changing room. We went to our lockers so I got the books I needed to do my homework and I then followed them to the parking lot where we stopped in front of a black SUV.

Tom cleared his throat nervously.

“So we’re driving you home.” He froze at his slip. “Well, yeah… We actually live in the house you woke up in this morning.”

“You do? Are you all related, or something?” My eyebrows were furrowed in confusion.

“What do you mean?” Dean’s gravelly voice shot back.

“Well, I know it was his bedroom. I kind of recognized his perfume…”

I ignored the “Fuck” they exclaimed, and went on,

“So, I was just wondering if the three of you were related, that’s all.”

“Who do you mean by “his”?” Tom was stalling.

I groaned.

I had guessed something I wasn’t supposed to and they didn’t know what to make of it.

I dropped it and the silence that ensued showed me that they were grateful.

As we pulled onto Ocean Drive, I decided that I had nothing to lose.

“Hmm… Guys?”

It was the first time I was asking them something so they were quite surprised.

“Do you think I could go surfing when we get to the house?”

Please, please, please, please, say yes…

“I don’t know.” Tom answered first. “We’ll ask but it shouldn’t be a prob…”

“She doesn’t have a wetsuit, though. None of ours will fit her.” Dean’s gravelly voice cut him off.

“Oh I don’t mind surfing in a bathing suit…” I paused realizing I might not have one either. “Actually, I’d even go wearing my underwear if it came to that.”

And it was the truth.

“Trust me, I’d love nothing more than to witness you doing just that.” Tom answered playfully. “But the water is rather cold in California…”

“Oh, so that’s where we are…” I tried to play along but couldn’t mask my disappointment.

I felt like crying and I kept clenching and unclenching my fists to prevent the tears from falling.

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There were no less than five other SUV in front of the house when we finally stopped.

What is it with these guys and SUVs?!

I followed them inside the huge beach house in silence.

The main door opened onto a vast hall that led to six rooms, three on each side.

A staircase leading to the first floor stood on the right, against the back wall which was made of small multicolored glass cubes held together by several metal support beams. Right in the middle of this unusual and yet beautiful glass wall, a double sliding door led to a spacious living room with an open kitchen on the right.

Three four-seater leather sofas had been placed in front of a giant flat screen TV.

On the left, a huge bay window opened onto the wooden deck I had discovered that morning.