Love and Angels

two

"Hey, you wanna come over and swim?" I ask Laney over the fence separating our back yards. "You're already wearing a bathing suit." And boy is she ever. That skintight one-piece with the missing back has me thinking of things that shouldn't cross a friend's mind.

She closes the book she'd been reading and throws her legs over the lounge chair.

"It depends. Who all is over there?" She asks, shielding her eyes from the sun.

"Just a few of the guys from the team."

"And their girlfriends?"

"Some are, some aren't," I tell her honestly. Not that I'd have any interest in any of these girls. I've only invited Laney over a few times and only when she doesn't have to come in the house. She claims it's haunted, but I've never seen anything spooky or out of the norm and I've lived here for nearly a year.

Laney smiles. "Sure, let me grab a towel."

A few minutes later, her gate creaks open and closed and then my gate does the same. Laney has added a cover-up over her bathing suit. I don't know what purpose it serves because it's completely transparent, but whatever makes her more comfortable.

"Laney!" I shout. "Over here."

She waves and begins walking my way.

"Dude, you're drooling," Geo criticizes, laughing.

I wipe my chin and mouth but find no drool. I glare at him for a moment, but he's too busy staring at his girlfriend, Renee, who is finally taking off her t-shirt and shorts to jump in the pool.

Renee wiggles her butt a little and Geo growls. She looks over her shoulder and smiles before standing and walking our way.

Laney walks up at about the same time Renee does. Renee plants a kiss on Geo's mouth that isn't exactly appropriate for the public, and Laney diverts her eyes, her cheeks turning pink.

I elbow Geo in the side and he breaks the kiss.

"Laney," I say, placing my hand on her back. I really wish that damn cover-up wasn't there. "This is Geo and his girlfriend, Renee," I introduce them, and Renee giggles.

"Sorry for the... um... display of affection." She turns her gaze to Geo, smiling.

Geo laughs. "Quit looking at me like that or there'll be some other displays they may not want to see."

Renee blushes and glances toward Laney and me.

"Is this the Laney you've been talking about?" Renee asks.

My eyes widen, but I nod my head. "Yeah."

Laney smiles at me and any ounce of embarrassment is replaced with glee. Yup, I'm a seventeen-year-old dude and I'm giddy over a girl. I'm so fuckin' screwed.

Renee loops her arm in Laney's and drags her over to the lounge chairs she and Geo had claimed when they arrived. Geo is easily my best friend and favorite teammate, so they were the first to arrive and will probably be the last to leave.

"So..." Geo starts. "Laney?" He raises his eyebrows when he voices her name.

"Yeah." I sigh. "Laney."

"She know how you feel?" he asks, watching as Laney and Renee exchange fits of laughter.

I shake my head even though he isn't looking at me. "No, she doesn't know."

Geo smiles as he gazes at Renee. He turns his head to face me and gets a serious look in his eyes. "You should tell her." He returns his gaze to Renee and a cheesy-ass smile lights up his face. "Best thing I ever did was tell Renee I wanted her."

I smile, knowing these two are meant for each other. Then, I look at Laney and nerves set in. Maybe I'll tell her tomorrow. Best not to put her on the spot in front of all these people, not to mention I don't want a crowd if she rejects me.