That Was Then

65- Now

My phone chimes just as I'm finishing up, dabbing my Pink Sugar perfume behind my ears.

On my way.

My stomach somersaults.

I find the swim trunks that Caleb leaves at our house and set a note on them at the front door.

Put these on and meet me in the hot tub.

I pad barefoot through the house, stopping in the kitchen to grab the long stem glasses and chiller with an expensive bottle nestled into the ice. The champagne is already almost halfway gone already, I drank more than I intended to while I was getting ready. I shrug and pour the remnants into our glasses and replace the bottle with my favorite French wine. Hopefully Dad and Mama won't miss it. Belatedly, I remember my charm bracelet, I don't want to wear it in the hot tub so I unclasp it and leave it on the counter before going out back.

The air is crisp and the tiny silk robe I have wrapped around me doesn't do much to keep me warm. I perch on the edge of the hot tub, submerging my legs in the bubbling water only warms me up a little but I don't want to ruin the image. I want Caleb to see me like this when he comes out. My hair is curled and pinned up on my head, dark red silk robe tied loosely and slipping down one shoulder. I want Caleb to watch me take off the robe to reveal the tiny black bikini I have on underneath. I sip on my flute of champagne to calm the butterflies in my stomach.

I'm just refilling the glass when Caleb steps out onto the patio. His blue trunks are low on his hips and he has two towels slung over his shoulder. Towels, of course he would remember to grab towels!

"Hey," I admire his well defined torso as he limps over to the hot tub. Wait, why is he limping? I forget to try to look sexy and stand up, "are you okay?"

He waves his hand dismissively and drops the towels onto an Adirondack chair. I try to hand him his glass of champagne but miscalculate and slip into the hot tub, soaking my sexy little silk robe and spilling most of the champagne. This is not going as planned.

"Are you drunk...?" He takes both glasses from me and sets them next to the bottle.

"No," I say defensively even though I might be a little bit. I wait until Caleb eases gingerly into the hot tub before I pull off my ruined robe, hoping to turn things around. Caleb's eyes glide appreciatively down my body, the strappy black bikini top doesn't leave much for the imagination.

"Woah..." he exhales.

I lower myself down next to him and let him kiss me 'til I'm dizzy. Okay so maybe the wine and the heat from the hot tub might have a little bit to do with that too. In one easy move he pulls me onto his lap so that I'm straddling him and electricity jolts through every centimeter of my body from head to toe, lingering somewhere in the middle. The butterflies in my stomach launch into overdrive and I feel like I can't breathe. Except that I am breathing, and kissing, and touching. Caleb's fingers slide along the straps of my bikini and I reach for the hem of his swim trunks. I never thought I'd lose my v card in a hot tub but it seems like a good plan at the moment. 

Before we can tear off each others' clothing Caleb all but peels me off of him with a loud groan. "Holy shit, Blakely," he sighs and scrubs his wet hands down his face while I pant next to him like a dog in heat. It's a pretty accurate comparison with the way I just mauled him. "That thing is dangerous," he gestures to my itty bitty bikini.

"You don't like it?" I mock pout, sticking out my lower lip and arching my back.

"I more than like it," Caleb  reassures me, sliding his hand up and down my thigh. "What's gotten into you  tonight?!"

I shrug, "I dunno, just wanted to have a fun night with you. Want some wine?" I stand and lean precariously out of the hot tub, reaching for our glasses.

"No, I can't. I've got too much going on with football this week." I suddenly realize how stressed he is. The usual golden glow in his eyes is muted, he looks exhausted.

"Everything okay?" I knead his shoulder with my free hand. He grunts when my fingers find a knot.

"Yea..." he thrusts a wet hand into his dark hair, "just a lot of pressure right now with the game Friday night."

"The homecoming game?" I frown, Vivi told me the team they're playing is good but nowhere near as good as our team and that we've never lost to them. "I thought you guys always beat them?"

"We do, but remember last week? When I had something I wanted to talk to you about?" His eyes light up a little and a grin spreads across his face. I nod for him to continue, "well, this Friday there will be a-"

My phone chimes loudly next to the hot tub and as much as I want to hear what Caleb has to say, it might be Allie. I text her after school asking if we could talk tomorrow and have been waiting impatiently for a response.

"Hold that thought," I plant a quick peck on his lips and stumble out of the hot tub leaving Caleb with a bewildered look on his face. I wipe my hands on a fluffy gray towel and check my phone.

Sure, before class tomorrow? I grin, happy that Allie finally responded.

"Seriously?!" Caleb asks, clearly exasperated. He's never been one quick to anger, none the less, I am familiar with this tone. It's very similar to the tone he used on me the first few weeks I was home.

"I'm sorry, I had to see if it was Allie!" I climb back into the hot tub. "You know how important it is to me to-"

Caleb lets out a bark of a laugh and shakes his head. "Of course I know how important everything is to you," he fights to keep his voice even. This is not going at all like I planned it. I wanted to fix things with Caleb, not make them worse! "But the world is a lot bigger than your drama with Kya!"

My jaw drops. "Where is that coming from?"

Caleb scrubs at his eyes with his fists, "I have been really supportive of you with how you've chosen to handle coming home even though I don't exactly agree with it..."

"I know and it means a lot to me," I tentatively reach for his arm but he moves to get out of the hot tub.

"But there are things going on in my life that are pretty damn important too!" Caleb pats himself down with the towel, "and maybe I could use some support from my girlfriend. It's not a one way street."

"Where are you going?" My lower lip trembles and my voice shakes a little. 

He slings the towel over his shoulder and heads toward the house. "Home."