Till Death Do Us Part

Ch. 10 - Unexpected Guest

**Heheheh I'm SPOILING you all!! This chapter is going to make you guys SHIT YOUR PANTS!**

Roxie's POV

I had to applaud myself for being able to avoid every single person in that house after that God-forsaken dinner was over. Waylon had repeatedly tried to seek me out, but I thankfully always saw him before he saw me, which made it so I could disappear just in time.

Now here I was, sitting on the ledge of their temperature-controlled pool, wearing only a flimsy tank top to cover all my goodies, at three-thirty in the morning. Was it probably a really stupid idea to even think about going skinny dipping right now? Absolutely. Was I still going to do it? You bet your ass I was.

I pulled the cotton material over my head and flung it somewhere behind me before letting my hair out of the braid it'd been in all day. My long locks cascaded down my back and just barely touched the floor I was seated on. I kicked the water around with my toes and lifted myself by my arms to dunk into the water.

"I'm pretty sure pool hours are over," came a deep, raspy voice. I yelped in shock and surprise while dropping myself back down onto the ledge. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest to cover my breasts.

"Shh! You're going to wake everyone else up!" he hissed quietly before doing the last thing I wanted him to do; flipping the light switch on and bathing the area in light. I bet I looked like a deer in headlights staring at his face. His own eyes widened comically seconds later. He glanced down at my shirt - which was conveniently lying right at his feet - and then back up to me. Since I was turned to the side, all he saw was a pretty decent amount of side boob and ass, something I was thankful for.

"Shit, I didn't know you were...I thought...why are you naked?" he asked as his chest rose and fell rapidly, looking as if he were unable to take his eyes off of my body. Doing the only thing I could think of, I slid off the ledge and dropped into the water. I stayed suspended, unmoving for a few seconds before finally kicking my legs to propel my head above water once again. I gasped loudly before gripping the edge of the pool with my hands. I rested my chin on the ledge between them, just staring at him.

This was the first time I'd made eye contact with him since the breakup four years ago. This was the first time I'd stopped and truly heard him speak to me since then. It hurt so much more than I thought it would.

It wasn't just a small sting or a weight on my chest; it was an all-consuming and whole-body ache. Just from one look at those baby blues, every memory he and I ever shared came rushing back to me. He'd grown so muscular since I'd left. I think he might've even doubled in size, actually. His haircut was different, more mature than it used to be. It suited him for his age. And that beard. Fuck, that beard! I'd always asked him to grow out his facial hair; I knew it would make him look absolutely fuckable.

And I was so incredibly right.

He moved to take a seat on one of the lounge chairs closest to me, slightly stumbling over his own feet as he'd still yet to take his eyes off of me.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" he rasped out, leaning over to rest his elbows on his knees while watching me carefully. I scoffed before craning my head back to look up at the stars in the sky.

God, give me strength.

Mom, give me courage.

"Quite frankly, you're the last person I'd ever choose to speak or associate with if you want my honest answer," I sneered out, fighting back the tears that were already burning my eyes.