In This Life (Sequel to 'In Another Life')

55

It was time to make up for some of that. "You ready?" Sam called out, grabbing my attention. I followed his gaze to see Colby walking towards us, one hand holding the strap of his red duffel bag. "Are you ever going to get rid of that thing? Maybe upgrade it?" Brennen asked, motioning towards the old bag. Colby shoved his shoulder as he walked past him. "When it falls apart. It's still good. There's nothing wrong with this bag." Brennen shook his head with a smile, but didn't say anything. "Besides," Colby said, pulling his red snapback onto his head, then smoothed the sides of his hair with his fingers. "It reminds me of simpler times, okay?" Brennen shrugged. "If you say so man. I know you like to think you're still that same Kansas boy on the inside." Colby shot him a glare, but he knew that Brennen was just messing around. "Yeah Sam, ready brother," he said, moving his gaze to meet Sam's. Sam nodded, and hugged Katrina. "I'll text you later, and let you know what's going on. I love you." She smiled up at him, leaned up to kiss the tip of his nose, then settled back on her heels. "I love you too." Colby glanced away from them to me, and grinned. "Do you wanna kiss my nose T? Is that how couples do it?" He shrugged, when Sam glared at him. "What? I'm new to this. I need to know these things." Sam rolled his eyes, and smiled. "Then you're learning from the best. Come on, we need to get going." Colby turned to me, and wrapped his arms around my waist, while mine went around his neck automatically. "I'll miss you," he said quietly. I leaned forwards to kiss the tip of his nose. He cracked the biggest grin when I did, and I heard the others laughing, but I didn't see them. My eyes were stuck in his, that blue molten lava, holding me in place with that intense ass stare of his. "Hurry back to me," I whispered, before softly pressing my lips to his. He put a little more force into the kiss, pressing his hand against the small of my back so that my body was flush against his. I let my hands trail up into his hair, while the other tightened against the back of his neck. Once again, I was lost in a world where we were the only ones that existed. Nothing else mattered, while his lips were on mine. "Colby...we seriously need to go brother." Sam's voice came through, a little annoyed, but with a laughing tilt to it. "Oh shut up, and let them have a few minutes," Kat said quietly. I'd have to remember to thank her for that. When Colby finally broke the kiss, I was breathless. He grinned, the grin he got when he knew he just made my knees weak. "Okay Sam, we can go now. I'll see you later baby girl." He kissed me quickly on the lips again, then he and Sam walked past me. I felt a sharp sting on my ass, as Colby smacked me. I yelped, and turned around. He laughed, kept walking, and waved over his shoulder. "Ass," I said quietly, watching him go. I knew he wasn't technically going anywhere, just to a meeting, but I missed him already. We had broken a barrier that had been up between us last night. I had almost forgotten how intense it was with him, how connected it made me feel. I turned back around to face the rest of the crowd. "What are you guys doing today? I think I actually need to rest, but I'm willing to do that by the pool, if anyone is interested." They all looked around at each other, then back to me. "Why the fuck not?" Brennen said. He started pulling his shirt off over his head, so Sarah stood up laughing. "You coming Kevin?" he asked, throwing his shirt to Sarah. Kevin looked at Kenzie, and she shrugged with a grin. "Damn right I am," he replied, pulling his own shirt off. "What about you Eli? You wanna go for a swim?" Brennen asked Elias. He looked at Denise, and smiled. "Nah, I think I'm good. Maybe in a bit." "Right, leave your boys hanging for a girl. I see how it is," Kevin said, smirking at him. "Come on Sugar K, we don't need him. We got each other," Brennen replied. "That's right baby," Kevin said. He then proceeded to pick Brennen up, surprising him, then running to the pool while we all laughed. Brennen was yelling the entire time. When he reached the edge, he threw Brennen in, then jumped in behind him. "Oh holy fuck!" Brennen yelled, chattering his teeth. "The water is cold, so cold, oh fuck." I shook my head at them, then looked back to my other friends. "Anyone else getting in?" I asked. They all laughed and shook their heads no. "We'll wait and let the sun warm it up a little first," Katrina said, watching the guys in the pool. "Okay, well I'm gonna go shower and change. I'll be back soon," I replied. "Yeah, I'm gonna go in and change too," Denise said, following me back towards the house. When we walked in, I turned to face her. "Are you just coming inside to babysit me?" I knew she was, but her acting was getting better because the look of shock that crossed her face was almost genuine. Only, I knew her too well. She couldn't fool me. "No! I need to change too. I should probably take a shower, but I'll do that when everyone leaves." I rolled my eyes. "Whatever Neece. I got this, but whatever." "I know you do T. Just came in to change." I sighed, and went to my room to get my clothes and toiletries. I guess I was lucky she didn't just come in the shower with me. Once I had everything, I took it to my bathroom right down from my room. I still wasn't very stable if I moved faster than a turtle pace so I had to be careful. I set my clothes down on the counter, and put my extra toiletries inside the shower.