Chapter 62
724 Words
I walk across a wide hallway, taking a mental note of the number of rooms the house has. The second floor had an overlooking view to the lake and the mountain across it. A couch and a bean bag were lined up perfectly to enjoy the view. I walk past the desk that had a multitude of pictures mostly of James’ uncle, their family, and a lot with James alone. They must’ve been closer than I thought. They had one picture where James had ridden his uncle’s back, mimicking the rodeo bull ride behind them.
“Hey,” James whispers, sneaking an arm around my waist. “What’re you looking at?”
“Oh, just this photo of you and your uncle,” I pick it up and show it to him. “Seems cute.”
He grabs it from my hand and smiles, “Damn, this must have been when I was about five or something. I’ve forgotten about this. Uncle Dwight always took me along for his trips. More than dad, really. This was the time he was settling some things in Pasadena. I cried on the way over because I really missed home. You know how it is with five-year-olds,” he laughs. “So, he stopped by a steakhouse that had that thing. He wanted me to ride it out until I stopped crying, I guess. But I was too small for the ride. So, he gave me one instead.”
“And you stopped crying, oh babe,” I hugged him in awe of the memory. It was very sweet and wholesome of his uncle to do that for him. No wonder he’d let him use the lake house for a week.
“Yeah, he’s great. You should really meet him someday.”
“Maybe you should bring him to one of our Sunday barbecues. I’m sure my parents would love to meet him, as well,” I tell him.
“He’s working too much overseas. I doubt he’d ever settle down long enough for me to invite him,” he smiles again but a little gloom shadow it.
He puts the picture back down and he brings me along the hallway, opening the rooms one by one.
“This is the master bedroom, obviously we sleep in here. This is the guest bathroom. This is a guest room. And this is a storage room. The other side of the house has another guest room and a bathroom, too. And downstairs, there’s one as well. And then, the kitchen, lounge room, and a billiard table,” he says, showing me the rooms.
“Whoa, your uncle plays billiard?” I say, shocked and excited. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to play.”
“Well, it’s your lucky day, Lottie, because you’re in the presence of the greatest billiard player of our clan. Undefeated and unchallenged,” he smirks proudly.
“I’d like to see those skills out on the table, not out of your mouth, Tucker,” I retorted.
He snickers at my doubtful comments and continues to drag me back down the stairs. It was only then that I noticed he was in his swim shorts already and I was in my bikini. What were we waiting for? A flood?
“Hey, want to go for a quick swim? I mean, we’re already in our swimwear, I never noticed.”
“I’m hurt, Lottie. You don’t pay enough attention to your man,” he says, faking hurt and a cry. “But sure, I’ll knock your ass in billiards later.”
We head to the lake. He held my hand as we dipped into the water. The cold refreshed my mind and soul. Birds chirped in the distance. James lets go of me and swims off farther, looking back at me once he had swim far enough. He looked at me with a glimmer in his eyes.
“You look gorgeous, Charlotte,” he comments, looking directly at me.
I blushed, though I hoped it didn’t show. I was wearing a simple halter neck bikini paired with high waist shorts. I’ve never been confident enough to wear the skimpy ones most girls enjoy. I’d love to wear one someday, but I was too insecure for it now.
“Samesies,” I replied, swimming out to him.
- Writer
