Chapter 2
1466 Words
We avoided the guys next door like the plague that day and had spent the rest of the week doing all the touristy things. Jena had been talking about the glimpses that she had been catching of the guys next door on and off as the days went. I would roll my eyes and let her talk about them. It was a little after seven, the sun was starting to set, and we were heading out back to settle in for a fire when the doorbell rang.
"Miss Jones," Mildred started as I reached for the door knob. "That's what I'm here for."
"Meh, I'm overly independent. I'll probably let you do your job by the time I leave." We both laughed. But my laughter quickly died when the door swung open. "Oh." My smile was replaced with shock. "Hi."
"Hi." He smiled. Owen." He stuck his hand out again.
"I got it the first few times." I returned his smile and shook his hand just the same.
"Yeah, I guess you did." He laughed.
"Can I help you with something?"
"Dyl, someone over threw the damn football." Jena said appearing from behind me. "Maybe you would want to return it to, oh, well hi there." Jena smiled. "I believe this is yours." She nodded as he took the football and headed back the way she came.
"Ah, yeah. Thanks." I rolled my eyes as I watched him check Jena out.
"You owe me a bottle of Patron." I called after her.
"I'm not wrong." Jena replied walking out the back door.
"What was that about?" He smiled at her.
"Nothing." I shook her head. "Was there anything else?"
"Um, yeah. Is she single?"
"Yeah." I let out a puff of air.
"Good. My buddy, Liam, you met him when you first got here?" I nodded. "He wanted to know."
"Shocker."
"What about you?" I couldn't stop it, I laughed. "Why is that funny?" Owen looked around.
"Yeah, I am." I shook my head, still laughing.
"Good to know." He smiled. "I'll catch you later, Miss Jones."
"It's Dylan, please, just call me Dylan."
"That's unique for a girl, I bet it's a good story."
"Not likely."
"Either way, I hope I get to hear it sometime." He shot me and smile and a wink as he walked sideways down the stairs. "Enjoy your evening, Dylan."
"You as well, Owen." His smile grew, as if he liked hearing my say his name.
That can't be right. I couldn't stop the thoughts. It's part of a joke, another cruel sick joke.
"Did you ask him about drinks?" Jena asked when I rejoined her on the patio.
"No, why would I?"
"Because he's hot and his friend's hot, too."
"Yeah, well. He asked if you were single."
"Seriously? How did I get that wrong? I saw his eyes practically memorizing your body."
"I guess Liam was asking." I shrugged. "But he did check you out as you walked away."
"I messed up Dyl, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything." She shook her head.
"Even if he was interested, it would probably be some sick joke or a bet that he made with his buddies."
"I will dump that water over your head if you don't stop putting yourself down like that."
"I'm the friend, J, I'm not the girl that gets the guy."
"Neither am I?" Jena shrugged.
"No, but you're more likely to find someone that you are equally attracted to. I'll end up settling."
"I warned you."
"Jena, no." I stood up. "Jena! No!" I screeched and ran towards the beach. "Jena, stop. I swear, I don't care how cold it is, I'll pick you up and throw you in that water."
"You had fair warning." She laughed and dumped the pitcher of ice water at her.
"f**k, Jena!" I laughed.
"You were complaining that you were hot." Jena giggled.
"Did you have to dump it over my head?"
"Shouldn't have hesitated." Jena said as she continued laughing.
"Miss Jones," Mildred said from the door. "there are two young men at the door, shall I show them back?"
"Yes!" Jena smiled.
"Unbelievable." I shook her head.
"Miss Jones, Liam Jenkins and Owen Brier."
"Thank you." I nodded. It was clear that I was already annoyed with the persistence of these two. "Did you lose your football again?"
"No, I'm sorry." Owen shook his head picking up on her annoyance. "Liam wanted to talk to Jena, right? Her name is Jena?" I nodded. "He didn't want to come alone." He gave her a once over. "Did you go swimming?"
"Jena dumped a pitcher of water over my head."
"Why?" He let out a breathy laugh as his eyes continued to scan her body.
"Because she thinks you were checking me out the other day and I told her she was wrong."
"Humor me, if I was, why would that be wrong?"
"Because, Jena." I let out a nervous laugh and waved her hand in her direction.
"Now, that's a damn shame." He pointed at her.
"Looks like you owe me a bottle." Jena winked. "What are your plans tonight boys?"
"We were actually here to ask you lovely ladies that." I rolled my eyes, compliments didn't come m way very often, so when they did it made it make me extremely uncomfortable.
"We were going to see how warm that fire place can keep us. Your turn." Jena smiled.
"Well, Owen and I were meeting a group of friends at a local night club. We were wondering if you guys wanted to come?" Liam said. "Check out the limited night time fun that our little town has to offer on this fine Friday night."
"No thank you." I said quickly.
"Dylan, come on. It does sound like fun." Jena laughed.
"It would be a lot of fun if you guys came." Owen flashed her a crooked smile that sent a hurricane of butterflies fluttering through my belly and chest.
"No." I continued to shake my head before dropping my head to stare at my feet.
"Who hurt you?" Owen asked quietly, barely loud enough for me to hear.
I was taken aback by his question. It was like he didn’t mean to ask it but couldn't help himself.
"A lot of people." I replied. Owen looked shocked that I heard him.
"Honestly, a damn shame." He shook his head.
"If you change your mind, we're not leaving until 945ish." Liam said, his brilliant blue eyes and light brown hair popping against his perfect tanned skin. He was a little taller than Owen and equally as muscular.
The guys headed for the door, Owen turned around to smile at me one more time.
"I owe you a bottle, for now." I pointed at Jena. "But I still think it could be a sick joke."
"We are not in high school anymore, we're not even in college. Why would grown-ass men in their late twenties, possibly even their early thirties, be cruel like that?"
"I don't know."
"Was Charlie the last guy you let get close to you?" I nodded. "He was a f*****g prick and I told you that from the beginning. That was also four years ago. Time to move on to bigger and better things." Jena looked at the giant wall that separated the two yards. "What if he's sweet?"
"What if he's not?"
"Kick his ass, punch him in the throat. I don't care but don't hide and miss out on someone or something because of a few immature assholes who didn't have big enough d***s to a satisfy squirrels."
"That's quite an image." I laughed.
"It's true." She smiled.
"I know." I actually gave it some thought. What if this is the fun that I need to get out of my funk? Finally, much to my own annoyance, I threw my head back. "Do you really wanna go, J?"
"I do. I saw Liam on my run last Sunday and we've been talking about it all week."
"I assuming you have his number?" Jena nodded, trying to hide a smile. I rolled her eyes. "Tell him we'll go."
"Yay! Go shower!"
"I'm going."
"Sexy something, Dylan. I know you can."
"Yes, mom!"
I went into my room and turned my music on a little louder than I normally would and opened the balcony doors. I went out and leaned against the railing staring out at the ocean for a few minutes.
"Hey." I was shocked out of my trance by a voice coming a little bit away from my right. "She talked you into it, huh?" Owen called from his balcony. I nodded, still shocked by his sudden appearance. "Awesome. See you in a couple of hours." He smiled and ducked back inside.
- Writer
