Bluebonnet Days

A Beach Party

We finally reached our destination. We start unloading the trucks and the boys are putting the tents up. A large portion of our crew had arrived earlier to stake out the usual area. My travels around the world, fancy dinners, crazy parties still will never compare to the amount of fun this group has. They are always ready for a good time and don’t seem to miss a beat, even as we begin to reach our mid to late twenties now. This group now consists of college graduates, entrepreneurs, those running their family businesses now, wanna be CEOs or others that get to live in the luxury of parents continuous support of wealth. No matter what though, we all have mad respect and support for each other. This must be due to living in a small town. We all get situated and start to catch up with old friends that I had not seen in a while before along with meeting everyone's new boyfriends or girlfriends that were not previous part of the crew. It is great to finally speak to people and not look through one of the many social media accounts we all have. After some mingling and a few drinks, Mia, Dylan and I decide to go paddle boarding. This was my favorite thing to do in Australia during the early mornings. Get out there right when the sun is coming up, wildlife is out and about, just enjoying the peacefulness before the beaches get crowded.

As I get up and stand on my board, I hear someone calling my name. “Sam,Sam, over here!” I scan the beach only to find her. Miss Laura Belle waving at me in her skimpy red bathing suit, with Weston next to her. “What the hell! I say to Mia. She just shakes her head. At this point I have lost my concentration and balance, so I am starting to wobble on my board. SPLASH! I am in and under. Before I can get my bearings to swim up, I feel arms wrap around me and pull me to the surface near my board. I grab my board and turn around to see who was holding me. It was Weston.

“Are you ok?” he asks worriedly as he scans me over to make sure.

“Um yah, I just lost my balance, no big deal.” I’m trying hard not to look right at those crystal blue eyes. I try to turn back around to get on my board, only to realize he hands are still clenched to both sides of my waist. He has now pulled me closer to him. I can feel his hot breath on my skin, the smell of his aftershave is overwhelming my senses and my body is heating up. He seems to sense this and presses even closer to where I can feel him right up against me under the water.

“Why are you blushing, Sam?”

“I’m not. In case you haven't noticed, the sun is out and my body is re-adjusting to this Texas heat.”

I look away, because I learned years ago he can read me like I book when he looks in my eyes. He has always known me best, which is why it's so hard not knowing or understanding why he did what he did. I finally find my voice again and ask him to let me go, so I can get back on my board. He does and says, “O! Sorry, old habit of not being able to let you go, I guess.” I am dumbfounded at this moment. “Old habit!” It's been about 5 years since you laid hands on me, let alone seen me,” I think to myself. Not to mention the countless girlfriends he has had during this time. Thinking of this as I see one swimming over now. Before she makes it over, I let Mia and Dylan know I am heading in and leave, ignoring Weston.

“Baby, why did you just leave me over there alone? You know I am not comfortable around your friends by myself.”

It’s too hard to hide my laughter at this point. I turn back to see if anyone heard me. Laura Belle is sending me daggers and Dylan is trying to catch Mia falling off her board because she is laughing so hard. Weston just smirks at me. Oops!

The day had been full of sun and drinks. The boys were starting up the grills to cook dinner and the bonfire was already going before dusk. The ladies are now setting up the tables and putting out the sides and dishes. As I look around, I realize since my time gone, this group has grown. We used to only use 4 picnic tables pushed together and now we have 2 rows of 5 tables together. I go ahead and sit down between Mia and Lacey. Dylan is on the side of Mia, then Jackson on the other side of Lacey. With other friends surrounding us. Dawn and Jenny sit across from us with their boyfriends. I slowly look around and find that Weston and her are seated at the end of the picnic tables behind us. Thank goodness, not sure I could stomach my food with them over here.