Everyone was dressed in different colors of underwear. Everyone was there—except Tim and Sam.
"What am I wearing?" she asked, already knowing the answer. She didn't have any clothes aside from the gown; she hadn't bought any bras or panties last time.
"Wear this," he said, throwing her a black pair of underwear with Calvin Klein written on the waistband.
"What about my shirt?" she asked.
"I can cover you with my body," he teased.
"Tim, be serious," she said, hitting his chest. "Help me zip it up."
"With pleasure," he replied.
He walked over and gently brushed her hair to her right shoulder. His fingers slowly zipped up the back of her gown, making her feel nervous with every inch.
"You know what?" he said, his voice softer now. "I'm not going to sleep without you if you're not ready. So, I'll wait until you are." He kissed her neck.
He helped her pull down the gown, revealing her breasts. She quickly slipped on a tank top, her breasts standing firm like trees.
Tim pulled off his shirt, revealing his chest and tattoos—she hadn't seen his bare chest before. She admired his abs and noticed the tattoo she hadn't seen clearly before. Her eyes landed on the letters A.R.M.Y. inked across his knuckles.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing at his fingers.
"That's for my fans. I love them."
"Girls??" she asked, raising a brow.
"Are you jealous?" he grinned.
"Of course not," she lied.
"Let's get ready before the pool gets crowded," she said as he put on his swimming trunks. They left the house together.
***
At the pool.
"You're a bad swimmer," Alva said to Cody, who still hadn't entered the water.
"I'm not a bad swimmer—I just don't like water," he replied.
"Yeah, like a cat. Cats hate water," she murmured sarcastically. "But come on, everyone's swimming except you. And I can't swim without you in there."
"You could just stay here, and I'll tell you anything you want," he said, gently placing Alice in the water. She giggled and splashed happily.
"Remember the first time you saw me naked, and you told me you weren't interested in me?" Alva said casually.
"Uh..." He heard her, but kept playing with Alice in the water.
"I was wearing your shirt, remember? Just your shirt. How?"
"Oh... that."
"Yeah. Also, when you put that camera in my room—did you watch me change?" she asked, her voice teasing.
"What if I say yes? Or no?"
"First of all, that room's camera was turned off. It showed red because someone was in there. And that night we spent at the hotel... you fell asleep while you were still in a robe. I only wore my shirt on you . but I never even untied the rob."
"So... you really think I'm gay?" he asked with a chuckle.
"I wanna swim!" she said, avoiding the question and scooping Alice out of the water and placing her in a chair nearby. Then she grabbed Cody's hand and yanked him into the pool.
He looked like a cat getting dunked—wide-eyed and panicked.
"Why are you so scared of water?" she laughed, watching him breathe heavily, trying to stay afloat.
+++
"What's on your back?" Vicky asked, staring at Cody. A tattoo of moon phases ran along his spine—both half and full moons inked into his skin.
"You like it?" he asked, noticing her silence.
"What does it mean?"
"A lot of things," he said, and they both went quiet.
In the corner of the pool, Tim and Sam were playing around.
Sam chuckled as Tim splashed water toward her. She did the same, laughing.
"Can you swim?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I haven't really been in water… apart from, well, bathing," she said.
"Let me teach you," he offered, stepping closer.
"Okay, but don't drown me," she warned.
He picked her up and gently placed her in the water.
"Ahhhh! It's cold!" she shrieked, and he giggled.
He floated still, guiding her. First, he held her waist and belly so she could stay afloat. Then he helped her use just her hands to paddle.
"Now splash the water with your legs," he said.
She did, and he moved with her through the water, keeping her supported.
"I can swim!" she beamed.
"You're—"
"Yes!" she shouted, but before she could finish her sentence, Tim let go.
She slipped under the water, startled, and started trying to repeat the technique he taught her. But she couldn't stay up—she felt herself sinking.
Tim dove in quickly and pulled her back up. She coughed out water and clung to him, eyes wide with fear.
"You hurt me!" she cried, her soaked hair clinging to her face as she playfully hit him.
"You said you could—"
"But I didn't say you should leave me!" she yelled, swatting him again.
"Alright, alright," he said, laughing as he carried her to a chair.
Then he dove back into the water and swam like a fish, popping up with a grin. "See?" he called out.
Sam watched, amazed.