“That’s why when you saw me, you bolted to the bar and started serving yourself shots?”
I finish pouring the fourth shot and tip it back into my mouth before I say, “You give yourself way too much credit, brother.”
I set the bottle down on the counter, but keep my shot glass, because I’ll be needing this.
Arlo stops me, hand on my shoulder. “Cora, we need to have a conversation.”
“About what?” I ask, playing dumb.
His eyes narrow, and I know that look—he’s pissed.
“You know damn well what I want to talk to you about.”
I tap my chin. “Hmm, I can’t seem—”
“Cora,” he says sternly.
“Is this about the thing in the teachers’ lounge the other day?” I roll my eyes. “It was from a guy I know at work. He was only joking. Pranking me, you know.” From the corner of my eye, I catch Pike walking toward the indoor pool, wearing the swim trunks I gave him and talking to Keiko.
Huh, I didn’t know Keiko was going to be here. She’s been very distant lately.
“If that’s the truth, then how come you didn’t say that from the beginning?”
“Because you were acting like a crazy person and I didn’t know if the truth would ignite that.”
“I don’t think you’re telling the truth.”
My eyes drift to Pike, and my stomach twists as I see him enter the water, the only person in the pool.
Arlo looks over his shoulder. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing,” I say, snapping my eyes back to him.
He grows even more irritated. “Coraline, I don’t like entertaining the way you’re acting.”
“Then don’t entertain it . . . you weirdo.”
“Uh, Cora,” Stella says from behind me. I turn to see her eyes grow wide and then she nods toward the pool.
I glance over to the water again and see Pike swimming on his stomach . . . his ass out in the open for everyone to see.
Fuck.
Oh God, what have I done?
“Coraline, what the hell is going on?”
“Pike,” Romeo calls out. “Uh, dude, no skinny dipping.”
“What?” Pike asks.
Everyone’s attention is now on the pool.
Mortification beats through me as, from a distance, I watch Pike realize that his bathing suit has come apart and is barely hanging on in the front. His eyes snap to mine immediately and for the first time since I’ve been married to him, I can honestly say he does not like me in this moment. I should be happy as he clutches at the remains of his disappearing swimsuit that Stella and I bought online. It worked.
He’s embarrassed—mortified—in front of his peers. But guilt swarms me. My heart aches for him.
He didn’t deserve this.
“Pike, it seems as though you’ve lost your clothing,” Keiko says.
“It seems that way,” Pike says through clenched teeth. “Could you hand me a towel?”
“It is my duty, as your friend, to do so.” Keiko grabs a towel and hands it to Pike as he shimmies out of the pool, his hand over his crotch. He maneuvers the towel around him and then snaps his attention to me once more.
He’s not happy . . . at all.
“Why do you keep looking at him?” Arlo asks.
“What?”
“Pike. You keep looking at him.”
“His bathing suit just came off, excuse me for being curious.” I turn back around and pour myself another shot, because I need it. I want to forget all of this.
I want to forget Arlo and his controlling, older-brother tendencies.
I want to forget the look of shame on Pike’s face.
And I especially want to forget these burning feelings I’m developing for the one man I shouldn’t be having feelings for.
“Uh, Cora, can I talk to you?” Stella asks, a nervous look in her eyes.
“Yeah.” I take one more shot, then hand the bottle to Arlo and take off with Stella.
Together, we walk back into the house and into the kitchen, where Stella turns me toward her. “Pike is pissed. Like really fucking mad. He walked past me on his way to the bathroom and told me to send my friend his way.”
My stomach twists in knots.
“He said that?”
She nods. “And I’m sorry, but I’m not going to protect you on this one. You need to see him, or else I think he might erupt, and you don’t want that.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I twist my hands together. “Things are getting out of control,” I say. “Arlo is onto me; I can feel it. Pike looks like he’s about to murder me. And I—”