Chapter 42 Chapter 42 The Lake
"You really don't care if I date him?" asks Tish as I park my little truck.
There was no way I am driving my G-Wagon in the dirt around Lake Mead, fuck that. She broke up with Colt and Marcus asked her out. The morning after my birthday party, I left before he woke up but him and the other guys hung out with Gemma and Tish. They hit it off and I am happy for her. He is sweet and she needs sweet, her break-up with Colt was nasty.
I slide the tiny handgun on the chain around my neck. Tish watches me and smiles. "No, I don't care. I hope he makes you happy!"
Erika and Kyle get out of his truck, George is here again. When can I escape him? Ashley is with Vince, he hasn't had time for me. She started working day shifts, taking a more administrative role, whatever that means when you are resident. She knows what we have been up to, she is too smart to be that stupid.
Andreas is setting up a tent with his new girlfriend, we have started to number them because there is too many to keep track, this number 18. Matt is setting up the grill, like usual. His sister, Melanie and her boyfriend Donn are joining us, he brought his twin brother David. He looks over at me and smiles like he knows something I don't. Nick is blowing up his mattress, I wink at him. We have been on a step-brother, step-sister kick, it's been different. For the first time in a while Gemma is dating...Colt, Tish isn't bothered so we all just go with it.
After Vince and Ashley set up all the chairs we are one short. I am left standing by my truck after I set up mine and Tish's tent. George watches me and taps his lap. I lift my hand and flip him off, as I walk toward Nick.
He lifts his elbows off of his knees and lets me sit on him. Gemma grins and comes to sit in his lap too. Nick stops talking to Matt because he can't see him anymore. Gemma grabs my face and starts to kiss me. I can feel Nick's hold tighten, I grab his chin and bring him in the kiss. We turn into an entangled mess of tongues and moans.
"Quit making out with my friends!" complains Colt as he rips Gemma away from Nick and I.
"What was that?" whispers Nick against my ear, making me break out in goosebumps.
I lick his neck. He laughs. "Not very sister like!"
"It's step-sister like!!!" I laugh and take a sip from my beer.
Ashley is making bloody-mary drinks. I agree to have one because I love tomato juice, I've never had tequila. She slaps a celery stick in and hands me and Melanie one. I am having beer after beer, shots, I take another drink from Ashley. I haven't left Nick's lap, he is holding me in place taking to Matt about work and school. He is working toward a degree in accounting and business management. He tells Matt he is taking three classes online, during the summer to graduate faster.
He brushes my hair over my shoulder. "I love how your eyes look when you are drunk!"
"Are you flirting?" I ask wrapping my arms around his neck, he smirks but does not respond.
I wonder what Ivan is doing right now. Is he out drinking with friends? Is he fucking some other girl? He has been liking all the pictures I have uploaded, even the ones with Marcus. Other than that, we haven't talked. I look up at the stars, they are so beautiful, the bonfire is keeping us warm in the cool summer night. It's cooler by the lake than in the city, clouds are rolling in, the forecast says it's going to rain the next few days.
Everything starts to spin, I sit up from Nick's lap and grab his shoulder to steady my steps. "Elle??? Is everything ok?" he asks and I feel the bile rise.
Before I can even think, I run around my truck and puke my guts out. The vomit doesn't stop, it's violent burning me from the inside out. Someone is holding my hair and rubbing circles on my back. My body continues to fold over. I can hear Nick yell at Ashley asking her how much alcohol she put in her drinks.
"I am fine! I was mixing too much!" I say between my heaving of vomit.
I toss out the rest of whatever was in my stomach and stand up. Nick hands me a water bottle. I use to clear out my mouth and brush my teeth. I take another bottle and dump it over my face, washing away any remanence of nasty from me. I take my tank top off and wipe my face. Reaching in my bag I put a clean shirt on and my sweatpants.
I pop some gum in my mouth and grab another bottle of water to drink. Nick makes me sit in his lap, holding me, while rubbing my back. His basketball shorts are silky smooth, his big arms are warm wrapped around me. Nick is much softer than the other guys, he doesn't workout, his abs aren't defined. I feel safe inside his embrace, he continues to look Ashley sideways like she did something to my drink. She is a doctor, she wouldn't, would she? Would she come after me that way because of a guy? I shake the thoughts out of my head.
I lean into the crook of his neck, he smells like leather and citrus. It reminds me of Ivan, I wish my mind would stop going there.
"You smell so fucking good!" I moan out softly.
"Who's is flirting now!" I can hear the smile on his face even though I am not looking at him. "Are you ready for bed? You are sleeping with me, I am going to watch over you just in case you throw up again." he is serious.
I stand up. "Take me to bed step-brother!!!" I demand, everyone starts laughing at us.
Nick rolls his eyes and picks me up one handed. When we get to the suburban, he hoists me up and I get under his comforter. He gets in after me. I take my shirt off, sliding out of my sweatpants I lay there in my underwear. Nick takes his sleeveless shirt off and pulls me flush against him.
"Are you feeling better?'
I nod as he kisses the top of my head.
"How many times did you think about him tonight?"
I lick his neck a few times, Nick laughs.
"The line gets thinner everytime we hang out!"
I slide my hand down his chest but he stops before I get below the elastic band of his shorts.
"I am never going to cross it!" he admits, although I feel him like never before. I've never had that effect on him. Never!