Chapter 17: Pool Party

Chapter 17: Pool Party
The gate creaked open the second Chyler pressed the buzzer, followed by Capri's unmistakable voice through the intercom.

"Drive on up. I'm sure you remember the way." The voice was warm and playful.

Chyler couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. She drove up slowly along the long winding driveway lined with well-manicured hedges and flowerbeds. The mansion loomed ahead in clear view, grand and alluring against the early afternoon sun. The more she progressed there, the more the memories stirred persistently.

She had been here only once before, sophomore year. Capri had invited the entire class to her sixteenth birthday party and as usual, it had been more of for show than a celebration. Extravagant with no one to top it in the whole school. That night, Chyler had stood alone in a corner quietly sipping a cup of overly sweet punch while everyone raided Capri's parents' beer cabinet and turned the hall into a dance floor. She had been the quiet girl in a corner just watching, until Capri had somehow noticed her.

That moment was still a crystal clear slide in her memory. Capri had broken away from a group of boys laughing around a beer chugging competition and strode over her, grabbing a beer from the lot on her way. She hadn't said much. Just raised a brow and held out the can to her with a smile.

Chyler still remembered that as the moment she had almost melted into the floor from ecstasy. Capri Elliott Nolan? The girl she'd had a crush on since freshman year?

She had hesitated but no one turned down someone they thought was the moon. And some foolish part of her maybe had thought that taking the beer meant being seen. She had taken it. It had been her first taste of alcohol and her first bad decision in a line that seemed to never end when it came to Capri.

Chyler chuckled at the memory, shaking her head as the car came to a stop in front of the white columned entrance. She stepped out. The front door opened before she reached it. Capri stood there barefoot in a white robe loosely tied at her waist. Her hair was damp and slightly curled at the ends like she had just had a shower and there was no trace of a hungover on her.

"You are right on time," she announced. "I was about to serve some cocktails out back by the pool. Fancy a non-alcoholic pool party for two?"

"Pool party?" Chyler repeated, her brows shooting up.

Capri stepped aside, motioning her in. "Don't look so skeptical. You are not still shy around me, are you?"

Chyler gave a half laugh. "I'm not shy. I've never been shy."

"Prove it," Capri said with a grin, handing her trunks. "You are way overdressed. Strip and join me at the pool." Chyler stared at the shorts, then her skeptically. "Or if you would prefer..." Her voice dropped just enough to give weight to her words. "We could always go skinny dipping. It's one of the two. No in-between."

"Jesus, you haven't changed," Chyler rolled her eyes but snatched the shorts from her. "Always giving conditions instead of choices."

Capri laughed as she turned, leading the way towards the back. "Oh please. I gave you shorts. What if I had handed you a bikini bottom? That would have been cruel."

They emerged into the backyard. The pool glistened under the sun, small waves lapping against the sides. If Chyler was being honest, it was so inviting. A jar of fresh juice was perched on a tray, next to two glasses and several citrus wedges, between two chaise lounges.

Chyler slipped in the pool bathroom and changed, stepping out a moment later in the shorts and a sports bra. Capri was already reclining on one of the lounge chairs, a mocktail in hand and sunglasses perched on her head. She joined her and lay easy for a while. Capri kept sneaking glances at her when she thought she wasn't aware but Chyler didn't miss it.

"I can feel your eyes on my skin," she said without turning.

"What can I say? You've grown up," Capri said, unashamed.

Chyler turned, glancing at her. "So have you."

Capri set her drink down and propped herself on an elbow, curiosity getting the best of her. "So are you going to tell me what that mysterious meeting was all about? Or am I supposed to just keep pretending it doesn't bug me?"

Chyler didn't respond right away. Her gaze drifted to the water, to the ripples playing on it's surface. Images were burned into the back of her mind. Caden standing with those men who were not supposed to be in his world at all, laughing with them like they were his beer buddies. She had considered asking her about it but now looking at her lying there looking like nothing ever touched her life but sun and soft perfect life, she couldn't.

"It was nothing important."

Capri watched her for a long moment then turned, lying on her stomach. Her chin rested on her arms. "You are lying."

"Oh?" Chyler cocked a brow. "And what would you know about that?"

"You can lie to other people, you know? But you don't have to practice on me."

Chyler sighed. There was no mockery in her voice, just softness. Like she was asking out of genuine concern or interest.

"I'll tell you, eventually," she said then stood up stretching. "But for now... Didn't you say this was a pool party?"

Capri raised a brow. "I'm waiting for the cannonball."

With a smirk, Chyler walked to the edge and dove into the water. The cold rushed over her skin, pumping her back to life. She surfaced slicking back her short hair and blinking the water out of her eyes.

"Come on," she called out after a long exhale. " Don't let me have all the fun."

Capri laughed but didn't move. "You don't want me in there, trust me."

"Why not?" Capri hesitated then stood up. "You can't suggest a pool party and then refuse to get wet. You better have a good reason."

Capri smirked at the statement. Her fingers found the knot of her robe and tugged on it. "Because I'm me." She let the robe fall to the ground.

Chyler's jaw dropped. Her mouth went dry, her eyes stunned, taking her in. Capri stood at the edge, completely naked and unapologetic. She wiggled her brows. "When I decide to get wet, I like getting wet all over." Her expression was raw and unfiltered as she said that. "What? You asked for it."

Chyler couldn't speak for a moment. She didn't even know what she could say. Capri dove into the pool and emerged beside her brushing her hair back with a playful smirk.

"Still haven't recovered yet?" she teased, a brow cocked.

"You really have an agenda, don't you?"

"Depends," she shrugged. "If I say yes, will it get me what I want right now?"

Chyler's lips parted. Her eyes searched Capri's, her thoughts spiraling. Then, as if her senses had been drowned in that pool, she reached for her, grabbed her by her throat and leaned in, pressing a claiming kiss on her lips.