Double Time (24 page)

“
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. It’s not heated yet.” They don’t look too happy right now.

Josh hoists himself from the water and grabs a towel. “Thanks, Meg.” He stands next to me for a quick second before he tosses his towel, bear hugs me, and jumps into the water holding me.

Water goes up my nose as I kick free of him. “You asshole. I’m gonna kill you,” I yell. “I was going to go in eventually. Without all my clothes on.” The water is way chilly and my throat stings from inhaling it. I swim to the shallow end and take the steps out of the pool. I pick up a towel and blot my face dry. Then I take my shorts and shirt off. I’m wearing a one-piece today. I’ll wait for Alex to sport my new two-piece. “It’s freezing,” I shout.

“
Come back in,” Josh says. “I’m already warm.”

I punch my hands on my hips and glare at him. Then I give in and jump back in the water. It may be spring break, but it sure isn’t warm out. Swimming around will warm me up eventually.

“
All right, girls, get in here.”

We make our way into the spa when it finally reaches scorching hot temperatures. We have to turn on the jets when Josh starts making bubbles of his own. That’s when Dominic and Ben arrive.

“
Hey, guys,” I shout. “Did you bring your trunks?”

“
Nah, just came by to give you a message since none of you are answering your phones.” Ben stands out of splash range with his hands in his pockets.

“
Well, it’s not like we’re gonna keep our cells with us in the pool,” Keesh tells them.

“
I get it now why you weren’t answering,” he says.

Dominic takes a few steps toward us and kneels down to say hello to Steph. “Hi,” he says, and kisses her on the cheek.

“
Put one right there,” Josh tells him, touching his finger to his forehead. Dominic smacks him in the head.

“
So what’s the message?” I ask them, while the others laugh at Josh.

“
Alex is coming a day early. He asked if we could all meet him at the airport. I guess his parents can’t pick him up,” Ben explains.

“
Why do we all have to go?” Josh asks.

“
I don’t know,” Dominic responds. “Sounds like he has something planned but he won’t tell us.”

“
I’m in,” Steph says, “I love surprises.”

“
Me too,” I tell them. Everyone else seems to agree.

“
Well,” Ben pauses, swinging his hands back and forth, “we hate to break up the party, but you might want to cut it short. His plane arrives at six thirty.”

“
In the morning?” Travis yelps.

“
Uh huh.” Dominic runs his hand down his face. He’s not a morning person either.

“
Boys, go home. We’re going to bed,” Steph orders them. She’s the first one out of the water and dried off. The rest of us follow more slowly.

We chat a bit longer before the guys gather their stuff and leave.

A surprise, huh. For all of us.

What r u up to?

Me? What r u talkin about?

Dont play dumb. Pick u up at the airport? Surprise?

R u coming?

YES!

Guess ull hv to wait n see

Ur killing me

Gotta get back to sleep

Whatever

U should too. Its gonna be a long day.

Ugh

Miss u

Miss u 2. Butthead!

At five flipping thirty in the morning, Ben pulls up to my house and the girls and I all run out. Keesh and I jump in the car with him. Steph, Andi, and Josh pile in Dominic’s van.

The airport sucks. It’s not like the movies where you get to wait at the gate for your loved ones to suddenly appear. No. Instead, we have to either wait out front or at the foot of one escalator that leads flights full of people toward a baggage claim.

We have about fifteen minutes to spare by the time we park and make our way to the escalator. The boys wanted to wait outside, of course, but after five minutes of arguing, we agreed on coming inside. I want the first opportunity possible to see Alex. I can’t wait to ask him what the surprise is. I bet he has something planned for all of us to do today. We’re probably going on a road trip from here or something. Oh shit. He better not have a beach trip planned already. This better not all be about a bikini.

My phone vibrates.

Safe and sound and on the ground

“
He just landed.”

We park ourselves across from the long motorized staircase, watching as people appear at the top and then glide all the way down. Some travelers look happy, others look tired. Some are just little kids, all on their own.

Getting off the plane

“
He’s coming. Just got off the plane,” I fill the others in.

“
How long does it take to walk from the gate to here? Fuck, he’s slow,” Josh says.

The top of the escalator is high enough that I’ll be able to see Alex’s face as soon as he gets on.

“
Son of a bitch, he’s taking forever,” he complains again.

“
Shut it, Joshie. It hasn’t even been five minutes,” Keesh tells him.

“
It seems like five years,” he mutters. Tell me about it.

Finally, I see his big cheesy grin at the top of the stairs. Little by little, inch by inch, he glides his way down.

He smiles at us and waves. Like dorks, we all wave back.

“
This better be good,” Josh says.

My eyes are fixed on Alex as he turns around and taps on the shoulder of the guy behind him.

Without warning, Keesh screams and cries out “Omigod!”

Twenty Six

When Keesh screams, I look at her quickly to see if she is all right. When I turn back around to search for Alex, I’m stunned.

Omigod is right.

My best friend has her arms and legs wrapped around our surprise, sobs shrieking from her core. “I can’t believe you’re here,” she says, her voice muffled by the tears.

Jonathan holds her. “I’m here, baby. I’m finally here.”

The rest of us just watch. Amazed.

Alex hikes his bag on his shoulder and bends down to kiss me on the top of my head. “Good surprise, eh?”

“
The best.”

I look over at Josh, who’s still in shock. I take a few steps to him and notice tears coming down his cheeks. Sliding my arms around his waist, I squeeze the hell out of him. “You’ll get your turn, buddy.”

“
I know,” he says, wiping his face with the back of his hand.

“
You gonna be okay?”

“
Yeah.” He squeezes me tight, then taps me on the back. “Let’s go pry him out of Keesh’s grip before she suffocates him.”

“
Anyone have the jaws of life?” Travis jokes.

It’s crazy. I can’t believe Alex did this. I will forever be grateful to him for bring Jonathon home. Since he’s been going back and forth from Berkeley so much, along with his dad traveling for work, I guess he’s racked up some free miles. He called Jon and arranged the whole thing, for free. Jon’s parents couldn’t argue with that.

We’re all back at Alex’s house for a BBQ, and I can’t help but feel giddy inside. Keesh and Josh can’t stop staring at Jon. It’s like they’re scared to turn away in fear he might disappear. I remember feeling like that the first few times Alex came home from college. Sometimes, I guess I still do. But right now, I’m just looking at him in complete awe that he would do something like this, and that he actually pulled it off. Seeing Jon appear from behind Alex was like a freaking movie.

“
So, were you all surprised, Meggie?” Alex’s mom puts an arm around my shoulder.

I look up at her hazel eyes, shaped just like her son’s, only a different color. “Oh hi, Mrs. Aguilar. Yes, we were in shock. I think some of us still are.”

“
Who’s your new friend?” She nods in Andi’s direction.

“
That’s Andi.” I go on to tell her Andi’s story about being new and such.

“
Well, that’s very nice of you girls to make her feel welcome.”

“
She makes it easy. She’s really funny and easygoing.” I watch her as she observes the boys talking, animated, loud, and obnoxious. She studies Travis and grins every time he laughs.

Mrs. Aguilar smiles. “She has the hots for blondie, doesn’t she?”

“
I think so, but she won’t admit it. Not entirely, anyway. She’s afraid to say anything,” I explain.

“
She shouldn’t be. I’ve noticed him look her way a few times.” Her arms are crossed and she scans our crowd, taking it all in.

“
I thought I saw that too. It wasn’t just my imagination,” I squeal.

“
Well, I’m going to go back inside. You have a good time. Come back and visit. Don’t let my boy keep you all to himself.” She reaches over and ruffles my hair.

“
I’ll try not to, Mom,” Alex says, as I feel his hands wrap around my waist from behind. I lean back into his chest as his mom walks away, shaking her head. “How’s it going?”

“
Freaking awesome. How much better could vacation get? You’re the best.” I watch as Jon uses his hands wildly to tell a story. “Let’s go chat with Jon Jon.”

We sit down at a table with the rest of our friends.

“
Hey, thanks, man.” Jon slams his hand on Alex’s shoulder. Both he and Travis have grown like weeds in the last year. “I still can’t believe I’m here.” His voice has changed too. It’s a lot deeper, more manly.

“
I’m just glad it worked out,” Alex tells him. “I thought this one here,” he hikes a thumb in my direction, “was going to keep texting me till I gave up some information.”

“
She’s so impatient,” Ben says, “I’m surprised she didn’t.”

“
I’m surprised she didn’t call you,” Keesh adds.

Then Steph, “Or Skype you till you coughed up the details.”

“
I know. Meg can’t wait for anything. She’s like the chick in Willy Wonka. She wants everything now.” Joshie has to give his input.

Dominic, Travis, and Andi nod in agreement.

“
You guys suck!” I whine.

“
So are you two back together?” Jon asks, pointing to me and Alex.

We look at each other with a grin. “Nope,” I respond.

“
How about you guys?” he asks Steph and Dom.

“
Nope, not us either,” she tells him.

“
So, you’re just FTF then?”

“
What’s FTF?” Steph asks.

“
Friends that fuck,” Jon blurts out, with an expression like we’re all dumb asses for not knowing what it means.

“
Nope. Not that either. No one’s fucking here,” I tell him. Alex shakes his head with a smile.

“
And no one’s fuckin’ here either.” Steph looks disgusted.

“
We’re all a bunch of horny action-less bitches,” Keesh rattles off.

“
I’m full of action, baby.” Jon winks at her.

“
I can’t wait to find out,” she says, winking back.

“
Well, let’s go then.”

She stands. “All right.”

And with that, Jon smacks hands with all the boys, hugs all the girls, and they’re out.

“
Where the hell are they going?” I ask, completely confused. What just happened here?

We don’t see Keesh and Jon again until our Third Annual Beach Trip. It’s getting easier to tolerate the sand and dirty ass ocean, but I’m not going to say I like it. I’d rather stay home and take a dip in a nice chlorinated pool in the privacy of my own sand-less landscaped backyard.

“
Wow, Meggie. How come you don’t Skype me in that?” Jon barely finishes his sentence before he catches Ben’s hand to the back of the head. I forgot Jon was already gone before spring break last year. He didn’t see me in my bathing suit.

“
Well,” I say, striking a goofy pose for Alex. “Was it worth the wait?”

He scans my body from head to toe, raising a brow. “Absolutely.”

I grab him by the back of his neck and pull him close so only he can hear me. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like you haven’t seen me in a lot less than this,” I whisper in his ear. And then for the benefit of the whole group, “You guys are dumb. Now that you’ve seen me in a suit, go play in the water and let me relax.”