The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (6 page)

He shook his head. “No way. There’s
more.”

“What’s your story?”

“I don’t have one. I just know he’s a pompous
asshole.”

“As compared to you?”

“I’m not pretending to be citizen of the
year, but I’m also not trying to date a nice girl.”

“Nice girl? I’m a nice girl?”

“Aren’t you?” He looked at me
questioningly.

I shrugged. “Sometimes.”

“You’re something else, Annie.” He held open
the gym door.

“Why do you keep calling me Annie?”

“Because you’re a good shot.”

“And Annie relates to that because…” I waited
for Reed to swipe his ID for entry. I followed him.

“Annie Oakley.”

“Ohhh.” The gym was as empty as the streets.
Reed quickly climbed the stairs and headed to the weight room. I
trailed behind.

“Sharp one, huh?” He went right over to the
free weights.

“What am I supposed to do?”

He moved over to a bench. “You can work out
too if you want.”

“In this?” I gestured to my outfit.

“You can’t lift weights in a skirt?”

“I could… but I’d rather be in gym
clothes.”

“You like to complain, don’t you?” He set
himself up with a barbell that I’m sure weighed a lot more than I
did.

“You know what?”

“What?” He lay back.

“Arrh. Forget it. Just lift your damn
weights.”

“I plan on it.”

I took a seat on a bench. “Why’d you single
me out?”

He started to lift. I forced myself to look
away. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“No.”

He took a moment to answer, probably because
he needed to catch his breath. “I wanted to mess with you.”

“Great.” I refused to look at him the rest of
the time he worked out. I purposely stared at everything else. It
was a nice weight room, something I hadn’t cared much about when
I’d taken a tour of the school. I was more of a cardio and light
weights at home kind of girl. Luckily, Reed didn’t actually ask me
to spot.

“You ready?” He wiped sweat off his forehead.
Lovely.

“It’s not up to me. Is it?”

“I guess not.”

I followed him out and back to his house. I
could still hear everyone out back.

“I’m going to shower. You can wait in my
room.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. I’ll only be a few
minutes.”

I decided to use the time to snoop. I know
it’s rude, but if he didn’t want me to, he shouldn’t have made me
wait for him in there. I didn’t open drawers or anything. I just
sorted through the stuff that was out—and there was lots of it.
After looking at some books—mostly history—I guessed that was his
major. I found a t-shirt with the name of a local pizza hangout on
it.

Reed walked back into his room with a towel
wrapped around his waist. He might not have been my type, but
looking at him with water dripping down his chest did a number on
me. He noticed, and I didn’t appreciate the smirk.

“Having fun?” Reed closed the door.

I deflected his question with one of my own.
I held up the t-shirt. “Al’s Pizza? Do you work there?”

“Yeah, I run the place for the owner most of
the time.”

“Really?”

“I’ve been working there a few years.”

“Cool. You wouldn’t happen to be hiring,
would you?” It was a long shot, but I really needed to find
something part-time.

A slow smile spread across his lips. “Are you
looking for a job?”

“I kind of need one.”

“I’m sure I could find you something.”

“Really? No interview?”

“I think doing my laundry and putting up with
me in the gym is enough of a test.”

“Awesome. When can I start?”

“Eager, huh?”

“I really need the money.” That was putting
it mildly. I’d spent the last of my lifeguard money on sorority
dues.

“You can start tonight.” He ran a hand
through his wet hair.

“Aren’t I stuck here until nine?”

“I’m not actually going to keep you that
long.”

“I kind of have plans at nine-thirty.”

“With Dylan?”

“Maybe.”

“Turn around.”

“What?”

“I don’t care if you watch, but you seem kind
of uptight.”

“Oh.” I looked down.

He laughed. “Okay, it’s safe.”

I glanced back as he pulled a t-shirt over
his head.

“I’m going in at five. You can work from then
until nine-thirty and have him meet you there.”

“Okay, that might work.”

“Good.” He tossed his towel onto his desk
chair.

“Am I really free to go?”

“Sure. I bet your friends are already
home.”

“What was the point of all this anyway?”

“There was no real point…that’s the whole
idea. You did what you were told without questioning it.” He
smiled. “Well,
you
questioned it.”

“That makes no sense, but thanks for the
job.”

“Not a problem. I think you’ll be an
entertaining addition to the staff.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah…that’s a safe assumption.”

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Hey Hey Hey

Dear Amy,

Dylan asked me out. I’m trying not to worry
too much, but I don’t want to mess things up. BTW Kyle got hot. Oh,
and you’re right. I’d win any boob competition.

Love,

Your Hotter and Bustier Cousin,

Juliet

P.S. How are things going over there?

“Here, change into this.” Reed tossed me an
Al’s Pizza t-shirt.

“Now?”

“Yes, you can change in the bathroom.” He
pointed to a door with a white, stenciled Marilyn Monroe on it.

“That’s okay. I can wear it over my tank.” I
turned away from Reed as I pulled it over my head.

“Nice.” He nodded.

“I look fantastic, don’t I?” To be honest,
the fitted girls’ tee didn’t look too bad.

“Of course.”

“Now what?” I glanced around the empty
restaurant. The only job I’d had before was lifeguarding. This was
new territory for me.

“We sit around.”

“What?”

“No one comes in here until at least
nine-thirty or ten.”

“Why?”

“People don’t want to eat this pizza unless
they’re drunk.”

“Then how does Al stay in business?” I
glanced around the place. It certainly wasn’t the décor that
brought people in. The booths had seen better days, and the fading
paint on the walls didn’t look any better.

“College kids get drunk a lot.”

I laughed. “Why keep it open during the
day?”

“That, I can’t tell you, but we never open
before four thirty.”

“How are my hours going to work?”

Reed spun a beer bottle lid around like a
top. “How many hours do you want to work?”

“Maybe a few shifts a week.”

“I’m guessing you don’t want to work
weekends.”

“I’d prefer not to, but…”

He leaned back against the counter. “Monday,
Wednesday, and Thursday nights from five to midnight.”

“That’s a lot of hours.”

“Most of them will be like this. Bring your
books. Get your homework done.”

“Is there any flexibility if I need to be
somewhere?”

He smiled. “For someone desperate for a job,
you’re very demanding.”

“Sorry. I know.”

“If you need to skip a shift, we’ll talk
about it.”

“Will there always be someone here?”

He put a hand in his pocket. “Me.”

“Really?” Reed seemed like the kind of guy
who liked to go out. Did he really work that much?

“Yes. I don’t trust you to work alone.
Besides, you’re not going to be cooking. Your job’s to ring people
up and serve.”

I wasn’t sure whether to be insulted by his
‘I don’t trust you’ comment. Either way, I didn’t actually want to
work alone.

“You didn’t ask, but it’s eight fifty an
hour.”

“Oh, that’s good.” I’d have taken anything at
that point—especially from a job that didn’t require weekends.

He smiled. “It’s better than you’ll get
anywhere else around here.”

“Great.”

He pulled two stools over to the counter and
sat down on one. “How’s the pledging life going for you?”

“It was going fine until I got stuck spending
my day with some weird guy.”

“Well, he thinks you’re weird, too.”

“Very funny.”

“Do you like it so far, though?”

“Yeah. It’s been good.” For all I knew, he’d
report everything to Amanda. I wasn’t saying anything stupid.

“Just don’t let it get you down. It’s only a
few months.”

“I know. And it’s not like pledging a
frat.”

“I’m sure it’s better in some ways, but worse
in others.” He played with a plastic Al’s Pizza pen.

“In what ways?”

“Guys are more physical, more extreme, but
girls can be cruel. Like, making you guys work for us at the house.
That’s demeaning in so many ways. It’s different than asking a guy
to fix something.”

“Oops.”

“What?”

“I just realized we never moved your stuff
into the dryer.”

“Maybe
we
didn’t, but I did.”

“Oh, okay. Good.”

“I’m glad you’re concerned about my clothes.
That’s sweet of you.”

I shook my head. “Don’t read into it.”

“Where’s Dylan taking you tonight?”

“No clue. We were supposed to go to dinner,
but you know I was busy.”

“What are you doing instead?” Reed crossed
his arms.

“Drinks, I think.”

“In other words, he gets out of buying you
dinner and is going to get you drunk and into bed.”

“Not necessarily.”

“But possibly.” He studied me.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Maybe it isn’t, but I’m surprised you’re so
easy to get into bed.”

“I am not easy!”

“No? It’s just Dylan?”

“He wasn’t my first—wait, why am I telling
you this?”

He laughed. “I don’t know, but I was right.
You are definitely entertaining.”

I pushed him, and his arm felt like a solid
rock. “Are you human?”

“Umm…am I really supposed to answer
that?”

“You’re not.”

“All right, Annie.”

The phone rang. “Be right back.”

I waited as Reed talked for a minute. He
wrote a few things down on a note pad.

He came back to sit. “It was just about a
beer delivery.”

“Oh, cool.”

“You say that a lot.”

“What?” I stretched. My back was getting
tired from sitting on the stool.

“Cool. You say it more than normal.”

“I’ll try to remember that.”

“Here, you need to fill these out.” Reed
placed some paperwork in front of me.

I started to search for a pen, and he placed
his in my hand. “Take your time. We have nothing better to do.”

I finished filling out my info, and we sat
around talking for a while. Before I knew it, an hour had passed,
and my stomach growled.

“Want to get something to eat?”

“Sure…where?”

“I usually run over to the Subway across the
street. You think you can hold down the fort here?”

I glanced around the empty restaurant. “I
think I can handle it.”

“Good. What do you want?”

“Turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and
hot peppers.”

“Hot peppers?”

“What?”

“Most girls don’t order those.” He studied
me.

“Well, I happen to like things spicy.”

“Good to know.” He grinned before walking
out.

The door had just closed behind Reed when I
got a text from Dylan.
Where are you?

I told you I was busy until nine.

I want to see you so bad. Can you get out
early?

Maybe. I’ll let you know.

Do that.

Only if you say please.

Please.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about Dylan’s texts.
On the one hand, they were rude, but on the other hand, there was
something thrilling about him pushing to see me.

I’d just shoved my phone back in my purse
when Reed returned with our sandwiches.

“You got me a foot-long?”

“Yeah…”

“Do you really think I can eat that
much?”

“Yes. I also got you chips.” He tossed my
food on the counter.

“What do I owe you?”

“It’s on the house. You did do some of my
laundry today, after all.”

“Thanks.” I belatedly realized I didn’t even
have any money with me. I only had my ID, phone, and key in the
back pocket of my skirt.

I ate half my sandwich and some chips,
enjoying the comfortable silence we’d fallen into. Maybe Reed was
right. We would be friends.

My phone beeped again. Another text.
We’re
having a small party at the house. Come ASAP
.

I shook my head. So much for drinks.

“Who is that from?” Reed asked.

“Dylan.”

Reed grabbed my phone and read it. “You’re
not going to show up, are you?”

“Why not?

Reed snorted. “That isn’t even an invitation.
A piece of advice: make a guy work for it. It’ll only make him want
you more.”

I took my phone back.
You’re supposed to
take me out first.

You’re the one who cancelled on dinner.

We settled on drinks.

Just come over whenever you’re done.

I glanced up, and Reed shook his head.

No.
I hit send before I could chicken
out. I wanted to see Dylan, but I wasn’t going to let him bully me.
Besides, maybe Reed had a point about it making him want me
more.

He didn’t reply, so I put my phone away. “Now
what? I just wait for him to call me?”

“No. You don’t wait for anything. You do what
you want. If he really likes you, he’ll find a way to see you.”

“You seem to be all about the advice
thing.”

He ignored my comment, crumbled his wrapper
into a ball, and threw it into the garbage.

“Nice shot.”

“Thanks. Your turn.”

“Okay, I’m guessing you don’t want this extra
half?”