Iexpected a snicker or a chuckle, but he didn't show any sign of amusement atall. Instead, he nodded and said, “That's right. If I wanted someone like them,I'd have it. But I don't.” He took one step closer and I could feel the heatradiating from his body, as he placed my hand discreetly over the front of histrunks. “You feel that? That's from lookin' atyou.Youdo that.Nobody else. Okay?”
Ibobbed my head in a slight nod, both flustered and turned on. He dropped myhand and made a sardonic crack about not wanting to recreate the scene at myparents' house, then without warning, dove unceremoniously into the pool.
Thecrystal water shimmered beneath the late summer sun as it rippled from theimpact, then broke around his body as he resurfaced. He sucked in a gulp ofair, then grinned, his olive skin wet and glittering. His hair hung in hiseyes, dripping, before he raked it back, smoothing it over the crown of hishead, and I thought,this is the stuff fantasies are made of.
“Getin here, Andy,” he demanded, crooking his finger and beckoning me to him.
Ilaughed, knowing my cheeks were glowing with a magnetic flush. He wasn't the onlyone in the pool. A couple of Greyson's cousins were batting a beach ball backand forth in the shallow end, while his grandma, Sebastian's mom, lounged onthe steps leading into the water. But my attention was only on Vinnie, and fora moment, not even the white noise could distract me.
Ididn't jump in, not like him. I sat at the edge of the pool, dangling my legsin the water first, before sliding in. It was amazing to be surrounded by thewarm water and I closed my eyes to the feeling of weightlessness. Vinnie swamup to me, pressing his wet chest to mine, and with my eyes still closed, hekissed me. Open-mouthed, his tongue swept against mine and our bodies took on amind of their own, moving against each other and rippling the water around us.Without even realizing, I had ended my own resolve to not recreate that momentat my parents' anniversary party. But when I felt Vinnie's fingers tracing theedge of my swimsuit bottoms, I unlocked my mouth from his.
“No,”I said, shaking my head.
Henodded, pulling his hand from the water. “Sorry. I didn't mean—”
“Yourfamily would hate me,” I whispered.
Chuckling,he shook his head, wrapping his arms around me. “Sweetheart, they might tell usto get a room, but they would never hate you.”
“Youdon't know—”
“Whoa,man!” Greyson shouted from beside the pool, looking directly at us andsmirking. “We gave you guys a freakin’ room. Go use it.”
Iwas speechless, as Zach knelt down to whisper, “Yo, if you guys wanna do shit,at least wait until the kids are gone, you know what I'm sayin'? Don't scaranybody for life. But, I mean, if you came out here later, I wouldn’t stopyou.” And he reached out, clapping Vinnie on the shoulder as he winked, whilemy cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Vinnieleaned in, brushing his cheek against mine, and whispered, “See?”
Ibrought my forehead down to his shoulder and groaned. “God, I wish I was highright now.” He grunted in response, a disapproving sound, and taken aback, Ireared my head back to ask, “You don’t feel the same way?”
Heglanced around us, to make sure the coast was clear, before answering, “Don’tget me wrong; I love bein’ wasted. But sometimes, I love bein’ in the momentmore. And this, right now, is one of those.”
***
Thesky was dark and the yard was lit by what must’ve been a million little faerielights, wrapped around the deck railing and decorating the surrounding bushesand trees. The pool was lit from within, glowing in a blue ethereal splendor.Vinnie and I had found ourselves a floating lounge, big enough for two people,and that’s where we were when Zach clinked a spatula against his bottle of rootbeer.
“Okay,so you’re probably wonderin’ why we wanted all of you’s up here today,” he saidto the crowd of us, speaking loudly for everyone to hear. “Well, I’m sorry tosay it wasn’t ‘cause we just love all your company.”
Icuddled my cheek to Vinnie’s drying chest, trying hard to keep my attention onthe deck, where Greyson came to stand next to his husband.
“Whatdo you think they’re gonna say?” I whispered.
Vinniegrunted beneath my ear. “Gonna be somethin’ having to do with kids.”
“They’rehaving kids?”
Anotherbitter grunt in response.
“Okay,so as most of you know, we’ve been explorin’ our options when it comes tohaving a family, and well, we decided to have my lovely sister as oursurrogate.”
Jennastood and bowed flamboyantly. Zach chuckled. “Thanks for that, Jen. Anyway, uh,well … I guess in about seven months, we’re gonna be parents.”
Friendsand family erupted in a chorus of whoops and cheers for Vinnie’s older brotherand his husband. They rushed to the deck, offering hugs and congratulations tothe happy couple and squeezed Jenna for her loving sacrifice. Everybody was sohappy and excited. Everybody but Vinnie.
Hewore an expression of sincere dread. I caught the corners of his mouth tryingto smile and show his brother support, but the attempts were feeble.
“Baby,what’s wrong?”
Heshook his head and lifted the side of his mouth in a somber half-smile. “I’mokay.”
