“I like her,” Gabby proclaims, her eyes not leaving Maureen. My best girl may have visions of braiding hair and naked pillow fights, but I have no such fantasies. I mean, well, okay, that’s a damn good visual regardless of my disinterest.

“And I’m single,” Maureen adds, interrupting me from mentally undressing her, except the naked vision of her isn’t her at all.

I can’t get Chloe off the brain no matter how hard I try. But she isn’t here and Maureen is, so the least I can do is be a gentleman and make a little small talk. “Where are you living?”

Before Maureen can answer, Gabby pulls away. “I’m going to get a drink.” She winks at me and then turns to Maureen. “Nice to meet you.”

“I live in Freddy. What about you?”

“I live here.”

“Really?” Her eyes are wide, and I swear she went from sort of interested to planning our destination wedding.

I’m about to tell her I need to take a piss just to get away without being rude, when she places a hand on my forearm. The nervous and shy girl is gone and replaced by one who wants to eat me alive. “Why don’t you show me around?”

I take her through the kitchen and outside. We’ve got a nice patio set up and a pool that several people have already jumped in.

“And this is the backyard,” I say because honest to God, I just don’t know what else to say. Clever, I am not.

“Oh, that pool is amazing!”

Dock another point for the high-pitched squeal that has me squeezing my eyes shut. “You like to swim?”

“I’m on the Valley swim team.”

“Ah.”

She slips off her shoes and then takes my hand as she heads toward the pool. She’s got a death grip on me, and she drags me behind her. I manage to slip out of her clutches as she steps down into the pool. It’s only a couple feet deep and her dress is plenty short enough to stay dry. I step back and watch as she twirls around and splashes in it.

I spot Shaw, who is also in the pool. He eyes Maureen with interest. She seems nice, I’m just not feeling it, so I motion with my head for him to go for it. It’s two seconds too late, though. Maureen uses those long legs to run and jump from where she stands in the shallow end to me on the top step. She flings her arms around my neck and I’m crashing forward, taking us both into the pool before I know what’s what.

Chloe