“I don’t really have to pee,” I say when she looks at me like she’s waiting for me to use the toilet.

She moves past me and pulls up her dress. I turn and give her some privacy, staring into the mirror at my flushed cheeks. When she’s done, she joins me at the sink.

“You’re staying over with Nathan tonight, right?” she asks as she adds another coat of gloss to her lips.

“I don’t know. Nathan and I haven’t talked about it. I’m not sure what he has going on tomorrow.”

Which is all mostly true.

“The thing is, if you leave then I have to leave, too, but if you stay then it’s just assumed I will.”

“You really like Shaw that much?”

“Oh, I’m not going to sleep with him tonight.”

“No judgment.” I hold my hands up and smile.

“I’m a fifth date kind of girl,” she says and smacks her lips in the mirror.

“Won’t he assume differently if you stay tonight?” I ask with light laughter.

“I always tell them ahead of time there will be no sex. It makes them work harder, swear to God. Take sex off the table and suddenly, you’re a goddess.”

Maybe that’s why things feel so intense with Nathan. We took sex out of the equation and it made both of us want it that much more. Except, it’s not just sex I crave from him. Being in his arms while he plays video games and going out on double dates… I want those things too even if I know the reality is it’s not the right time to get involved.

Nathan and Datson are still playing video games when we emerge. Shaw meets Sydney in the hallway, and I slip past them.

“Damn.” Datson tosses the remote on the coffee table. “I thought I had you that time.”

“Bo knows.” Nathan spots me, stands, and lobs his remote next to Datson’s. “Thanks for the game.”

He reaches me in three long strides, crowding my space as he brushes my hair behind my ear. “Whatcha wanna do?”

I look back where Sydney and Shaw are still standing. She’s leaning against the wall and he’s got one arm on the wall beside her, leaning in close. Nathan follows my gaze and nods.

“Yo, Shaw, water ball?”

Shaw takes his time before turning his head and answering, like he can’t bear to look away, “Hell yeah.”

“You in, princess?”

“Do I even want to know what water ball is?”

He smirks. “You’ll see. First, let’s get you in a suit.”

The four of us head upstairs to change for the pool.

“I don’t have a suit.” This seems like an obvious problem, but no one else seems concerned.