Cassidy smiled. “So join us. It won’t be nearly as much fun as it was with Tanya and Derrick but…” But what? It would give them time together? It was probably a mistake. Erica and Amber were so different than Laura. She couldn’t imagine them having anything in common and even less to talk about. Why would she even suggest it? Because she was being selfish, she admitted. She wanted Laura around. Even if she had to tolerate Erica and Amber for a few hours, she wanted Laura’s presence there.

“So you’re already telling me that I won’t have a good time, but you still want me to come.”

“Yes.”

Laura tilted her head. “Why?”

Cassidy met her gaze and held it. “Because.”

Laura stared at her for a long moment, then she simply smiled. “Okay.”

“Thank you.” Then she grinned and splashed water at her. “See? Normal stuff.”

“I’m only coming for the steak, you know.”

“Sure. You can believe that if you want.”

“It’s the truth.”

“It’s so not the truth.”

Laura dove off her float, tipping Cassidy—beer bottle and all—into the water. She came up laughing, only to have Laura dunk her under again. A water fight ensued and Cassidy had to admit, it had been years and years since she’d engaged in such adolescent fun in the pool.

Or maybe it wasn’t so adolescent, despite the tickling. When Laura’s hand accidently grazed her breast—her nipple—their eyes flew together, both of them bobbing there in the water. Then Laura smiled, then laughed.

“Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about. Really. Feel free to do it again…anytime. As much as you want.”

Laura jumped on top of her, taking them both under water. Cassidy was still smiling when Laura finally released her.

“Okay…truce,” Laura said breathlessly. “I’m too old for this.”

Cassidy nodded. “Truce.” She got back on her float. “You owe me a beer.”

Chapter Forty

“If you want to go over there for pizza, I won’t mind.”

“Mom…I was over there this afternoon. I’m going over tomorrow for dinner. So no. We’ll eat here.”

“I’m just saying, if you want—”

“I know what you’re saying.” Laura pointed her finger at her. “Do not play matchmaker. It’s not going to work.”

“You sure spend a lot of time together,” her mother said, playing innocent.

“We’re friends,” she said, dismissing her mother’s comment. But she couldn’t keep the smile from her face. It had been a fun afternoon and she hadn’t seen the need to ruin that by having a huge, serious discussion about…the kiss. Far easier to simply ignore it and pretend it never happened. Of course, they didn’t really do that either. Whether they were playing or floating idly or chatting…it was always there. The kiss.