Twenty-Two

                                    

                                          
"What's up with you?"
"What do you mean?" I finished rubbing sunscreen into my legs amd set the bottle aside.
"Yesterday you looked upset about something. I didn't want to ask about it and make a scene but obviously I noticed something was up."
I heavy out a sigh. "It's nothing."
"Okay. It's not like I care anyway."
I scoffed. "That's not going to walk on me, Gray."
"By the way is it just Gray or Grayson?"
"If I tell you, will you tell me what wrong?"
"It's not even that big of a deal." He remains silent prompting me into talking and it works. I tell him everything that happened with Connor. "I guess it is kind of a big deal. I mean. I would never sleep with a married man."
"But you already did." I slap his arm and he chuckles. "Don't beat yourself up too much. He wasn't honest with you from the get go."
"But still, Gray, he had a fianceé- now wife- and a baby on the way meanwhile he's messing around with me. I'm so dumb." My elbows on my knees and my face in my palm, I let out a groan. "I got played by a fucking village boy from south west England. Fucking hell."
Gray sat up in the lounger beside me so we're sitting face-to-face. For a while he just watches me. He moves forward in his sit so he is closer to me. His hands caressing my thighs.
"Do you want me to fight the guy? I'm a quarter back, I can tackle him. Cause some fractured ribs and maybe a black eye."
I threw my head back laughing.
"Is that a yes?"
"It's a maybe. You can hold him back and I'll punch him in the face."
Now it's Gray turn to laugh. I won't lie, he looked ten times more handsome when he laughed. His perfect white teeth on display.
"So I told you. Now you tell me is it Grayson or Gray?" Changing the topic.
"Just Gray." He responds laying back in his lounger chair and I follow suit.
"Bummer. Grayson sounds so sexy. As for Gray. It's just blend and boring. Like the colour grey." A smirk dances on my lips when I say that.
"Okay, Ruby." Putting unnecessary emphasis on my name.
"Hey! There is nothing wrong with the name Ruby!"
He only smirks at my reaction but says nothing more. His eyes closed and hands resting behind his head. "You're so annoying."
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"Chug chug chug chug!" The crowd chanted. As Ronnie raced to finish the jug of beer while his competitor stopped to catch a breathe.
"Done!" Ronnie exclaims running over amd tapping my hand. I was next. I get through most of the obstacle course smoothly our competitors not for behind me.
"Come, Ruby. If you lose this you lose your Scottish card." I heard Ronnie call out. I pick up the heavy jug full of beer. I start chugging it down pushing aside the thoughts of possible getting a beer belly.
At some point i feel like I can't drink anymore bit Ronnie is litrary screaming and encouraging me. I do a little jog thingymabob as I drain the remaining foaming liquid.
"Done!"
"Done!"
I look over at my competition only now do I notice how good looking she actually is. Dressed in basketball shorts and a white vest with chains dangling around her neck.
"Red team won." The man posing as the refere announced and my team cheers in victory.
"Congratulations. You're did great."
"Thank you and you too. I mean not everyone comes out of a challenge look as good as you."
She chuckles fidgeting with her necklaces. "Voce fala algum portugues?" [Do you speak any Portuguese]
"Eu sei um palavra ou duas." [I know a word or two] I played it cool. She looks impressed and I smile. She takes a step closer brushing the loose strands of hair from my hair.
"José." She introduced herself.
"Ruby." We never broke eye contact.
"Nos temos que ir!" [José we've got to go.] Her crowd of friends call out.
"Foi um prazer conhence-lo, Ruby." [It was lovely meeting you Ruby.] Her hand goes behind my neck caressing it while her lips grazed my own.
I lift my hand over the one on my neck and smile. Our faces only eaches apart
"[Charming and smooth are two very dangerous things for a thief to have.]"
She chuckles. Grabbing tighter at my neck and moving her lips to my ear. "Take off the necklace and give it to me."
"No."
I feel something could against my abdominal. I don't what it is. A knife? A gun? Is she bluffing? "Don't make me ask you again."
"Go ahead. Do it in front of all this witnesses."
We stay like this for a minute longer till i feel the cold object moved away and she steps away.
"You're still cute though." I wink at her walking away. Struggling really I was tipsy and the heat was not making it any easier.