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ALLISON

A llison braces herself for the onslaught of questions that she knows is coming. She turns, looking for Russell, but he isn’t following. Curtis must be having another conversation with him. Frowning, she stops walking, causing Emma to stumble.

“What are you doing?” Emma asks, glancing back, too. Her happy face falls. “Don’t worry about them. Curtis won’t hurt him. He just wants to make sure Worm knows how important you are to us.” Allison focuses on her cousin.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Emma has an embarrassed look on her face.

“Well, Curtis has told me stories about the guys on the team. You know, before any of them settled down,” Emma murmurs. “He just wants to make sure Worm knows you’re not one-night-stand material.”

Emma takes Allison’s arm, and they begin to walk again. They enter a large room with a round pool in the center. It looks like a kiddie pool with a short wall around the edges. Several children are kneeling next to it, leaning over the wall with their hands in the water. An attendant is standing nearby, watching. “Remember, don’t try to pick them up, just let them glide under your hand.”

The women move closer to the pool, seeing small rays swimming around and around. Allison is still trying to process Emma’s words. “I appreciate you and Curtis wanting to look after me, but I’m a grown woman, Emma. If I want to have a one-night-stand, or likely a three- or four-night fling, I damn well will. It isn’t up to either of you.”

Emma looks away. Allison can feel her turmoil. “I know we haven’t been as close in the last six years or so—” Emma’s face pinches tight. Allison hates that she is reminding Emma of that time, but what she’s saying is true. They haven’t been as close since Emma was raped by a monster, who’d tried to take her a second time, not that long ago. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to hurt you by bringing up the past.”

Emma turns to her. “I know you don’t, Ali, and you’re right. We haven’t been as close. I know we have both grown and changed over the years.”

“Yes, we have. It’s going to shock you, but I’m okay with having a fling with Russell,” Allison says sincerely. “When we were younger, I dreamed of marriage, kids, and the white picket fence, but I’m not a kid anymore, Em. This is real life. I like Russell. I’m very attracted to him, and I know when we get there the sex will be amazing.” Emma’s eyes widen.

“You haven’t had sex with him?” Emma questions. “I thought that ship had already sailed.” Allison’s face blushes. It’s been years since she and Emma discussed their dating lives. Back then, they didn’t really have a sex life, so this is new territory for them.

“We fooled around some,” Allison admits, “but, no, we haven’t actually had sex. I’d thought it would happen last night, but we fell asleep before we got to that part.” Allison’s face is on fire. Emma is grinning, and she’s flushed, too.

“Well?” Emma looks at her expectantly. “Was it good? What you guys did?” Allison barks out a nervous laugh but nods.

“Curtis is very good and creative,” Emma admits. “I mean when we come together…it’s phenomenal, but the foreplay is just as amazing.” Both women laugh at the secrets they’re sharing. Movement catches Allison’s attention. Curtis is stalking toward them without Russell. He still looks pissed off. Allison frowns. She doesn’t want him to ruin whatever is going on between her and Russell.

“Hey,” Allison greets, when he reaches them. “Please, don’t be angry with Russell. I appreciate you wanting to look out for me, but I’m a grown woman. I know what this is, Curtis. I’m not na?ve. I don’t have hearts and marriage on my mind. We are just having some fun, okay? Lay off on the pissed off big brother routine.” Curtis looks dumbfounded for a moment, then looks at Emma.

“You told her?” he asks, but doesn’t sound angry, just confused. Emma nods. He turns back to Allison.

“I’m sorry if I overstepped,” Curtis apologizes. “I just didn’t want you to get hurt, Allison. You are family now, and I look out for my family. I’ll try to tame it down, but I won’t stand by and let anyone, even one of my close friends, use or hurt you.”

Allison’s ire at Curtis’s highhandedness softens. “Thank you, Curtis,” Allison steps up to him, kissing his cheek, “again, for looking out for me, but I promise everything will be fine between Russell and me.” He gives her a tight smile and a dip of his head.

Russell walks up to them, but keeps his distance. Allison doesn’t like it. She moves closer, hooking their arms together. He looks down at their joined arms, then up at Curtis. Allison watches the two men. They exchange silent communication. Russell relaxes. He slips his arm around Allison’s waist, and they continue on their tour.

An hour later, Russell, Curtis, and some of the other guys are standing in line at a little ice cream parlor. Allison and the other women claim tables for their large group. “So, Allison, what’s going on with you and the hunk?” Gloria asks, when they’ve settled down to wait on the men.

“What do you mean?” Allison asks, innocently, praying she doesn’t start blushing again. The women will all know something is up.

“The man can’t take his eyes off you,” Gloria declares, tipping her head toward where the men are standing. Allison looks over and sure enough, Russell is staring at her. He gives her a soft smile. Her face flushes with warmth. She looks away. “That!” Gloria exclaims, drawing everyone’s attention. “Will there be another wedding in the near future?

“What? No! There’s nothing going on,” Allison insists. “We are just hanging out this week. Emma paired us for the wedding after all. We are just getting to know each other.”

“Oh, yeah they are,” Leslie jumps into the conversation. “I saw him leaving her room this morning.” A chorus of gasps erupt around the table. Allison’s eyes bug out of her head. “I had forgotten my sweater and had gone back for it when all of you went down to breakfast,” Leslie continues, looking pretty proud of herself for revealing the dirty little secret.

“Oh, Allison!” Brittany exclaims, looking mortified. “You didn’t!”

Allison rolls her eyes, trying to be patient and not lose her shit on these women, who she knows are about to lecture her about giving the milk away for free.

“You won’t land a husband like that!” Brittany continues. “If you get in bed with him right away, he’ll never want to marry you. He’s going to rightfully assume you sleep with every guy you meet. A man doesn’t want a loose woman to raise his children.”

Allison bites the inside of her cheek to keep from screaming her frustration. It isn’t like she hasn’t gotten this lecture before, but to have them saying things like this about her and Russell just pisses her off.

“Who says I want a husband?” Allison smirks, barely containing a laugh at her family’s shocked expressions. “Not that it’s any of your business, I didn’t sleep with him, well I did, but not what you are thinking,” Allison defends, a near growl in her tone. “We were…watching T.V. and talking, and we fell asleep. I knew you would all make a big deal out of it, so I asked him to wait in the bathroom until you were all gone.”

The women all turn on Emma. “Did you see him?” Gloria asks. “You went in to wash out her dress.” Gloria’s tone carries a hint of accusation. Allison doesn’t want Emma to be bullied. This is supposed to be her happy time.

“Of course, she didn’t!” Allison defends, before Emma can get a word out. “She would have given me down the road if she’d seen him.” Allison gives Emma the eye, letting her know to keep quiet. Emma’s lips flatten, but she doesn’t comment.

Allison hopes the women will drop the topic and let them continue to have a pleasant time. The day has been perfect so far, and Allison really doesn’t want it to end, but she knows her family all too well. She gets up and moves to sit at an empty booth in the back, far from prying eyes. The men head toward them with loaded trays. Bull sits down at Susie Beth’s table, essentially blocking Allison’s table from the main crowd.

Russell places a strawberry sundae, with a drizzle of chocolate, down in front of her before sitting next to her. He has a large loaded banana split with lots of whipped cream and toppings. “Are you really going to eat all of that?” Her eyebrow quirks up.

Glancing at her, he answers, “Yes, I wouldn’t have gotten it if I wasn’t going to eat it.” His tone indicating she’d asked a stupid question. “Aren’t you going to eat all of yours?”

Allison shakes her head. “Probably not. This is a lot of ice cream and calories.” She looks at the delightful treat, longingly. “I have to fit into a bridesmaid dress in two days. I’m already a bit too curvy. I can’t afford to gain weight.” Russell frowns, seemingly not happy with her answer.

“You are perfect just the way you are, sugar. You shouldn’t be worrying about your weight. If you want something, eat it. It’ll be fine.”

Allison rolls her eyes in dramatic fashion. “Of course, the neanderthal with a body like a Greek god would say that,” Allison complains. “You can literally eat a million calories a day and never gain a pound, but it doesn’t work like that for me.”

“You think I look like a Greek god?” Russell asks, not a hint of teasing in his question.

“Well of course, but that’s not the point!” Allison exclaims, shaking her head in frustration. Russell’s hand snakes out to snag the back of her neck, pulling her in for a hot, primal, claiming kiss. Their surroundings melt away. She sinks into him, getting lost in his confident, consuming kiss.

“Lord, have mercy!” Susie Beth exclaims from nearby, fanning her face. “It’s getting hot in here!” Allison forces herself to pull away. Russell lets her. If he’d pushed for more, he’d have gotten little resistance from her. She can’t seem to keep her head around him.

“What’s happening?” Gloria asks from several tables over. She leans out from her seat to peer around the sea of bodies. The other cousins are also trying to catch a glimpse of what had gotten Susie Beth’s attention.

“Oh, nothing,” Susie Beth replies. “It must be the sugar rush.” Everyone chuckles and settles down after a bit.

“Just one more?” Russell whispers, raising an eyebrow at her.

With a smile, Allison replies, “Caveman,” giving him a quick press of their lips.

Russell gazes deep into her eyes. “You are beautiful. Don’t ever doubt that, sugar.”

Allison turns back to her melting sundae, smiling big. She focuses on eating the sweet treat Russell had gotten her. It is good but not nearly as good as that kiss.