It didn’t take long to settle into upper-middle class life. Our house became the group hangout—either Collier’s friends were here or mine or both, and often when we weren’t. I loved the sense of family and even more that they felt welcome here. But financially, I was stressed. I hated not contributing equally, and every time another bill came in, the strain got harder. When Ronnie, Roxie, or Beck came over, I felt like it was my responsibility to pay for the things they used or the food they consumed…and those bitches were eating me out of house and home. For thin women, they ate like men, and we won’t talk about the copious amounts of wine they chugged by the pool. I’d never realized what lushes they’d become.

“Babe?” Collier called into the house from the porch where he was grilling for our friends.

“Yeah?”

“Can you go run pick up some more beer? I can’t leave the meat.”

My shoulders slumped, and I let out a sigh. I hadn’t thought he could see me from where he stood…I was wrong.

“Elle?” He’d taken to shortening my name since we moved here. He didn’t want to call me Gizzy because it was Ronnie’s nickname for me, and he thought it had an “inappropriate connotation.” Truthfully, I loved that he had chosen something no one else used, but it also made it hard to be upset when I heard it. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Collier called over his shoulder to Parker to watch the food and then came inside, closing the door behind him. My forced smile did nothing to prove I was all right. His hand stopped mine when I reached for my keys. “Look at me.”

There was no way I could hide from him if he could see my eyes, and he knew it.

“Please,” he asked again.

I tipped my eyes to his and raised my head. He pulled me into him, pressing our waists together and flirting with his stare. His hips swayed from side to side, taking mine with them.

“We don’t keep secrets…so tell me what’s going on.”

I kind of had been keeping one though, but it was out of pride and not any desire to hurt him. My lips pursed as I tried to form the words I didn’t want to share. “I don’t get paid until next week.”

My statement meant nothing in his world. He didn’t live paycheck to paycheck and had no idea I had been. I’d never had tons of money to throw away, but I’d been comfortable before moving in here.

“Okay, you’re going to have to give me more to go on.”

The wrinkle between his brows when he furrowed them normally brought a smile to my face. It was adorable the way he scrunched his forehead and nose. But I was irritated he wasn’t more aware of my circumstances…even if I’d never drawn him a picture.

“I don’t have any money.” Never in my life had I been ashamed of my financial status. I was proud of the things I did have and didn’t need more. I could go out with my friends, travel occasionally, and every once in a while, buy myself a new purse or outfit. OPI was a fixture in my budget like most people bought milk, but I hadn’t picked up a single bottle in forever.

He reached for his wallet in his back pocket. “Here, just take my card.”

The piece of plastic felt like failure in my hand. “I don’t want it.”

“That’s silly, Elle. I asked you to go get the beer; I should pay for it.”

My teeth worried my bottom lip, and I refused to give in. My stubborn streak was as long and wide as the Grand Canyon.

“Why not?” His tone had gone from complacent to agitated quickly.

“Because I refuse to be that girl. I don’t want to take money from you. I want to stop buying things I can’t afford.”

“Where’s all this coming from?” It seemed to be from left field in Collier’s mind, but I thought about it every time I made another entry in my checkbook. “What girl are you talking about?”

“The one who takes money from you. Who uses you to improve their social standing.”

He lowered his head to meet my eyes. When I dared to face him, all I saw was love…and a shit-eating grin. “Babe, you’re the one who insists on keeping everything separate. Everything I have is yours. If you need anything, tell me, and I’ll make it happen. But, sweetheart,” he stroked my cheek with the pad of his thumb, “I don’t know what you don’t communicate. I don’t have a clue what your financial situation is because we’ve never talked about money. I mean besides the whole house thing.”

“How could you not know all of this”—I circled my arms around to show I meant the space in our home—“was a strain for me?”

“Because I assumed when we bought the house, that meant we were both in. Sold out. Mi casa es su casa. I don’t think of anything we have as mine.”

“I just know how angry you used to get with Beck when she’d use your credit card. And I never want you to question whether I’m with you because I love you or because of the lifestyle you bring to the relationship.”

He squeezed me in a full-body press and held my head to his chest. “I all but forced you to move out of your shoebox. It’s safe to say unless you’re a damn fine actress with the patience of a saint, that wasn’t a show you put on. Unless you have an Academy Award I’m unaware of.”

“Do you realize I haven’t bought a single bottle of OPI since we moved here?” I confessed into his chest. It might seem insignificant to anyone else, but it was my weekly splurge.

“Is that your nail stuff?”

I nodded as I pouted. I didn’t mind sacrificing for us, but it was tough when it felt like I was the only one doing it. His large hand cupped the back of my head and then ran the length of my hair. He kissed the top of my head before he handed me the credit card again.

Resigned to accepting this, I took the card and went to the store. When I came back, I let go of it for the time being. It hadn’t seemed to be an issue for Collier, and I didn’t want to ruin the evening. I filled up the cooler outside and put the rest of the beer in the fridge.

I stepped out onto the patio and hopped around, trying to get my bare feet off the hot ground.

“Gizzy, come sit with me.”

I traipsed over to my bestie, sitting with her girlfriend. Roxie and Amy had gotten into the water, and Beck and Stella were near the grill with Parker, Mark, and Collier.

I flopped my butt down on the lounge chair next to her, and my boobs nearly popped out of the top of my swimsuit. While I stuffed them back in, Ronnie made some raunchy face.

“Did you get a boob job along the way that I somehow missed?” she questioned me while staring down at my cleavage.

“No, why?”

“Your shit is busting out. Maybe you need to go up a size in the bikini department.”

“This is the same size I’ve always worn.”

“Did you put it in the dryer? Because it sure as hell doesn’t fit the way it did last summer.”

Trish took a swig of her beer before chiming in. “The girls look a lot firmer now that you mention it.”

“Jesus. Have the two of you been taking my measurements? Borrowing my bras?” I hadn’t been running quite as much as I did before we moved, but that was just the distance, I still worked out every day. We’d moved farther out, and now had a longer commute so I shaved off a mile.

“It wasn’t an insult. Just noticed you were heading in the opposite direction of most women your age.”

“You’re just as old as I am, Ronnie.”

“Anyone else would be thrilled to have someone say their tits had gotten fuller and firmer, but somehow, you’ve got your panties in a twist. And what’s with the mood swings? Are you and West fighting?” Ronnie eyed me. I knew what she was doing—she swore my right eye twitched just slightly anytime I lied.

“No.” I wasn’t telling her or Trish that I felt less than worthy because my bank account was virtually empty. Everyone already thought I was shallow because I loved nail polish and cars.

“Please tell me the sex hasn’t already dried up. I don’t think I can handle another episode of Girl Crush.”

“Ronnie, there’s nothing wrong. The sex is amazing, our life together is great,” I snapped.

She held up her hands in surrender. I hadn’t meant to make her angry. She was right, though. I had been snippy, and if I was that way with her, I was that way with everyone else.

“I’m sorry, V. I shouldn’t have been short with you.”

Trish had long since sat back and put her sunglasses on—it was her way of excusing herself from the conversation. She could hear everything we said, but Ronnie would tell her anyhow so at least this way she got firsthand knowledge.

“I’m having a hard time keeping up.” I proceeded to tell my best friend about the struggle with money and wanting to be an equal in the relationship.

She listened attentively before offering advice. “You know that just because the number of commas on your paycheck isn’t the same that doesn’t mean you don’t contribute to the relationship in other ways that are equally as valuable.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh yeah, I’m sure my ability to run errands and pick up the house before the maid comes brings real value.”

“Collier loves you, Giselle. If it doesn’t bother him, maybe you shouldn’t let it bother you. So pull the stick out of your fine ass, and go shove your bigger melons in your man’s face. There’s never a need for an apology when he can motorboat.” Her lips spread in a wide grin as she dropped her glasses back onto the bridge of her nose.

“And you say I’m crass.”

“Go.” Ronnie shooed me away with the wave of her hand.

I stole her flip-flops to keep from scalding my feet again—only Ronnie would have heels on pool shoes. Collier had gotten in the water, and his skin glistened when he broke the surface. Once I reached the steps, I kicked off my borrowed shoes and stepped into the shallow end. The cool feel of the water against my skin was refreshing and washed away the unease the discussion of money brought. I took a deep breath before going under and swimming between West and the wall. He stepped back to allow me room to maneuver my body into the narrow space, and his smile welcomed me when I stood in front of him.

“Hey, babe.”

The feel of his chest beneath my fingers spurred me on. His nipples were firm and masculine as my palms grazed them. While my touch continued north, he snaked his arms around my lower back. The moment I laced my fingers behind his neck, he took my mouth with his in an inappropriate kiss. My legs crawled up his like a monkey on a tree before settling around his waist.

“Get a room,” Parker hollered from the table in front of us.

West broke away to yell back at his friend over my shoulder. “Last time I checked, this was my house, douchebag.”

It was all in good fun, but I still blushed with embarrassment. The heat in my cheeks flamed when he lowered his grip to my ass and rolled his hips into mine, showing me just how aroused he was beneath the water. Somehow, I had to get these fools to leave.

My voice was filled with desire when I whispered into his ear, “This would be a lot more fun naked.”

The growl that rumbled in his chest was low enough that no one other than me heard it, but it only served to increase my desire. I leaned away from him to see the heat in his eyes and the way the color changed when he got excited. He didn’t disappoint, but his focus dropped to my chest, stealing my view.

“This is one of those swimsuits you really shouldn’t wear around other people.” The smirk on his lips told me it was a compliment.

“You don’t like it?”

“It’s a little skimpy for my friends to enjoy.”

Twice in one day. Maybe it really had shrunk. “Ronnie said the same thing.” Well, not the same thing, but close enough that I now wondered if I’d gained weight.

“Odd thing for her to say.”

“She actually said my boobs had gotten bigger and wanted to know if I’d gotten implants.” I threw it out there as though her comment hadn’t affected me, but in reality, I wanted to see his expression.

He considered them for a moment before stating, “They do look bigger.” Before I could stop him, he released one of my butt cheeks and brought it up to grab my girl. “They’re firmer too. Is that normal?” Collier wasn’t concerned, he was elated. His girl had the appearance of a boob job without the surgery.

“You think so, too?”

Parker cannonballed into the pool, dousing us in water. When he surfaced, he was entirely too close, and I released my death grip on Collier’s waist to put my feet on the bottom of the pool.

“What are you guys over here whispering about? You do know you have guests, right?” He winked at me.

I’d loved Parker since the first time I went to Collier’s and watched football with him and his friends. He was fun to be around, a notorious flirt, and terribly easy on the eyes. But above all else, he respected me and treated me like a friend.

“Do Giselle’s boobs look bigger to you?”

“Collier!” I screeched his name, dumbfounded he’d ask his friend to check me out, which would also imply he’d done it before to have a frame of reference.

“Dude, I’m so not answering that question.”

“Thank you, Parker.” I shook my head in humored disbelief. Collier would kill any other man for so much as peeking.

“West, I think Mark and I are going to head out. It looks like the girls are leaving, too. Thanks for letting us crash your place all day.”

“No worries, you guys be careful.”

We said goodbye from the shallow end as our friends gathered their things and left out the side gate. The water was still around us, and the quiet was a welcomed change. Once we heard the last car pull out of the driveway, Collier resumed his pursuit of happiness. It didn’t take him long to untie the strings of my bikini, and it floated away before sinking. His shorts met the same fate shortly after.

His hands roamed my slick skin. My weightless body became putty in his embrace, and he slipped inside me with little effort. Sex with Collier was always good, but romping in a pool wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. There was no way to gain leverage with slippery body parts and nothing to cling to. My frustration mounted just before the entire act became uncomfortable. And seconds later, Collier lost his hold on me, and I nearly drowned, still connected to him while flailing in the pool.

When I finally broke free and found my footing, he was bent over laughing with his face inches from the surface. It was childish, but I couldn’t stop myself from pushing him under. His head broke free, and I heard him gasp for air while he shook his hair practically dry. I broke out into uncontrollable giggles when I saw the surprise on his face. What had been erotic only minutes earlier had turned into a silly water fight.

He caught me in a bear hug and dunked me one final time before bringing me back up to breathe and curling me into his body. He popped a kiss on my lips and echoed a sentiment he’d uttered a thousand times, but it was one that never got old. “I love you, Elle.”

“Love you, too.”

“You ready to go inside? I need to rinse the chlorine off, and I’m tired.”

I nodded and followed him up the stairs in the shallow end. Our swimsuits still hung out underwater, but I made no attempt to get them. They’d still be there tomorrow. He handed me a towel and started to dry off. I did the same and then wrapped myself up. I stood there waiting for him, and that’s when it happened.

The wet, farting sound coupled with the rush of water between my legs took me by complete surprise. And Collier too. He stared at the puddle on the ground at my feet and then my face.

“What the hell was that?”

“The joys of sex in water.” He might as well learn now.

“That’s kind of gross, you know?”

I swatted at his arm. “Where did you think that water was going when you were doing your thing in my hot box?”

“Your ‘hot box’?” He chuckled, and his eyes danced with humor.

I shrugged it off with a grin and was once again reminded why I loved him. He was able to laugh with me and enjoyed my idiosyncrasies…even as outlandish as they were.