Chapter 18: Double date (Claire's POV)

I woke up the next morning the same way I did last time. His hand clutching mine. I felt like it was a habit for him. But then what did he normally do? 

I was staring at him for a while with a small smile and then he stirred awake. I forced myself to make sure that he knew I was awake, unlike last time when I pretended to still be asleep. He rubbed his eyes open with his free hand before looking at me. "How long have you been staring at me?" he asked, his voice croaky. 

"Not that long," I chuckled. 

He looked around the room and then at me, his eyes going to our hands. "Oh shit," he chuckled, hiding his face in the pillow. He pulled himself up on his elbows, shaking his head. "Don't," he said warningly. 

"I didn't say anything." He stared at me for a long time. "You held my hand in your sleep," I sang. He ran his hand through his hair and smiled. "Again," I whispered. His tongue rolled on the inside of his cheek while he continued shaking his head. "I was awake then you know," I said tucking my hair behind my ear. 

"You were?" he asked. 

I nodded while laughing. His phone began ringing just like last time and he clicked his tongue before pulling his hand out of mine and answering the phone. "Hello?" he asked while throwing a pillow at my face before he got out of bed and stood up. "When?" he asked while opening his closet. 

He's going out again? 

"No, I'm not going for that, I already told you," he said. I sat up against the headboard and checked my phone for a while. "For what?" he asked, sounding frustrated. He put the phone on his dresser on speaker while grabbing another shirt and a pair of joggers. 

"To collect the money, Leo. You know that..." I stopped listening to the conversation and watched him. He pulled his shirt over his head and pulled on another one before grabbing the phone and putting it to his ear. 

He even looks hot from behind, Claire.

For once, we agree. How am I supposed to concentrate on anything with that?

"That's your deal, I don't want a share from it. I'm not getting it." He closed the closet and left the phone on the dresser, going into the bathroom and closing the door. I watched in confusion for a while but he wasn't coming out. And his dad was still talking. 

I crawled out of bed and walked over, picking up the phone. "Hello?" his dad asked, sounding frustrated. 

"Um- Mr. Jackson?" I asked. 

"Claire?" 

"Yeah um- Leo left," I said awkwardly. 

"Of course, he did. Sorry to bother you," he said. 

"That's all right. Have a nice day," I said. 

"You too, sweetheart," he said before hanging up. I put the phone back where it was and turned around to leave and go to my room when the bathroom door opened. 

He stuck his head out, toothbrush in his mouth. "Is he done?" 

"He hung up. I told him you left," I answered. He rolled his eyes and went back to brushing his teeth. I stood in the bathroom doorway, staring at him through the mirror. "You sounded mad," I said. 

"He wanted me to go set up a deal and get money for him." 

"With who?" I questioned. 

"Do you remember the guys that came here saying they were working for my dad?" he asked, spitting the toothpaste out. 

"Why don't you wanna go?" 

"Cause he's not stupid. He'll know you're here," he said, turning to me. 

"So, don't go," I shrugged. 

"I'm not," he shrugged mockingly. 

I rolled my eyes before laughing and going to my room where I brushed my teeth and was about to get in the shower when my phone rang. "Hey," it was Aesha. 

"Hey, what's up?" I asked. 

"What's up is that I'm coming over to use the pool." 

"Did you ask Leo?" I questioned. 

"Flynn's bringing me. It's his fault. We're all swimming, call it a double-date. Okay, love you, see you, bye," she said quickly before hanging up. Someone should probably tell you and I'm the only one home so let's go. 

I got to his door and almost pushed it open but then remembered what happened last night so I knocked. "You can come in, Claire." I pushed it open and saw him grabbing his hamper with all the laundry. 

"You going to do your laundry?" 

"Yeah," he nodded before walking past me and going downstairs. There's a laundry room down here but normally the housemaid comes and does it every so often. I followed him and stood at the door. 

What was I supposed to tell him? 

"Right, um- Flynn went out and he's bringing Aesha and she wants to go swimming," I announced. 

"Okay?" he said slowly and in doubt. 

"Just letting you know," I said before turning to leave. "Oh! Also," I turned back to him, "You're swimming with us." 

"No, I'm not," he shook his head. 

"Yes, you are. We're all swimming." 

"I'm washing the trunks," he shrugged. 

"Then get another pair," I said slowly, "See you later, bye!" I sang before running back upstairs. I opened the closet and walked in, kneeling, and going through the basket. I grabbed a baby blue bikini that I had with little flowers printed across it. I grabbed a big claw clip and threw my hair up into a bun before going into the bathroom to change. I went inside and changed, grabbing a towel before leaving. 

I opened the bathroom door as there was a knock on the bedroom door. He opened the door and stuck his head in. "Aesha's h-" He stopped talking when he looked at me. 

Was something slipping? Or showing? 

I looked down and followed his eyes that looked up and down my body. 

He's checking you out, idiot. 

Oh, he's- oh wow. Okay. 

"Aesha's what?" I cleared my throat. 

He snapped out of it, shaking his head slightly before his eyes met mine. I could swear he blushed. Just a bit. "Aesha's here," he said before leaving. 

I grinned to myself while nodding slowly, sliding my flip flops on. 

We're getting somewhere. 

I went downstairs where Aesha stood beside Flynn with her bikini top and shorts pulled on. "You guys go, we'll bring the snacks," she said quickly to them. I looked at her in confusion while they went out. 

"Um. Hi?" I laughed. 

She squeezed me into a hug before pulling away. "I'm in love," she said quickly. 

"Seriously?" 

"No," she rolled her eyes, "But he's so nice, he's perfect, he's so sweet, he's so cute," she squealed while I grabbed some snacks. 

"He's like obsessed with you, Aesha. I'm not even kidding," I chuckled. 

"He's amazing," she sighed. I smiled at her while grabbing some cans of soda. "Now, can you tell me why Leo has been gawking at you?" 

"What?" I chuckled. 

What do you mean 'what?' You knew. 

I know that I know, just shut up. 

"Don't even play dumb. Don't even try," she rolled her eyes at me. I shrugged while taking her to the backyard, she nudged my shoulder with hers while walking with me. When we got out there, I set all the stuff down by the side of the pool and she set down the one can she was holding. 

Both of us sat down with our legs dangling in the water for a while and talked while the guys did too. Aesha was talking to me about the trip we had planned. She wanted to travel to Europe before she went off to college if she did. She never saw the point in it and she just wanted to travel and enjoy it. 

So next year, we're going off to Europe. Together. Because screw college and there was no way she was going to Europe without me. We've had this conversation so many times, I bet she's talking about the Louvre museum right now. 

I put my hand up, blocking the sun before I looked down. Leo was leaning against the wall on the opposite side with Flynn beside him. Leo was saying something and then Flynn must have responded because he nodded and listened in, his eyes locked with mine. 

I raised my eyebrows at him and he shook his head, chuckling. 

"I can't believe you made the man smile." 

I snapped out of it and turned to Aesha. "Why? It was easier than I thought it would be. And a smile looks good on him," I said while staring at him. 

"Are you kidding me, Claire? You like him. It's obvious. Does he know?" 

"Hell no," I turned to her. 

"Why don't you tell him?" I just shook my head while I saw the guys swimming over. "But-" 

"Shut up." And she did. 

"You ladies wanna race?" Flynn asked. 

"No," we said in sync. 

"We'll make teams," Leo shrugged. I arched an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to continue. They're gonna have to be more convincing than that. I mean, come on.

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Chapter eighteen

Claw clips are a blessing in disguise, ladies.

next chapter: Butterflies