Chapter 27
Boy Time
CHARLOTTE
Nep’s voice broke through the silence.
“Man, we should have thought this through before letting her doze off.”
Plut responded, “True, not our smartest move. But I wouldn’t change it.
Maybe I can sneak out without waking her. I just need to reach my phone.”
I stirred, my voice thick with sleep.
“What are you guys up to?”
Nep’s voice boomed, “You’re awake! Hurray!”
I rolled over, giving him a puzzled look.
“We’re starving and couldn’t reach our phones to order pizza. We didn’t
want to disturb you,” Plut explained.
I smiled at their thoughtfulness.
“You guys are sweet. Here, use my phone,” I said, tossing it to Plut.
“What are we getting?” I asked.
“Meat lovers?” Nep suggested, winking at me.
I shook my head at his innuendo but agreed on the topping choice.
“Mars, I can’t change the credit card info,” Plut informed me.
“Just use mine. We’re crashing at your place for free; it’s only fair,” I
suggested.
“But you’re a…” Nep began.
I cut him off.
“Don’t finish that sentence, Nep. I appreciate the chivalry, but it’s my parents’ money. They have plenty, so let’s enjoy ourselves.”
Nep said, “We should have chosen a steakhouse,” making me chuckle.
While we waited for the pizza, the guys resumed their game. I chose to sit up and chat instead of lying down. My butt was a bit sore, but I could sit on it just fine now. Thank goodness for cat naps and healing.
“So, Mars, can we address the elephant in the room?” Nep asked.
“Um, sure, what would that be?” I replied, slightly confused.
“Oh, I don’t know—maybe the fact that you’re a girl?” he said.
“And a hot one,” Plut chimed in.
“Thanks, Plut,” I said, pulling him in for a hug.
“But seriously, what’s the deal? Why all the secrecy? And I thought your name was Charlie?” Nep asked.
“Well, I didn’t want you guys to know I was a girl. I figured you’d treat me differently. Guys treat girls in games differently. I learned that early on and didn’t like it. It’s easier to blend in as male. And my name is Charlotte, but my parents called me Charlie for short when I was younger.”
“We don’t treat female players differently,” Plut said.
“Remember when we were playing Darkness Abounds and you literally gave your highest-ranking cloak to that female player? It took us hours of grinding to get,” I reminded him.
“Heck, even earlier this year you almost died trying to save that idiot girl with the bandits.”
“That’s not a bad thing, though,” Plut said.
“How much of my gear was handed to me and how much did I earn? No one can tell me I’m only good because people baby me. I have what I deserve in every game I play—no special treatment.”
“Huh, I never thought of it that way,” Nep admitted.
“So, what are we doing tonight? I know we were supposed to go pick up chicks, but I think it will take more than Nep and me alone to keep the guys away from you. I’d rather not go out until Jup gets in,” Plut said.
“Yeah, he has a girlfriend, so he can focus on keeping guys away from you so your boyfriend doesn’t get mad,” Nep added.
“Well, he wasn’t actually ever my boyfriend, and we kind of broke up,”
I replied quietly.
“So, you’re single?” Nep asked excitedly. Plut backhanded him, which was impressive since I was between them.
“Wanna talk about it?” Plut asked gently.
“Well, I’m friends with his sister and she told me that she could tell I had a crush on him—but also on someone else,” I said.
“I wasn’t sure about that. I don’t have a lot of experience around people, other than you guys online. Her brother and I started seeing each other, but he knew that I wasn’t sure of my feelings for the other guy. Well, last Sunday I was about to tell him that I had decided, and that I was in love with him, not the other guy—but he broke up with me before I could. He said we just didn’t fit well together.”
“You were in love with him?” Plut asked.
“I really was. Heck, I still am,” I said sadly, wiping a tear before it could fall.
“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Plut said, pulling me in for a hug.
“Who’s the other guy?” Nep asked, but Plut gave him a dirty look.
“What? It’s a legit question,” Nep said.
“If you tell him, I’ll kill you. My friend is convinced I have a crush on Jup. She says I get a goofy smile when we text each other,” I admitted shyly.
“I knew there was something going on between you two!” Nep exclaimed.
“Did you forget that he thinks I’m a guy and he is straight? There is nothing going on,” I said.
“Yet. Wait until he sees you,” Plut said.
“Honestly, I think Jup and I are better off as friends. I’m still in love with my ex, and I don’t want to be hurt again,” I told them.
“Comfort time? My turn for a hug!” Nep said, pulling me toward him.
“Why does it feel dirty when you do that?” I asked, making Plut laugh.
“Hey, I’m clean. I showered this morning,” Nep responded.
“After we eat, can we go to the beach?” I asked Plut.
“I really want a distraction.”
“Only if I can pick out your swimsuit,” Nep said.
“Um, I only brought one. Not much to choose from,” I told him.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got ya covered,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
“I’m scared, so no,” I replied.
“Oh, come on, trust me this one time. It’s nothing perverted,” he
pleaded.
“Fine, but I have veto power.”
“Deal!”
The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of our pizza. I went to get it while Plut went to the kitchen to get plates and drinks. Nep, realizing that
the delivery driver was a guy, came up to the door behind me and put his hand around my waist, which quickly stopped the driver from checking me out.
“Smooth, real smooth,” I told Nep after shutting the door.
“Hey, I know that look; I’ve given that look. Not acceptable,” he told me.
“I thought I was the mom. Are you the big brother now?” I asked him.
“Yup, I guess I am.”
“Whatever, let’s eat.”
After we finished eating, we all went upstairs to change. Nep handed me a bag, telling me it was my suit, so I went to my room to see what he was expecting me to wear. Inside were a few different sizes of the same swimsuit, so I grabbed the one in my size and held it up.
No surprise that it was a bikini, but what was a surprise was that the bottoms were red and had our team logo on the left hip in black. The top was a deep-blue halter with the symbol of Neptune on one side. Not the real symbol, but the one I had designed that meshed the horse with the trident.
I had no idea we were selling swimsuits now.
I dug through the bag to see if any of them had Mars’ symbol—but, of course, they were all Neptune.
The swimsuit was pretty cute, so I decided to wear it and make Nep happy. I quickly tied a wrap skirt around my waist and headed downstairs to meet the guys.
“So, Nep, when did we start selling swimsuits and why do you have so many?” I asked, walking into the room.
“DAAAAAANG!” Plut replied, turning to look at me.
“Wow! That right there,” Nep said, pointing at me, “is why I have so many. I asked our sponsor to send me some on the off chance I found a girl
hot enough to wear one.”
“Where’s the Mars top?”
“No way, I like you in the Neptune bikini,” he smirked.
I just rolled my eyes at him, but before I could say anything, I received
a text.
Jupiter
Hey man, how was your flight?
Mars
Long. Oh, and I sat next to Carter from The Sun Stones. He kept talking to me, didn’t realize I wanted to sleep
Jupiter
Ouch, I know you love your sleep. I bet you even went to sleep once you got to Plut’s
Mars
Sure as heck did. I just woke up a little over an hour ago, so we’re about to go to the beach
Jupiter
Man, I wish I was there already
Mars
Miss me, lover?
Jupiter
And now I’m good being here
Mars
Hahaha, too easy
Mars
Anyway, what time is your flight again?
Jupiter
I land at eleven
Mars
Nep broke my butt, so I may wait until you get to Plut’s to greet you. Not sure I want to sit in a car for the drive
Jupiter
Man, do you realize how dirty that sounds? I know Nep is straight, but I wouldn’t really put anything past him
Mars
OMG GROSS! I didn’t mean that way. He made me fall on my butt on the tile floor
Jupiter
What the heck are you guys doing there?
Mars
You’ll see. Anyway, I’m off to the beach, bye lover
I quickly put my phone away in my beach bag, which also held my towel and sunscreen, before looking up and noticing both guys staring at
me.
“What?” I questioned.
“Um, was that Jup?” Plut asked me.
“Uh, yeah. He lands at eleven tomorrow, by the way.”
“Wow, your friend was right. You totally have the hots for Jup,” Nep
said.
“Excuse me?”
“I agree, you have it bad, Mars,” Plut said.
“I’m even more excited for tomorrow when he gets here now!”
“Got any popcorn we can have ready? This’ll be good,” Nep added.
“Oh, shut it, you two. I’ve never met him in person, so I can’t ‘have it bad’ for him. Let’s go to the beach,” I said, changing the topic but making both guys laugh at me.
When we got down to the beach, we ran into some kids that Plut knew and joined their beach volleyball game.
I felt comfortable joining in since Nep and Plut were there to include me. It also meant I didn’t have to talk to the other guys there since they acted as a buffer for me.
The fact that I joined in, rather than sitting on a towel like all the other girls were doing, seemed to shock Plut’s local friends, but I didn’t care. I’d rather be having fun than sitting in the heat.
Nep and I were on one team with some others we didn’t know, and Plut was on the other. Apparently, hot guys have muscles for a reason. Both of them were really good at the game. Sadly, I was awful. I was the stereotypical gamer. I spent my free time at my computer, not lifting weights—but thankfully, that was okay for a girl.
“Mars, if you miss the ball one more time, you’re going in the water,”
Nep threatened me.
Naturally, one of the guys on the other team heard him and hit it right to me—and I missed it.
