Sydney Bay Janes Three days later. . .

"Alright, alright," I said after enough pictures. I looked them over with Chyna, my photographer, and she approved three slides for Instagram.

"Finally," Damian complained about all the selfies.

"Shut up," I snarked, getting him with my instant Polaroid camera.

It was Saturday morning, Will was off and owed me a car wash. He made Chy, Damian, and I come over by noon.

I showered and put on a yellow bikini as he had a pool and hot tub I planned on trying out.

It was a lovely day outside and wanted everyone to enjoy it. So I asked Delaney if she wanted to tag along and then I'd tell Will and Damian to invite some more people and make it a whole thing. But she declined. And although Delaney was depressed over Tom leaving, the vibe in the house was much better, I'll say.

I even offered to wash her car -- well, for Will to-- but she barely made a sound in return, just sat on the couch after not showering. She hadn't even picked up a paint brush in days.

When I tried telling Delaney to move on already, Chyna said she has to go at her own pace. She reminded me not everyone is as strong as me, and that's the truth. I could never be like Delaney or in her shoes. Her shoes are ugly. No, but I'm far too independent to need a man in order to be happy, or basically live.

My mother was Delaney's complete opposite. My mother was smart and headstrong, she talked shit about the Delaney's of the world. I never knew why she was always there to listen and comfort her best friend after a million and one breakups. That's friendship, though, I guess.
Even Chyna said she wishes I had more compassion for the heartbreak shit. I'm not the devil, I can understand a poor girl's pain after some guy troubles, just not if she's dumb. Like Delaney. It's like she puts herself in such situations, she doesn't want a good guy because she likes the drama.

Me, on the other hand, I had a good thing going with Will. . .

With the sun high and shining down heat rays at above eighty degrees, I offered them some lemonade I whipped up. By that I mean I poured the store-bought powder in with water, mixed it, and added sugar to perfection. It would take eighty-nine real lemons, at least, for me to think fresh squeezed/homemade lemonade was good.

Chyna was in her blue one piece swimsuit on the back deck. She sat on a lawn chair taking selfies with a timer and tripod. I offered her a glass.

"There's a bug in your hair and I'm not getting it," I teased, prancing away.

Chy screamed and ran about, trying to ward off the imaginary insect.

Mmph. I shook my head at her, laughing with the tray in my hand. You can take a girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl.

There was my Audi, but no Wilson? I used my free hand as a visor over my brow bone and peered around the yard and driveway. He was no where to be found.

"Will?" I called.

Hearing me, Chyna shrugged to say she didn't know where he'd gone. Huh.

As soon as I turned on my heels, I was blasted with cold water to the chest.

"Will!" I screamed, attempting to chase him before I realized the glasses in my hand.

He laughed with Damian who started wielding water balloons.

"Oh, that's it!" Chyna roared. She put her phone under her sun hat and ran after Damian who managed to pelt her once.

"Wait," I said suddenly.

"You hear that, too?" Will asked, looking serious with his eyebrows furrowed.

Damian cracked a guilty smile.

"I might've sent out a couple invites," he let us know, opening the gate.

By the handful, people started filing in.

They all greeted Damian and went, "Hey, Will."

"This is like spring break all over again," Chyna said, soaking it up.

"We bought drinks," one party goer said.

Will slapped the girl's hand.

She looked triumphant and smiled my way.

"We bought the keg!" A guy said walking up behind me.

"Right this way, Trav," Damian led.

Will returned to me after clearing off the grill and some seats on the deck.

I just watched as everyone wasted no time jumping in the pool.

"WOO!" people screamed, having a good time. That's what it's all about. This moment felt absolutely nostalgic.

A sudden palm to my ass brought me out of my thoughts.

Will walked by, looking back at me with his hand out.

"Give me a hand?" he asked as I took his, walking across the vast backyard.

The pool was full of college-aged kids playing chicken and beer pong on the floatie.

I played DJ at the deck while Travis went to the bathroom.

"Shrooms?" a passing girl asked me.

"No," I mouthed, bobbing to the music.

She shrugged and popped them in her mouth along with the two girls on both sides of her.

I guess it's that type of party, I thought in my head.

Chyna and Damian were the only two in the hot tub, just dipping their feet in, all smiles. It was nice to see them back on good terms after Damian went postal on her for not wanting to be his roommate. And why would she, she's mine?

"Thanks, uh?" Travis stammered.

I only knew his name because Damian said it before so it was okay.

I removed his black headphones from my head and smiled big.

"Sydney," I introduced.

"Cindy?" he yelled over the playlist.

"Sydney," I emphasized, annoyed.

He shook my hand and I laughed at how unnecessary that was.

"How you know Dame?" Travis, tall and skinny, asked me.

"Through Will," I answered as I danced by the table.

"I never seen you around here before, you his girl, or something?" he asked.

I almost said 'yes' right away but that's not officially true, yet. So I scanned the yard for Will and saw him playing volleyball in the grass. It was two-on-two, beach rules, and his partner was the girl from earlier who was happy she brought her own alcohol.

She looked like a Maya so I'll call her Maya. Her hair was brown and cut at her shoulders, just not evenly. She had love handles and peach skin and gave me 'VSCO' girl vibes. I could tell she kept up with every fashion, makeup, hair, and music trend on Tiktok. She wasn't an ugly girl, just not me.

I'm a jealous person. Never had to be with Tony, but in other ways. I was the kid growing up who'd complain if someone was playing with a toy I wanted even if I paid it no mind before and had a whole other toy. Yeah.

However, I let them be. I was no good at volleyball. I was a competitive cheerleader in school and college, that's all. Heavy on the competitive though, it's in my nature.

Between serves, Will drank and drank. I was happy to see him let loose as he was the life of the party after Damian.

Maya hugged Will after every point to celebrate, no idea what that's all about. Like, high-five, the hell?

"Or something," I finally replied to Travis through a sigh.

"Want another drink?" I volunteered.

He nodded, smirking.

I found Karina sneaking in, covered up by a ugly floral sundress.

"Oh," I winced, approaching her.

"What?" she looked worried.

"That dress," I laughed, handing her a red cup.

Since Chyna was off with Damian and Wilson wasn't paying any attention to me, I texted her and Miranda to see what they were up to.

Miranda walked in as I talked her up.

"Hey, hey," she bubbled, offering Svedka.

"Ugh, no," I denied with disgust.

"Yes, please," Karina exclaimed, helping herself.

I liked that I had two new girlfriends who seemed genuine. They weren't caught up with likes and followers or boys and fast cars, they had souls and I could see us doing great things.

"Where's your boy?" Karina asked, making eyes at me.

I couldn't help but blush at the thought of Will.

"Yeah, I saw you two all cute on your story," Miranda egged on in her black one piece.

It was just a silly mirror pic I posted of Will and I. It didn't scream "we've fucked," it was just friendly. Hmph. Too friendly. . .

I hoped he wasn't going to do that things guys do when they lead you on and act like you're in a relationship but they never actually ask you so if they hook up with someone else they can be all "we never made it official." Blah blah.

7:34pm

Past sunset, the day party had died down.

I was that girl who cleaned up after, too. It's not even to look wifey material, it's just an instinct.

"You done with this?" I asked some boy about the beer can on his left.

He went "yeah" so I trashed it.

There were a few stragglers, but they knew Damian well and Will.

Meanwhile, Chyna and Damian dipped off to who knows where. However long ago that was.

Karina and Miranda were keeping me company. That is, until Travis threw his arms over their glistening shoulders.

"You two look like you could use some company," he talked, signaling over the last two guys by the grill.

Karina blushed. She was so desperate for a boyfriend, but in a "that's cute, I hope she gets one soon" way.

The Puerto Rican guy, Jose, gravitated towards Karina, while the white guy -- Matt-- found interest in Miranda.

"I guess that leaves you, Cindy?" Travis said to me with a slight nudge.

"Oh, no," I yawned. "Tired."

"Maybe next time," he flirted with a wink.

"See ya, Syd," the girls rang in unison, walking out with their new found mates.

I waved until they were out of sight.

The yard was a mess, I didn't know where to begin.

Looking down at the trash bag in my hands and I asked myself what was I doing?

"Andddd I look like a loser," I mumbled to myself.

"He was cute," Chyna said, walking up on me in her white mini coverup.

I gave her a cold stare. "You left me."

"You had Will," she thought.

I alluded to him by the fire pit with 'Maya.' They talked for so long about whatever the fuck.

Chyna watched Maya throw her head back and laugh.

"He ain't that damn funny," she scoffed by my side.

"He is, though. She isn't. He hasn't laughed at her once, I always make him laugh!" I rambled, crossing my sunkissed arms.

Chyna gave me this sassy "mhm," and bumped me playfully, walking by.

"Have you two talked about it?" she asked, throwing trash in the bag I dropped.

"Talked about what?"

"What you're doing, where things are going?" her neck bobbed as she gave a list.

I let out a deep sigh and sat on the hammock.

"No. I'm scared, that question always ruins things," I admitted, one eye open.

"And how would you know?" she wondered, hand on hip.

I giggled, "I watch a lot of movies."

Chyna pursed her glossy lips and shook her head at me.

"Well, you ask him or she will," Chyna advised, walking away from me at the tree to get another Twisted Tea.

Upon her return, she sat with me in the hammock and we relaxed.

"I love you," I cooed, head on her shoulder.

"I love you," she returned.

Damian stood over us. "This a Kodak moment," he joked, snapping our picture.

He took a seat, too, and we got scared.

"Chill, it's been bigger bitches on here before," he claimed.

I shot up, looking over Chyna to meet his eyes.

What did he mean bigger girls on there before?! I didn't want to hear about Wilson's past... explorations.

Damian smacked his lips. "I'm kidding. I'on know what Will be doin', he private-"

Chyna's elbow to Damian's chest stopped him talking before he said more to upset me.

Will has a past, that's fine, so do I. I just didn't want to hear about it.

More laughter from Maya made my face curl.

I didn't care that I stared at her as she and Will walked towards the gate.

"Bye, Will," she said, trying to be cute.

He let her out and watched her switch away.

If I was insecure and compared myself to others, my next Google searches would be:

how much do BBLs cost

&

how to grow a butt fast

"Bye," she hummed to Damian and Chyna. She better not have been talking to me.

They both waved and then our eyes all darted to Wilson, coming our way.

"Sydney," he cracked up. "I accidentally told someone your name was Squiddney earlier."

I wasn't amused.

"I think I left the stove on," Damian made up.

"I forgot to feed the fish," said Chyna.

"I just don't want to talk to you," I huffed, storming inside behind the two.

Damian and Chyna said their goodbyes, planning on getting showered before a night out.

I was checking my phone charging in the kitchen.

Bent over the counter, I paid Will no mind as he entered.

"Stay like that," he said, I didn't know what he was talking about.

Suddenly, he pressed against my backside and kissed my shoulder.

"Will, no," I hissed, pushing him away.

"Dude, why do you have an attitude?" he asked, trying to hug me from behind.

"I don't," I gritted, trying to squirm away but couldn't.

"Alright, then, let's go to the back," he said, throwing me over his shoulder.

"Will!" I yelled, jumping down.

Once back on my feet, I hit him with a straight face.

"You're not funny. And who's Maya?"

"Who?" he looked really confused.

I shook my head, remembering I gave the brunette that name.

"The girl you were with all day, Will," I accused.

"Oh, that's Becca," he told me like it was nothing.

I looked over Will's golden face, waiting for a better answer than that.

He went on to say, "We're like cousins - her uncle used to date my aunt. She said she wanted to say hi to you, but you looked mean." Good.

"And what did you tell her?"

He popped some chips in his mouth and talked. "I said you're mean as shit."

I laughed after trying to act offended. "Am not, stop! Now I feel bad."

"Why?" Will asked. He stood across from me, holding up the sink. One ankle crossed over the other and he looked down at my lips, wetting his.

"I was being mean. I thought you liked her or something," I whined, trying to hide my embarrassed face.

"Ohhh, jealousy? That's cute," he grinned, popping both brows. Will reached in the chip bag and scooped a handful to pick from.

"Please. Don't rub it in," I begged, wrapping my arms around his warm torso.

"If I'm being honest, I really didn't fuck with you all day because I saw you and Travis," Will said quick and low.

"What?!" I objected.

I knew he wasn't just avoiding me for no reason.

He laughed it off, nodding.

"Cute," I hummed, putting my ear to his heartbeat.

Will finally held me back but I pulled away and noticed him ogling my chest.

"What are we doing?" I bit the bullet.

Wilson swallowed, I watched his Adam's apple in his throat.

His jaw then clenched and he squared my shoulders.

"Did you say you liked me back?" he asked.

I froze, guilty because I know I didn't.

"Ummmmmmm," I dragged.

"I wonder what Becca's doing," Wilson tried to play, reaching for his phone.

"Stop!" I growled, pulling his arm so his phone could get in my reach.

We wrestled for a bit before I bit his arm and took the phone.

"Come on, Syd," he seethed, looking at the teeth marks.

"Oh, you liked it," I rang, putting his phone under mine on the island.

When he said nothing, I put my hands at his hips and looked into his eyes.

"I like you," I stated the obvious. When his hands snaked around my waist, I felt encouraged to go on.

After pecking his warm lips once, I said, "And I don't want you seeing other girls."

"Okay. I don't want you seeing other girls, either," he joked around.

I laughed. "Will, I'm serious. How do you feel?"

"I feel like I agree. Let's see where this goes," he obliged, pulling my body close.

I was proud he made the right decision. This is good.

"Now come here," he barked, demanding my lips.

"Mmm," I moaned in the kiss. "You know what I feel?"

"What?" he asked in a breath.

I raised a brow and pulled at the hem of his shorts.

"Oh," he chuckled, walking me to his bedroom.