Chapter 53: Gaining Some Confidence
"So, how about we go back outside? I have to finish kicking Billy and Jay's asses," Zak said.
I laughed and nodded as I stood up, picking up my water as I did so.
"So you and Aaron are winning?" I asked.
"Yep," Zak said, grinning as we walked back toward the patio doors.
"That's my man," I teased as we walked outside.
Zak laughed, but looked slightly embarrassed.
"Bro! Get your ass back over here!" Aaron called from the basketball court.
"I'm coming!" Zak called, then looked down at me.
"Kiss for good luck?" He questioned, turning his head so his cheek was facing me.
I smiled as I laughed quietly, then jokingly sighed in reluctance.
"I suppose…" I said, leaning up a bit to kiss his cheek.
Zak grinned.
"Luckiest man on Earth right now!" Zak exclaimed proudly as he jogged back over to the court.
I laughed quietly, my face flushing a bit, before I walked back over to the girls.
"Welcome back…are you okay?" Cheryl asked, looking unsure.
"We're sorry if we upset you, we shouldn't of brought up Shannon," Diana said, Ashley nodding in agreement.
"It's okay. Zak and I talked and we're good," I said, sitting back down in my chair.
"Good," Ashley said with a smile.
I smiled in return.
"Foul!" I suddenly heard Zak call from the basketball court.
"It was not!" Billy retorted.
"Was too!" Zak shot back.
The four of us laughed.
"Men, can't shoot em, can't live without em," Diana remarked before taking a sip of her beer.
We all laughed again.
Half an hour later…
Zak and Aaron had won the basketball game.
At least they said they did.
Billy and Jay had argued the fact.
After they had finished with their game, Aaron, Jay, Cheryl and Ashley decided to play a game of volleyball in one part of the pool, so they had set up a small net, and gotten out a waterproof volleyball.
Billy had discovered around the same time that Zak was almost out of beer, so he and Diana had left just a few minutes ago to pick up some more.
Zak had sat down with me to rest after his basketball game, and to keep me company as I watched the others playing volleyball in the pool.
After some time had passed, he noticed I had finished up my water, and offered to get me another one, which I agreed to.
As he walked toward the house, I saw Zak pull his tank top off over his head before disappearing inside.
That action had led me to thinking about what Cheryl had said earlier in the day, about helping Zak with sunscreen.
I had to admit to myself, I was starting to get warm in my top and skirt, and I knew if I wanted to go into the pool, I'd have to strip off eventually.
I mentally debated with myself before deciding to just go ahead and do it.
It would be less embarrassing to take the top and skirt off now without Zak watching me, and Cheryl was too distracted with the game to tease me.
I stood up and pulled my top off over my head and folded it up and put it in my bag, and then I slipped the skirt down off my hips and down my legs until I was able to step out of it. I folded up the skirt as well and also put it into my bag.
Phew…that feels better, I couldn't help thinking.
I grabbed a large beach towel from my bag, as well as my sunscreen, and walked over to one of the lounge chairs.
I spread the towel out across the cushion of the chair, so I wouldn't get sunscreen on the cushion.
Before I could turn to sit down on the chair, I suddenly felt a strong arm slip around my waist and soft breathing against my ear.
"You were worried about this? You look so sexy…" I heard Zak say softly.
I felt my face flush and turned my head to look at him.
"You're not just saying that, are you…?" I asked softly.
"Definitely not…" Zak replied softly, lightly kissing my shoulder before pulling back.
I could tell he was being entirely serious.
"Here's your water, doll," Zak added.
I was relieved that he wasn't making a big deal about my change in attire.
I turned to face him to take the water bottle.
He hadn't put his tank top back on.
Oh my…
"Thanks," I replied, smiling at him, as I took the bottle of water.
Zak smiled and nodded in return, and I caught him looking me up and down now that I had turned around.
He had a look on his face like he was looking at a refreshing glass of water.
Despite my shyness, the look on his face made me feel sexy.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer," I said softly, teasing him.
He laughed, looking embarrassed at being caught, but then grinned.
"Maybe I will," Zak said, grabbing his phone from the table.
"Oh hell, really?" I grumbled.
Zak laughed.
"I'll take it!" Cheryl suddenly exclaimed from the pool.
I looked to see her at the edge of the pool, wiping her hands on a towel.
"Seriously Cheryl, do you have some sort of 'embarrass Ali' radar?" I asked.
She laughed.
"It's a secret. Now gimme," Cheryl said, reaching a hand toward Zak. "Then you can get in the picture with her," Cheryl smiled.
"I knew I liked you for a reason," Zak said jokingly, jogging over and handing his phone to Cheryl before jogging back over to me.
I couldn't help but smile.
We stood next to each other, Zak wrapping his arm around me and gently pulled me up against his side, resting his hand on my fairly exposed hip.
I felt a slight shiver run down my spine.
His hand normally would rest at my waist.
I wrapped an arm around his back, and since I was turned toward him a bit, I decided to be "brave" and I rested my other hand on his stomach.
I could practically see him beaming out of the corner of my eye.
I smiled brightly too.
"Aww, hold that," Cheryl said, holding the phone steady and then took the picture.
She checked it before smiling and holding the phone out toward Zak.
"It came out," Cheryl said proudly.
I let Zak go as he walked the few steps to take his phone from Cheryl.
"Thanks Cher," He said, as he stepped back toward me and we looked at the picture.
I smiled.
I loved it.
"Thanks Cheryl," I said, looking at her in the pool.
"No problem," Cheryl said with a smile, before returning to her game with the others.
"One more," Zak said.
Before I could say a word, Zak grabbed me around the waist, sat down on one of the nearest lounge chairs and pulled me down so I was sitting on his lap.
I yelped in shock, causing Zak to laugh.
"I want a selfie of us too," Zak said, smiling sweetly.
I smiled in return.
"Sure," I replied.
I had to admit, this "showing skin" thing didn't see so bad.
Zak was being more touchy-feely, which I was enjoying.
I adjusted my position a bit so I was sitting a bit sideways on Zak's lap, and then wrapped an arm around the back of his shoulders and tilted my head toward his.
I felt Zak wrap an arm firmly around my waist, letting his hand rest on my stomach, and then tilted his head close to mine and held the phone out at arms length with his free hand.
"Say 'Ghostbusters'," Zak said, instead of the traditional "say cheese".
I laughed.
"Ghostbusters!" We both said at the same time as Zak tapped the screen a few times to get a few pictures.
He brought the phone back in and we looked at the pictures he had just taken.
They were all similar, Zak and I in different stages of our laughter in each shot.
I smiled at the results.
I looked different in these pictures - carefree, confident, and happy.
I felt Zak suddenly and softly, kiss my cheek.
"See? You're beautiful," Zak said softly.
I smiled at him and then gently rested my forehead against his temple and closed my eyes, relishing in the happy moment.
For the first time in my life, I felt beautiful.
And it felt wonderful.
Authors Note: How was that update? I hope you enjoyed it. :)
BTW, next chapter comes...sunscreen application. ;)
