Chapter 21

Alice and I grinned at each other. We stepped out of our shorts and walked to the water. All six faces looked stunned. I guess you would call it a surprised silence.

After a long endless moment, one of the girls said, “Now, I see why you like Jerry.” She wasn’t looking at my face!”

One of the guys murmured, “I should have asked you out, Alice.”

I said, “I’m glad I did even before I saw this suit.”

We went on into the water to our waists. The others gradually moved to us.

Daisy looked at us holding hands. “Who’s afraid the other will get away?”

Alice smirked, “Jerry gets lost easily.”

I grinned. “I just like to stay close to Alice.” I put my hand closest to her on her far bottom cheek and pulled her closer until we were hip to hip. It didn’t take much movement.

Another girl said, “I’m glad for Alice. Jerry, you look happy, too.” I nodded as Alice leaned into me making for even more contact and making me even happier.

We did swim. The current wasn’t very fast. We went up and then downstream swimming steadily. After that, we just played in the water for a while before getting out to catch some sun. One of the guys appreciatively said that we were quite cheeky. We stayed at the “swimming hole” for just over an hour before returning to the house and lunch.

We dried off and put on our shorts and shoes. With our towels and shirts in hand, we left for Alice’s house. Once we were out of sight and hearing, I said, “I bet times at that swimming spot will never be the same.”

Alice smiled. “There have been a few girls wearing suits almost this daring but no guy has ever worn a speedo and particularly not one cut as high in back as yours is. All the girls including this one loved it.” Her smile turned into a grin.

I grinned back. “As long as you continue to love me, I’ll dress for you.”

“You’re going to be wearing what I want you to wear for a long time then.” We kissed before resuming our walk back.

We walked into the kitchen where Alice’s mother was working on lunch preparations. “Did you have a good time in the swimming hole?”

Alice said, “Yes, Mom. The girls particularly liked Jerry’s suit. The area there will permanently be more popular in the hopes that he will return wearing his suit.” She grinned. “We will return this afternoon. I like to show him off.”

Her mother grinned. “He seems to tolerate being shown off pretty well.”

I grinned. “I have Alice beside me being cheeky.” We all laughed. Lunch was ready and we ate after a blessing.

After eating and then performing a few chores including folding and putting away clothes, Alice took my hand and said, “Back to the swimming hole!” I nodded. We grabbed fresh towels and left walking along the path to the creek while holding hands.

We arrived at the swimming hole to see that there were fifteen to twenty people there. We came into sight and all talk ceased. I thought to myself, “Crap! The word is out.”

We put our towels down and slowly began to undress. I whispered to Alice, ‘I didn’t plan on a larger audience.”

She grinned, “You can handle it. You’re a big, tough football player.” By then, I had kicked off my shoes and only had my shorts left. Alice was at the same point but I felt that even more people were watching me.

We dropped our shorts to gasps and “ooh’s” that were quiet but easily heard in the silence. Alice grinned, “Let’s get wet so people can talk again.” I smiled ruefully. Hand in hand, we went into the water and waded in to our waists.

Talk started back. One girl about our age walked up to us. “Alice, is this Jerry?”

Alice grinned. “In the flesh.”

The girl grinned, “Yeah, and there’s a lot of flesh to be seen.” Her eyes had never left my body though she was talking to Alice.

We played in the water for a bit. A guy walked up and asked, “Isn’t that suit a bit showy?”

“Yes,” I replied. “However, Alice likes it and wears one for me when I wear this one. I’m surviving.”

“Jerry is tough. He enters decathlons on scholarship at college.” She giggled. “I like to see him run.”

We played some more in the water and swam up to the far end and back. When we were back and standing, Alice asked, “Lay out?” I nodded.

We went to the shore and lay together on the big towel we had brought. We lay on our stomachs holding the attention of everyone. After a little over ten minutes, we rolled to our backs but still held everyone’s attention. It was getting funny since no one was doing anything but stare with shocked looks at us.

I was tempted to say something catty but I looked over at Alice who gave me the tiniest head shake, no. I kept my sense of humor bottled up. The situation was funny to me but Alice knew these people, not me. I would let her control our responses and statements.

I began to be unsure of that policy when a new guy showed up. We had rolled onto our stomachs again by then. He was leering at Alice after giving me a contemptuous look. “Alice, it’s nice to finally see most of you. You were always a stuck-up bitch in high school.”

“To you, Billy, I’m still not interested. I’m in love with Jerry, a real man. If you’re here to swim, go do it. No matter what, leave me alone.”

“Bitch, I’ll do what I want, where I want.”

I slowly stood up. I was as tall as he but not as heavy. However, I was more muscular. I didn’t say anything but looked at him contemptuously. I think he felt my disdain.

He said, “Boy, this isn’t about you. It’s between me and the broad.”

“Billy, Alice and I are going to marry. I’m involved unfortunately for you. This is your last warning to leave her alone.”

“I’ll do what I want with any bitch. Alice is one of my bitches.”

“I think not. Your hallucinations don’t count. Now, it’s time for you to go and to leave us alone.”

He didn’t like that but he didn’t like me staring at him either. I waited for him to leave or try something. Finally, he couldn’t hold my stare and huffed. He left the area. One of the other guys who was fairly close said, “Be watchful. He’s not used to people staring him down. He may try something later.”