———

Whoa, I’d been up to collect my phone and was debating whether to make up a quick snack. As I approached the kitchen I saw that Spencer had Addison pinned to the refrigerator and she looked pissed. Uh, oh. I think they were having ‘the talk’. As much as I wanted to hear Spencer tear strips out of the unfriendly brunette I thought I’d better move along. As I passed the door way I stopped when I heard my name.

———

‘But Spence, she sleeps with anything and is always fighting. She was scrapping with Jamie the other day. Ashley, too. Does that make you think she’s changed? The brunette protested.
 
This was getting a bit much.

——-
 
No, actually I didn’t want to hear Spencer’s opinion so I continued onto the pool.

—-

‘Addison.’ I hissed as I rammed her back up against the appliance. ‘You will show them the same respect as you show me otherwise it’s over.’ I growled and immediate shock and hurt registered on her face. ‘It’s the only way it’s going to work sweetie,’ I clarified, softening my tone. ‘I love you, you’re my friend but not my girlfriend. You have every right to be jealous where Kate’s concerned but I can see who I want. Do you really think I would be with anyone who would hurt me?’ I questioned. 
 
She was still pressed hard against the metal and her breathing was heavy, if she was feeling like me this was turning her on more than a little.
 
‘Do you?’ I repeated my question as she stayed silent.
 
‘No,’ she eventually answered quietly and dropped her eyes.
 
‘Next time you see Amy and Ashley I want you to apologise for the way you’ve been treating them. OK?’ The brunette nodded. ‘If you can’t get over this jealousy Addy we have to stop. It’s not fair on the others or on Kate.’ I laid down the law and her body relaxed as she acquiesced.
 
‘I’m sorry Spencer. I should trust you. I trust Maggie, I just don’t see Amy and Ashley the way you do.’ Her explanation was irrelevant now.
 
‘It’s Ok. As long as we can keep the drama out, I’m good.’ I took my weight off her and we shared a hug.
 
——
 
‘I do like her though, Ashley.’ Spencer said as I held her and buried my face in her soft hair.
 
‘I know,’ I quietly responded. I wondered how much she actually liked her? Ashley was attracted to my friend, that was obvious to anyone who watched the brunette around Spencer. As much as I loved our relationship I also wanted Spencer to find what I had with Kate. I doubted Ashley was the one but who knew what was going on behind the brunettes facade? I had a feeling waters ran deep there and I didn’t want Spencer getting used and washed up when Ashley moved on. Maybe she had changed. Maybe?
 
The warm body in my arms shifted and pressed her lips against mine and the kiss inevitably deepend, it was calm and sensual..
 
‘Can we? Soon?’ I asked my sometime lover. It had been a long summer and with all the drama both Kate and I had admitted that we missed her.
 
‘Mmmmm,’ she purred. ‘That would be sooo good. I missed you guys,’ Spencer burrowed into my arms as she spoke. I was so glad she hadn’t called it all off. We all knew that time would come but I was relieved it wasn’t just yet.
 
‘I’ll talk to Kate tonight, ‘K?’ I felt her nod against my chest.
 
‘C’mon,’ she muttered. ‘Let’s go get a tan!’ Spencer giggled as she pulled away, grabbing my hand as we made our way back outside. 
 
‘It was Maggie.’ she informed me with a smirk just before we hit the decking. Ahhh, to be honest it felt good to have my curiosity satisfied.
 
—————————————————–
 
Wandering back out top the pool I saw Austin wave me over to where she and Annie were sitting together in the sun. Kyla and Madison were in the pool fooling around with a volleyball.
 
‘Hi,’ I dropped to the ground and sat Indian style on the ground next to her sun bed.
 
‘What was that all that about,’ Austin quietly asked, not wanting the girls in the pool to overhear.
 
‘Nothing,’ I sighed deciding to be honest. ‘Just messing with Addison. She was a real bitch yesterday.’ Austin snorted in agreement and Annie was just listening with interest as she played with her girlfriend’s hair.
 
‘What’s going on there?’ I nodded over to the doorway where Spencer and Addison had just emerged. They were holding hands and smiling. 
 
‘It’s,’ Austin began. I groaned and lent back on my hands and stared at the sky.
 
‘It’s complicated!’ I grumbled. ‘Everything’s fucking complicated. Everybody’s having hot sex except for me,’ I groused.’ Austin snickered.
 
‘It’s not like you’ve gone short in life though Ash,’ my red-headed friend smirked and I felt my mood drop.
 
‘No. No, it’s not.’ I sighed quietly as I watched Kyla give Madison a piggy back in the pool as they chased after the ball. 
 
They looked very happy and very much in love. Madison was so much more relaxed out of school when they weren’t trying to keep their relationship quiet. Chelsea had explained the Latina’s situation and I felt for the girl. She was always on the defensive, either protecting Kyla or repressing her feelings for her girl while they were around strangers. I think it was easier for Kyla as she was such a bubbly personality. She was more naturally hands on and it didn’t raise any questions when she pawed at Madison. If the more reserved Madison were to do the same it would draw attention to the couple and with the company they kept tongues would wag.
 
I looked over to where Spencer and Addison were. Spencer was returning the favour and rubbing oil on Addison’s back as she sat between the blonde’s legs. They seemed to have recovered from their argument and were now as close as ever.
 
I wanted someone to be close to. I had had more than enough empty sex. I wanted to share in the intimacy that these girls shared. 
 
‘Babe, I’m going to the bathroom. Need anything?’ Annie asked as she pecked Austin on the top of the head.
 
‘Nah, I’m good,’ she smiled up at her girlfriend and received a kiss on the lips before Annie headed into the house.
 
‘She’s beautiful,’ I congratulated my friend, that earned me a beaming smile.
 
‘She is,’ Austin proudly agreed. ‘Anyway, didn’t you and Maggie, you know?’ Austin asked quietly, returning to the previous topic of conversation.
 
‘No, no we didn’t,’ I replied in a subdued tone. No, but that night had been wonderful in it’s own way, despite the reason for my invitation.
 
‘I didn’t think so but I wasn’t sure,’ she shrugged.
 
‘So, you and Annie?’ I teased, lightening the subject.
 
‘Yeah.’ I caught the blush on my friends face and laughed.
 
‘I’m pleased for you Aust, I really am,’ my words were sincere.
 
‘Anyone take your fancy?’ Austin continued the teasing and I couldn’t help but stare over at the blonde and brunette who were now laid out sun bathing. Addison had her arm possessively laid across Spencer’s stomach.
 
‘What about Amy?’ she probed.
 
‘I like her a lot and we might have done if it weren’t for Maggie,’ I explained to the younger girl. 
 
‘Maggie?’ Austin seemed surprised.
 
‘Yeah, that’s why we were fighting with Jamie, she basically called your sister, my Maggie, a whore so we had to take her down.’
 
‘Bitch!’ Austin&#821
7;s yell disturbed the peace and  everyone looked round. ‘Sorry!’ She raised a hand in apology. ‘Ashley was just telling me about Jamie dissing Maggie. Seems like Ash and Amy took care of it though,’ this was directed at Spencer who was scowling. ‘Thanks Ash.’
 
‘It was the least I could do, you know how I feel about her.’ It was the truth, I acknowledged as I studied the blonde, she was not happy. I had now concluded that Spencer was almost as close to Maggie as she was her younger sister. 
 
‘Yeah, I know.’ Austin paused but I could tell there was more on the way. The other girls had settled down after the outburst and Annie had joined Kyla and Madison in the pool. ‘Do you think you’ll get back together, with Maggie?’
 
The question kind of surprised me. I mean, Austin knew how I felt about Maggie but she also knew we worked better as friends. We had been great together but our close friendship hadn’t matured into anything deeper. It had been amazing while it lasted, which was why our relationship had remained sexual but we’d both wanted to explore the vast possibilities that were being thrown at our feet. With and without each other. 
 
‘No.’ I took a minute to think this through. ‘I don’t think so Aust. You know I love her?’ Austin nodded. ‘I can’t believe that you’ve both forgiven me and been so kind. It means a lot you know?’ The red-head ducked shyly but I could see a pleased smile on her face.
 
‘Thanks Ash, it’s great having you around.’ 
 
‘I like being around,’ I confirmed and was rewarded with a wider smile. ‘But, I was saying that it’s the same as it was, I love her, she loves me but it’s not changed. I’m assuming she feels the same but we haven’t talked about it.’ Austin nodded. We’d had this conversation before and nothing had changed.
 
‘Do you like Spencer?’ 
 
The question took me by surprise.
 
‘I mean like her and not just want to fuck her?’ Austin carried on talking. ‘Because there are lots of girls who want to fuck her. I mean I’ve seen her work, she can get any girl she wants. You should have seen what she did to A, uh a girl at school.’ I looked at her slightly confused.
 
‘What?’ She’d lost me with the babble
 
‘Ash do you like her like her?’ Austin blurted out. I took a minute to think about it although I knew the answer. 
 
The first thought when I saw Spencer was not how I wanted to fuck her but how I wanted to hold her and keep her safe. Yes, I liked her.
 
‘Yes,’ I admitted quietly to my friend. I felt her hair tickle my bare shoulder as she lent down to whisper in my ear.
 
‘Good, she likes you too.’ You have no idea how truly happy those words made me feel.
 
——————————————————————————————————
 
 Next on Bringing it Home
 
‘Hold me?’ her half-awake self asked in a sleep husked voice.

‘I’ve missed you,’ the words were so quiet, maybe I’d been mistaken. No, I’d heard correctly, just what did it mean?