Meant To Be Ch. 01

"So, is Amy pissed?" she asked, trying not to smile.

"Fuck yes. She keeps blowing up my phone, then refusing to asnwer when I text her or call her back. All this shit is getting really old," he said, shaking his head.

"Sorry you're frustrated, but I'm not sorry that you're finally seeing how she treats you. You deserve better, Nate." Kelsey took another bite.

Nathan nodded. "I know. I think I'm going to try to talk to her tonight. If she even comes."

"Wait...Amy is coming to the barbeque tonight?" Kelsey groaned.

"Yes. She's my girlfriend, Kelsey."

"I know, I know. I just...there's just...ugh. There's just something about her. I just want to claw her eyes out sometimes," she said, her frustration evident.

"I know. But Amy's not all bad..." he started. Kelsey took a bite and held up her hand.

"Do not try to defend her to me, Nathan Lowe. I've seen and heard enough of her over the years. I'll never like her. I know that you can do better, so shut up."

Nathan smiled at her as she chewed. His eyes dropped from Kelsey's eyes to her lips. The smile faded from his face as his finger slowly came up and wiped a small smudge of cream cheese off of her pouty lower lip. Kelsey's breathing became shallow as he pressed his finger against her. Their eyes locked and Kelsey exhaled shakily.

Suddenly, the garage door started to open, alerting them that Kelsey's Mom had come home from the grocery store. Their gaze broke abruptly and they both straightened themselves. Nathan stood up and walked to the other side of the island. He glanced at Kelsey. His jaw flexed as he swallowed hard.

Kelsey stood up and threw the rest of her bagel away when her Mom walked in the kitchen.

"Oh! Great. You're still here Nathan! Could you help me carry a few things in from the car, honey? I've got a bunch of beer in the back," she said, flustered. "Morning, sweetie!" She kissed Kelsey on the cheek and started unloading the groceries for the barbeque into the fridge.

"Sure, Mrs. B." Nathan replied. He glanced at Kelsey before walking out to the garage.

Kelsey walked back upstairs to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. She laid back on her bed and closed her eyes.

Things were starting to happen. Her body was thrilled but her heart and mind were terrified. She didn't want to lose Nathan.

She sat up as she heard Nathan's truck roar to life. He pulled it into the Bradford's driveway and shut the windows. He walked back to the Lowe's house and went inside. He still expected his truck to be washed. Kelsey giggled to herself.

The cocky bastard.

>>>>><<<<<

Kelsey loosened the braid in her hair and shook it free. Long, brown waves tumbled down her shoulders as she filled up the large blue bucket with water. She knealt down and read the label on the soap that Nathan had left out for her. She poured a capful into the bucket and watched as the suds filled it to the brim.

Once she had adjusted the setting on the nozzle, Kelsey sprayed down Nathan's entire truck. A thin mist bounced off the paint and quickly covered her body. She dropped the hose and pulled off her tank top and shorts, standing in her white bikini. She circled the truck, making sure she got everything nice and wet.

She walked around and picked up a sponge, dunking it in the foamy water and immediately smacked it onto Nathan's tall black pickup. She smiled as she washed it, top to bottom, letting the soap run down the sides and over the glass. She stood on the bumper and leaned across the front, her wet, bikini clad breasts rubbing against the hood as she washed the grime off Nathan's one and only prized possession. He had bought this truck soon after high school, once he started getting real paychecks from his Dad's company. He treated this truck like he treated Amy. Like gold. Only one of them was actually deserving of it.

Once the entire truck was covered in soap, she picked up the hose and started to wash off the bubbles. By this point, her body was wet and water was running down her flat stomach and her tanned legs. She pulled on the heavy hose and jerked it to the other side of the truck. As she walked around, she saw Nathan walking from his parent's house to her driveway.

"Looks good, Bradford."

Kelsey pointed the hose at Nathan. "You might want to watch how cocky you get right now. Remember who is holding the hose here, buddy."

Nathan shook his head. "You wouldn't."

"Wanna bet?" Kelsey raised her eyebrows and sprayed his legs.

Nathan jumped back, shaking his head. "You never learn, Kelsey." He dove at her and she squealed as he tried to wrestle the hose from her grip. She squeezed the trigger and water shot down his neck and chest. He finally managed to pull it from her hands. He wrapped a muscular arm around her waist and turned the hose on full blast over her head. They were both laughing hysterically, soaked from head to toe.

Kelsey wiggled free from Nathan's grip and grabbed the bucket of soapy water, threatening to throw it on him. Nathan dropped the hose and took off running. She chased him and threw the cold water down his back. He slid in the grass and fell backwards. Kelsey laughed so hard that she started crying.

"I'm going to get you for this, you know that, right?" he said, breathing heavily.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not scared of you, Lowe."

Nathan laid back in the grass and stared up at the sky as Kelsey picked up the bucket and the sponge. She walked back to Nathan's truck to finish washing it, when she heard an annoying little horn hornking in the Lowe's driveway. She looked up in time to see Amy pulling up in her obnoxiously expensive little convertible. Kelsey rolled her eyes and finished spraying off Nathan's truck as he stood up and jogged towards Amy. Kelsey watched as Amy stepped out of the car. Nathan tried to hug her, but since he was wet, she shoved him away with a disgusted look on her face.

Kelsey cringed. She threw the sponge in the bucket and walked inside. If Nathan wanted it waxed, he could do it himself this time.

>>>>><<<<<

After a long shower, and helping her Mom and Nancy Lowe prepare some food, everyone started gathering in the Lowe's backyard for dinner. Kelsey watched out of Nancy's kitchen window as Nathan talked to an obviously uninterested Amy. She scrolled through her phone as he tried to apologize for leaving the club early the night before. Kelsey watched as Nathan sighed, dipped his head and stood up. It looked like he was finally done trying. He grabbed Amy by the hand and lead her to the front of the house.

Kelsey was desperate to know what was happening, but she had no way of knowing. She just grabbed a couple bowls of food and walked them out to the deck. Her short white dress waved in the breeze. Nathan's dad was lighting some tiki torches, then walked over and side-hugged Kelsey.

"Thanks for all your help, Kels. We've really missed you. I'm glad you agreed to stay with your parents for the summer," he smiled and Kelsey rested her head against his chest. Dave Lowe had always been like a second father to her. Having raised 3 sons, Dave and Nancy Lowe were just as protective over Kelsey as her own parents were.

"You're welcome, Dave. Do you need any help with anything out here?"

"Nope. We're ready, sweetie," he said as he hugged her.

Just then, Nathan came back around the side of the house and walked up on the deck. He and Kelsey made eye contact.

"Everything alright?" she asked.

The sound of squeeling tires filled the air. Kelsey cringed.

"Yeah...well...Amy isn't joining us for dinner tonight, or any night for that matter," he said flatly.

No one asked any questions. Everyone just sat down around the table. Kelsey scooted her chair in and looked across the table at Nathan. The frustration in his eyes filled her with anger. He didn't deserve that. She sighed and hoped that maybe this breakup would be the one that stuck. Dave stood up and raised his beer in the air. Everyone joined him and raised their drinks.

"Here's to another wonderful summer filled with friendship, laughter and love. To us!" he toasted.

"To us!" everyone toasted cheerfully. Nathan's eyes locked with Kelsey's. They clinked their beer bottles together ceremoniously and drank. Kelsey closed her eyes and tried to fight off the growing sense of need she was feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She needed to tell Nathan how she felt. She needed to feel his hands on her body. She needed to crush her lips against his.

But first, she needed to get through the barbeque.

>>>>><<<<<

After food and drinks, everyone just sat around the table and told the same stories that were told every summer. Eventually, the men started talking construction, while the women were grilling Kelsey for ideas about what to wear for the family photos she was going to take of everyone later in the week.

It was starting to get late and the parents had way too much to drink. They ended up at the Bradford's house, sitting around, drinking and playing cards. Nathan's younger brothers fell asleep watching a movie. Kelsey started to clean up some dishes, taking them into the Lowe's kitchen. Nathan followed her in, scraping plates and loading the dishwasher.

"So, do you want to talk about it?" Kelsey asked hesitantly.

"Not really."

"Ok. That's fine. I'm here if you need to talk."

"Cut the shit, Kelsey," he said with a knowing grin. "I know you're happy that Amy and I split up."

Kelsey dropped a plate into the sink. She couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"You know what, Nathan? I am. I'm really fucking glad that you and Amy split up. You want to know why? Because she walked all over you. She treated you like shit if she didn't get her way. She used you and for what? So she could spend your money, or just to have a handsome guy on her arm when it was convenient for her? She wouldn't even fucking hug you today because you were wet. How stupid is that? Are you really going to tell me that you want to be with someone like that?"

Nathan stared at her, stunned by her sudden outburst. Kelsey didn't stop.

"Are you really going to stand there and tell me that you can see yourself having a future with her?" Kelsey shook her head. "God, I hope not. Because then you'd be settling, and you're way better than that, Nate."

Kelsey pushed past her friend and walked back out to the patio. She started pushing in chairs and blowing out the torches. When she looked up, she saw Nathan standing in the doorway.

"You really think I can do better than Amy, don't you?"

Kelsey dropped her hands to her sides. "Yes. I do. You know it, too."

"Do you have something you need to say to me, Kels?"

Her heart fell into her stomach. The two friends stared at each other, the rippling glow of the lighted pool dancing across their faces. The sound of their parents roaring laughter came from the house next door. Kelsey's eyes dropped to the ground.

"No."

"Are you sure? Because you've been pretty damn vocal about Amy recently. It seems like you've been holding something back," he said as he took a few steps closer towards Kelsey.

"I told you what I had to say. I don't think Amy is good for you, that's all. You should be with someone who treats you like you deserve to be treated."

"Oh yeah. How's that?"

Kelsey swallowed and backed away from Nathan a couple steps. He continued to walk towards her slowly.

She inhaled. "I don't know. Someone who will hug you when you're soaking wet. Someone who won't drag you to a club because she knows that they make you uncomfortable. Someone who won't try to make you wear clothes that you hate, or try to get you to take some stupid office job just because she thinks construction is 'icky'. Someone who knows what your favorite movie is and who will watch it with you for the hundreth time without complaining. Someone who..." she trailed off as Nathan closed the space between them.

"Someone like you?" he whispered.

Kelsey looked at the pool, trying to avoid Nathan's eyes. She shook her head.

"I'm not...that's not what I'm saying. I, I-I just..."

"Christ. You're killing me, Kelsey. I can't take this. If you're just going to dance around this, do you mind if I hop in the pool and cool off for a few minutes while you work up the nerve to tell me what you're really thinking?"

He laughed as he stripped off his tshirt and shorts, jumping into the pool in just his boxers. Kelsey stared at him as he swam the length of the large inground pool and back to her. He crossed his arms on the edge and stared up at her. She was suddenly very aware of how short her dress was and the fact that Nathan could probably see right up it.

"Why don't you kill the lights and get in?" Nathan said quietly. She stared at him for several seconds, debating on whether or not it was a good idea. She knew just by the energy in the air that it was possible that they were about to cross a line...a line that she was terrified of stepping over. She closed her eyes and nodded, walking to the row of switches by the house. She turned off the deck lights and the underwater lights inside the pool. The backyard was plunged into darkness.

Kelsey walked to the edge and pulled her dress up over her head. She quickly jumped in the water, trying to prevent Nathan from getting a good look at her thin, nearly transparent white bra, and her small white thong. When she surfaced from under the warm water, Nathan was still several feet away. She dunked her head under and smoothed her hair out of her face when she came back up. This wasn't the first time that Nathan and Kelsey had taken a late night swim together, but it was the first time that there was an obvious sexual tension in the air. Nathan floated closer to her.

"You ready to tell me anything?" he asked, his small dimples piercing his cheeks.

Kelsey ducked everything but her eyes under the water and shook her head.

He rolled his eyes. "Fine."

She came up for air. "Is there anything that you want to tell me?"

Nathan stared at her for a moment. He studied her face and smiled. He glided effortlessly through the water and leaned against the edge, gripping the side of the pool behind his head.

"Yeah. You look good wet," he laughed. "I've been thinking that for about the last 10 summers."

Kelsey felt her insides start to melt. She was thankful that his humor broke some of the tension.

"Ok. Your turn. I told you something. Now, you tell me something." Nathan grinned as the water lapped against his neck.

Kelsey took a deep breath. This was it.

"Ok," she said nervously. "I might have a little crush on you."

As soon as the words fell out of her mouth, she became intensely embarrassed. This was Nathan. Her best friend. She felt like a teenager all over again. She immediately dunked her head back under the water, wishing she'd never said a thing. She heard Nathan laugh, then felt him reach under the water and drag her up to the surface.

"Kelsey. Why are you acting like this? So what? Do you really think that over the years that I haven't had a major crush on you at one time or another?" he grinned as I blinked the pool water out of my eyes.

"Right, but we were kids. You were a teenage boy. You probably had a crush on everyone!"

Nathan shook his head and grabbed her arms underneath the water, pulling her closer.

"No. Kelsey, I've always thought you were gorgeous, and funny and, well, perfect. You've always seemed so unattainable to me."

"What are you talking about? Unattainable? I've been by your side since we were babies, Nathan!" she laughed.

"Right, but I've never wanted to risk losing you as my friend."

Kelsey closed her eyes and nodded. His words were the reality check she needed.

"I know exactly what you mean," she said, pulling her arms free of his grip. "Which is why I never wanted to say anything in the first place, Nate."

She started to pull away from him, but he grabbed her elbow. They stared at each other briefly before Nathan pulled her through the water and pressed his wet lips against hers. The tension in Kelsey's body immediately melted away. His grip on her elbow loosened and she placed her hands tentatively on his broad chest. Nathan's large hands found her narrow waist and he pulled her closer. Kelsey moaned against his mouth. Nathan smiled and pushed his tongue through her parted lips. Kelsey felt it slide along hers, exploring her mouth with a newfound curiosity. She let her hands side up his chest and around his neck as they bobbed and swayed in the water.

It was the kind of kiss that was worth waiting 23 years for.

After several seconds, Kelsey pulled her mouth off of Nathan's. She brought her fingers up to her lips and stared at him. He ducked his mouth under the water, still smiling. He came back up.

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"How was it?"

Kelsey couldn't help but grin. "Really good, Nate."

"Just 'really good'?" he pouted. "I was hoping for something more like 'fucking incredible'."

Kelsey shrugged sheepishly. "I wasn't fully in the moment. I'm too nervous."

"Well, in that case, let me try again."

Nathan wrapped his hands around Kelsey's neck and jaw, pulling her lips firmly against his. She wrapped her hands around his forearms and moved her body closer to his. The water splashed gently against them, underneath their conjoined mouths. Kelsey let her leg rub against Nathan's under the water, feeling her smooth skin glide against his masculine muscle. Nathan dropped his hands from her face to her hips, pulling her against him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling all sense of friendship fly out the window as their kiss intensified.

Nathan kept his hands to himself for the most part, only letting them squeeze her hips occasionally. She desperately wanted him to peel off her panties and enter her, but she knew that would obviously be way too much, way too soon. They didn't even know how they would feel about this kiss in the morning.

Their tongues danced against each other for a few minutes, setting all of Kelsey's nerves on fire. Nathan pulled back and smiled, leaning down to give her one more gentle kiss on her red, swollen lips.

He pulled his torso back, leaving her legs wrapped around his hips.

"Well?"

Kelsey smiled and leaned close to his ear.

"Fucking incredible, Nathan," she whispered. She kissed his earlobe, then disentangled their bodies and dove under the water. She swam the length of the pool and back, hoping to clear her scattering thoughts. When she finally came up for breath, Nathan was sitting on the edge of the pool, watching her. She stopped in the center and frowned up at him.

"What? What's wrong?"

Nathan shook his head. "Nothing at all. I'm just sitting here thinking of all the times growing up that I had watched you swim in this pool and thought about how much I wanted to kiss you. Now, it finally happened. I just feel like a tiny little teenage fantasy has been realized. It's kind of cool."

"I can't believe I never realized that you felt that way. Boys are usually so obvious when it comes to having a crush on a girl," she said, swimming to the edge.

"Yeah, but everyone else noticed. Hell, my parents have been begging me to marry you since we were kids."

Kelsey laughed. "I know what you mean. My parents don't think that you can do any wrong."

"Would they still think that if they saw their daughter in a pool with me, wearing nothing but a bra and a thong?"

"Probably not. In fact, I should get home. Can you grab me a towel from inside? Please? I can't exactly get out like this." She motioned to her nearly naked body.

"Um. Yeah. I need a second, though."

"Uhh, what for? The towels are right inside the door, Nate."