My Secret Summer

Chapter 5

Later that day, Ruby and I were discussing the previous events of the afternoon. Or rather, she voiced her opinion while I listened.

After work, as promised, we had both gotten banana splits from the Ice Shack, and were walking down the pier. Ice cream in her mouth or not, not once did she stop to take a breath. This is how we worked, I listened while she babbled nonsense for hours and hours.... and hours.

I realized how long I zoned her out when she stopped abruptly.

"Honestly Gabriella, do you realize how hot this guy is? I can't believe you didn't tell me he was your neighbor. If I wasn't dating Liam, I'd climb him like a---"

"Roo, I don't even know him okay?" We continued walking. " You know I tell you everything, but I've never even talked to him until today," I lied.

"Well that's not what it looked like to me." Ruby really wasn't letting this go. After Ruby pulled me aside earlier that day, and I told her he was my neighbor, it was obvious she thought he was hot. She gets this smirk on her face and she puckers her lips. I could tell what she was thinking as soon as she said it.

She flirts with anything that breathes(no offense to her, she'd probably agree with me anyhow) and Harry was no different. I watched her walk over to him, shoulders back, boobs and butt out. It always shocked me how calm Liam seemed about her flirting with other guys, but it's just what Ruby does.

"Hi, I'm Ruby. Gabriella's friend," Ruby smiled sweetly at Harry while she twirled her hair in her fingers. I rolled my eyes. Dear God.

I waited for Harry's eyes to wonder up and down her body, like every other guy she talks too. But he didn't, he barley even paid attention to her actually.

He stuck his hand out and formally introduced himself. Such a gentlemen. I couldn't help but burst out laughing. A hand shake was the last reaction she expected from him, and it totally showed by the look on her face.

Harry walked straight past her towards me, and Ruby followed him with her eyes.

"What brings you here?" I asked. "And with 2X4's?"

Harry laughed. "Actually, I got a part time job at my uncles construction company. I'm helping him deliver the wood for some deck they're supposedly building. " I nodded, but I couldn't help but stare at his lips when he talked. Those lips...

"Ah! You're here!" My manager waved to Harry, snapping me back to reality.

"Well, guess that's my cue..." Harry sighed gave a little wave, then turned back to his pile of wood.

"Bye Harry," I said, not near loud enough for him to hear me. For the rest of my shift, I had the perfect view from my guard stand. The next hour or so, Harry and his uncle unloaded board by board from the back of a pickup. And when harry reached behind his head to take his shirt off, drool fell on my shirt. Thank god for 90+ degree weather.

Matted with sweat, his hair and his perfect body...

"Gabriella, are you even listening to me?" Ruby said while snapping her fingers in my face. I nodded and she continued talking about whatever the hell she was talking about. I just couldn't stop thinking about how weird it was to see him after last night. It was like we had been friends forever, but in reality, had spoken for 10 minutes.

I said goodbye to Ruby once we made it back to the Ice Shack and I unchained my bike from the rack. It was nearly 6 o'clock, not that my mother would be missing me, but I did want to get home. I hardly got any sleep last night.

When I turned down our street, my house in sight, there he was. It's funny, I've seen Harry more in the past two days then in the whole 10 years we've been neighbors. Coincidence? Not only was he shirtless again, but he had streaks of grease smudged across his cheeks, which I found extremely sexy. I was really loosing it now.

His jeans were worn out and torn, and he laid on his back working on an old car. I was contemplating riding up and saying hi, but he became distracted when his little brother, Ty, came running out screaming. Harry sat up and picked his brother up to calm him down, then walked past the gate and disappeared into the backyard.