After dinner, the house was buzzing, but Blair barely noticed.
All she could think about was James — the way he looked at her, the way he kissed her earlier like she was the only thing that mattered.
Every glance he threw her across the room was possessive, almost daring anyone else to look her way.
When she smiled at Andrew's joke, James's arm casually stretched across the back of her chair — not touching her, but close enough that everyone saw.
When Blair got up to get a drink, James's eyes followed her the entire way. It was hot and lowkey terrifying.
Cassie even whispered to Maddie, "If James stares any harder, Blair's gonna catch on fire."
Finally, when the crowd started to drift away, James grabbed Blair's hand and murmured, "Come with me."
His voice left no room for argument.
He led her upstairs, back to his room.
No words.
Just heat humming between them.
Inside, the second the door shut, Blair turned — and James was there.
He pulled her into him, kissing her again, deeper this time.
The kiss turned desperate, needy. His hands tangled into her hair as Blair's arms wrapped around his neck, her whole body pressing against his bare chest.
They broke apart only when they were breathless, forehead to forehead.
"Stay," James said.
Blair didn't even hesitate. "Okay."
James pulled back the covers, letting her climb into bed first, then slid in behind her.
He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pulling her flush against him.
Blair's heart raced as James buried his face in her neck and murmured, "Mine."
She fell asleep with a smile on her lips and James's body wrapped completely around her.
---
The Next Morning
James woke up first, blinking at the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.
Blair was still asleep in his arms, her hair messy and wild against his chest, her face peaceful.
He didn't want to move — but he had an early run planned.
Carefully, he untangled himself, but Blair stirred, her eyes fluttering open.
"Where are you going?" she asked, voice husky with sleep.
"Run," James said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Go back to sleep."
But Blair sat up stubbornly. "I wanna come."
James chuckled. "You sure? It's not a walk in the park, Maybell."
Blair gave him a sleepy but determined look. "I'm sure."
Smiling, James headed to his closet to change.
James wore:
A dark navy Nike dry-fit shirt that clung to his muscles.
Black running shorts.
His blonde hair was still messy but somehow looked stupidly perfect.
Meanwhile, Blair rushed to brush her teeth and quickly changed into something sporty:
Blair wore:
A tight black sports bra that hugged her curves perfectly.
Matching black biker shorts that showed off her long legs.
Her hair was thrown into a high, messy ponytail, a few strands falling around her face naturally.
When she came out of the bathroom, James gave her a slow once-over, biting back a grin.
"You're gonna cause an accident dressed like that," he teased.
Blair rolled her eyes and shoved his shoulder playfully.
"Come on, Covey, show me what you've got."
---
They headed outside and started jogging through the neighborhood.
The sun was just rising, the streets still quiet except for a few early risers.
At first, Blair kept up easily, laughing and trying to race James — but after about fifteen minutes, she was dying.
She bent over, hands on her knees, gasping for breath.
James doubled over laughing.
"Need a lift, princess?"
Before Blair could answer, James scooped her up easily, throwing her over his back like a sack of potatoes.
"James!" Blair shrieked, laughing breathlessly.
"Should've trained harder," he teased, jogging the rest of the way back with her clinging to him.
Blair hid her face in his back, laughing until her sides hurt.
What they didn't know was that a few college girls out for a walk had seen everything — James Covey, shirt slightly riding up, carrying a laughing girl on his back.
Phones came out.
Pictures were snapped.
And within thirty minutes, it was all over the school's group chats and social media:
"James Covey and his new girl on a romantic morning run!"
Some comments were sweet:
"Omg they're adorable!"
"He's smiling so much?? I've never seen him smile like that."
Some, not so sweet:
"Can't wait for her to be another one of his exes."
"She'll be gone in two weeks lol."
But Blair didn't know yet.
---
Back at the Covey Mansion
When they got back, the whole gang was already downstairs — dressed in bikinis, swim shorts, sunglasses, and holding towels.
Cassie grinned when she saw them. "Good morning, lovebirds! Now go get dressed — we're going to the pool!"
James ruffled Blair's ponytail teasingly and said, "Okayyy," dragging the word out.
Blair laughed and said "Good morning!" to everyone as James grabbed her hand and led her upstairs.
From behind them, Andrew said, "They're so perfect together, it's disgusting."
Maddie, sitting pretty on Caleb's lap, nodded. "I know, right?"
---
Upstairs: Getting Pool-Ready
They went into their separate rooms to shower.4
Blair chose:
A baby blue bikini that had a flattering triangle top, showing off just the right amount of cleavage.
The bottoms tied at the sides with cute little bows, hugging her hips perfectly.
She left her hair half-up, half-down — cute, loose waves cascading over her shoulders, but pinned out of her face.
James wore:
Black swim trunks that sat low on his hips.
No shirt, just his toned chest, abs, and golden skin out in full display.
His hair was pushed back messily, still a little damp from his shower.
James finished first and headed out to the pool to join the others.
---
James's POV
James was mid-conversation with Andrew when Blair walked out onto the patio.
Time slowed.
She was wearing the baby blue bikini, the sun hitting her just right.
Her skin glowing.
Her boobs perfectly framed by the tiny triangle top.
Her ass round and perky in the tiny bottoms.
James swallowed hard, feeling a primal possessiveness rise up inside him.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer," Blair teased, smirking at him.
James grinned slow and wicked. "Yes, ma'am," he said, eyes never leaving her.
Blair laughed and walked over to where the food and drinks were set up.
James followed like a puppy.
They both grabbed a plate of fruit and some water.
"You can swim, right?" James asked, giving her a sly look over his glass.
6
Blair shrugged, mischievous. "To some extent."
James set down his drink.
"Good enough."
Before she could process it, James picked her up bridal style — Blair screaming and laughing — and jumped into the pool with her.
They surfaced laughing, water dripping off their faces.
James wrapped his arms around Blair underwater, tugging her closer, grinning at her with the same boyish look that made her stomach do somersaults.
"This," Blair thought, still laughing, "is happiness."
---
The afternoon sun beat down over the shimmering pool, laughter echoing through the Covey estate. Blair clutched a neon blue water gun, her hair still damp from her last dive, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Maddie shrieked, racing behind Caleb for cover as Andrew ambushed them both with a double shot of water. Jazmine, not one to be left out, filled up a giant soaker and took aim at Andrew, hitting him square in the back.
Blair giggled uncontrollably, spinning around just in time to dodge James charging at her with two water guns like a soldier at war. "No fair!" she yelped, trying to sprint across the slippery tiles, but James was faster. He caught her around the waist, lifting her off the ground as she screamed and laughed, soaking her shirt even more as he playfully shot her with water.
Cassie watched from the edge of her lounge chair, the corner of her eye twitching.
They look so good together, she thought bitterly, hugging her knees closer to her chest.
Why does it bother me so much?
Cassie swallowed the lump rising in her throat and quickly grabbed her phone from beside her towel. Her fingers moved fast as she texted Joseph:
"Hey, you free? Come over to the Covey house later today."
Joseph's reply came almost instantly:
"Sure, see you this evening."
Cassie locked her screen and forced a smile, slipping her phone back into her bag. She wasn't going to sit around feeling miserable. Not today.
Meanwhile, by the pool, the chaos continued. James had switched teams, helping Blair and Maddie gang up on Caleb and Andrew. Water guns were firing nonstop, shrieks and laughs bouncing off the backyard walls. Blair ducked under James's arm, hiding behind him when Caleb tried to splash her with a bucket, and James just smirked proudly like it was his duty to protect her.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Caleb yelled through a laugh.
James shrugged, wrapping an arm protectively around Blair's waist. "Get better aim, man."
Blair looked up at him, grinning wide. She didn't say it, but she loved moments like this — the playful, unguarded James who made her feel like the center of his world without even trying.
Just then, a new voice cut through the air.
"Hey, kids!"
Everyone turned.
Henry Covey, James's father, stood near the back patio, still dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark slacks despite the heat. His presence immediately shifted the energy — not intimidating exactly, but commanding enough to make everyone stand a little straighter.
Jazmine dropped her water gun and ran over, throwing her arms around her father. "Dad! You're back!" she said, beaming.
Henry chuckled, patting her back stiffly. "Good to see you too, Jaz."
His eyes found James, and he gave a small nod. "James, got a minute?"
James handed Blair his water gun, drying off quickly with a towel slung over a chair. Blair watched him walk toward his father, muscles flexing under the sun, and bit her lip without thinking.
Blair turned to Maddie and whispered, "Mr. Covey is even scarier up close."
Caleb, who overheard her, barked out a laugh. "Nah, he's chill. He's just a workaholic. Don't take it personally."
Jazmine, coming back from hugging her dad, chimed in, "Yeah, he only lacks love from any woman. Except me, of course," she said dramatically, flipping her wet hair like a diva.
Andrew seized the opportunity and sprayed her with his water gun. Jazmine shrieked, chasing after him as everyone burst into laughter again.
The sun burned golden over them, the pool sparkling like it held its own universe. Even with the undercurrents of jealousy, the feeling in the air was pure — like being young and free was enough reason to celebrate.
---