Accident Prone

As much as Mia was paying attention to the conversation with Liz and Brianna, she stood with her back facing the pool and she was observing the surrounding.

Mia didn't miss two women who were approaching our trio casually while gesturing with their eyes toward them. They were two steps away when one of the two women faked that she tripped, and lunged herself toward Liz.

In one smooth move, Mia pulled Liz on the side and…

There was a scream: "Rita, watch out!"

'SPLASH!'

The woman who fake-tripped (aka Rita) planned to push Liz in the water, and after Mia's swift action, there was nothing to hold onto and Rita plunged into the pool.

Liz looked at Mia in shock. She didn't see Rita who was coming from behind her, but the moment there was a splash, she realized that Mia just saved her.

"I've got your back.", Mia said cockily.

Liz smiled. "Thank you."

Surprise on Bri's face was obvious. "Is that McKenzie?"

"No.", Mia and Liz said in unison.

Liz didn't really see who it was, but blonde hair which swooshed by her side can't be McKenzie's.

Rita gasped for air as her head came out of the water. Her hair was messy, and her makeup war runny. She looked like a hot mess.

"This is your fault!", Rita screamed from the pool while pointing at Mia, Liz, and Bri. In the next moment, she turned to her friend. "You saw it, right? They pushed me!"

Before Rita's friend could say anything, Max and Quentin were there. Hunter was three steps behind them.

Quentin stood by Bri, and Hunter pulled Mia closer to him while Max inspected Liz visually. "Are you OK?"

Liz nodded that she is fine and glanced at Rita whose head was bobbing above water while she glared at Liz. Liz wondered, does she know that woman? No. Liz is confident that this is the first time she saw her.

Max and Quentin saw the incident, but they were too far to do anything about it.

Rita was yelling from the pool: "What kind of a party is this? Why was I pushed into the pool? Chelsea, you saw it! You saw them push me… It was the girl in a striped top who is by Max's side! Chelsea! Where are you going? …"

Rita's friend (aka Chelsea) left the pool area in swift steps, not daring to look at Max or anyone else present. She is not crazy to lie for Rita in front of Anderson brothers. The plan was that Rita will push Liz in the pool, and Chelsea will confirm that Rita lost her footing and it was an accident. Accusing others of something they didn't do was not part of the plan.

Rita's noise attracted a number of spectators, but no one thought much of it. It's a hot summer day, someone is in the pool and not drowning. Other than Rita's horrible appearance, everything seemed fine. Even if someone pushed Rita in the pool, they saw it as youngsters playing around.

"She says that I pushed her.", Liz told Max while struggling to suppress her smile.

"Are you done with your girl time?", Max asked Liz.

"I think they are.", Hunter responded to Max's question while leading Mia away from the pool. "Why did you pick the pool area to chat?"

Mia blinked at Hunter. "It's a strategic location, no one can come from behind me. And it worked great. I got rid of one…"

Hunter exhaled and shook his head. If Mia plans to get rid of every woman who is after Max (or him), she will be busy for most of the party. And when the word spreads that Quentin is here as well, additional ladies will show up (every guest who is invited can bring friends). Taking care of them one by one is too strenuous, but Hunter didn't dare say that at loud because Mia might come up with some form of a group-elimination.

Max looked at Rita with an icy expression. "Miss Stone, when you are done with your swim, help yourself with a towel.", he gestured toward the other side of the pool and put his arm around Liz's shoulders, leading her away from the pool.

Liz and Max left, leaving Quentin and Brianna.

Quentin looked at Brianna. "Do you want to get a drink?"

Brianna stared at Quentin and Liz's words rang in her mind: "…Have fun… start from there… explore other things that you enjoy…"

She approached him apprehensively.

Quentin was not sure what is on Bri's mind and he was surprised when she got so close that he could feel her breath on his lips. But he didn't dare to move away.

"Kiss me…", she whispered.

Quentin was surprised by this request, but he didn't dislike it. Not even a little bit.

He pecked Brianna's lips before lifting her up and carrying her in the corner of the pool area which is semi-blocked by the tall rhododendron bushes which have huge purple blooms. He put her to sit on the lounging chair and he sat next to her, and his palm moved over her cheek low, curving slightly behind her ear. And then he kissed her again… and again… and again.

Rita was floating in the pool, and she was not sure what to think of this situation. Her friend bailed on her, the Anderson brothers took their girls away, and there in the corner Quentin is making out with another woman. It took her a moment to realize: Quentin has a girlfriend? What kind of a party is this? Does no one care that she is in the pool? No one will save her? After a few minutes of floating and looking around in disbelief, Rita swam to the edge where the stairs are.

When she got out, she realized that her wet dress is sticking to her body and is semi-transparent. Luckily, on the table in front of the pool house are towels for the guests (Max pointed toward them before leaving with Liz). There are swimsuits available as well, and guests can change inside the pool house, but Rita didn't feel like putting a bikini on. She wrapped herself in a towel and went to find her parents and excuse herself because for her, this party is over.

…

"Why did she want to push me into the pool? I mean… what would she accomplish?", Liz asked Max while munching on grapes which Max offered her. She remembered that there are star-shaped watermelon slices and they look red, sweet, and juicy. She decided to get some when she finishes the grapes from her plate.

"Who knows?" Max exhaled while trying to look cool as his mind was processing various options on how to get back at Rita Stone for daring to act against Liz. His options are to go after Rita, or maybe after her father's business. Or maybe he can tell Nathan to take care of this, it will save him some time. He decided to leave that decision for later. He is at the party with Liz and he will not leave her side.

Max glanced at Liz and mischief twirled in his eyes when he spoke: "I am sorry that she failed."

Liz's eyebrows shoot up. "What?"

Max leaned closer and spoke only for Liz to hear: "If you ended up wet, I would offer you my room to remove your clothes."

Liz felt that her heart rate is increasing. It's a common occurrence when Max gets that close and his husky voice caresses her ear. "Do I need to be wet in order to get access to your room?"

Max chuckled and responded in a whisper: "Not necessarily in that order."

Liz's breath hitched when she realized that she can go to his room first, and then get wet. And she knows that he is talking about them making love. Max is naughty, getting her all fired up in the middle of the party with only a few words, and they just arrived.

Liz opened her mouth to inhale enough oxygen. Why is it so hot suddenly? "I think I will jump into the pool."

Max laughed.

…

McKenzie was observing Max (and Liz) from the distance.

"You are not going to say 'hi' to Max and Liz?", Oliver asked. He saw that McKenzie is watching them since they arrived.

"Later…", McKenzie responded.

"I heard that Max has a girlfriend, and I see it, but I still have difficulty believing…", Grace said while looking at Max and Liz.

Grace is one of the guests who arrived with her parents. They live in the same neighborhood as Andersons and Grace's mother is part of the women-only club which gathers on Thursdays to play card games. As someone who is in the same circle with McKenzie, Oliver, and Lewis, they know each other. And of course, everyone knows that McKenzie has a forever-crush on Max.

Grace glanced at McKenzie. "They seem to be close. Very close."

"What are you trying to say?", McKenzie hissed at Grace.

Grace blinked. "Just what I said. No hidden meanings. Max has a girlfriend and they are close. Rita accused Max's girlfriend of bullying her, and Max didn't even blink. And he and Rita know each other for a long time. I see that as a message to keep my distance."

"Grace, don't add oil to the fire.", Oliver warned her.

Grace smiled mischievously. "There is a fire? If I am someone, I would do my best to extinguish that fire and stay in my corner."

McKenzie glared at Grace.

Grace lifted her palms defensively. "I was only giving friendly advice. You don't want to end up like Rita, right?"

"I am not that stupid.", McKenzie said while her gaze moved back to Max.

"Oh? I heard that there was an accident in Hawaii where Max and his girlfriend ended up hurt. And you were there. Coincidence?", Grace said in a half-whisper.

"I was there also.", Oliver chimed in.

"Of course, you were.", Grace said mockingly before walking away.

"Zi, you need to keep your distance. People are talking.", Oliver spoke in an urgent whisper when Grace moved away.

McKenzie waved her hands, indicating him to calm down. "They can talk as much as they want. Gossips are everywhere. What matters is that there is no proof, and soon they will forget about it."

"Did I miss something?", Lewis asked when he approached Oliver and McKenzie with a plate full of grilled kebobs. He offered them to Oliver and McKenzie who took one each.

Lewis observed that both Oliver and McKenzie are not looking happy and they are quiet. They didn't answer his question! He decided to focus on the kebobs. The food here is delicious.

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