How about we all go to the pool?

Everyone sat down to eat breakfast, and I realized just how fully clothed Rian was. She obviously had a bra on under her No Doubt tank top. but I also noticed she had blue fuzzy socks on below her full-length pyjama bottoms. What absolute psychopath sleeps in socks ever, let alone in the dog days of summer?

"So how was your day?" Susan asked my mum.

"Oh, it's been good," mum answered, "other than the fact we were running late."

"No problem at all," Susan reassured her while we sat around the breakfast table, "we're all family, of course."

As Susan spoke, she gestured warmly with her hands, her eyes crinkling at the corners. My mum smiled back, taking a sip of her coffee, which was still steaming hot. I watched, fascinated, as the steam rose up and disappeared into the air. Rian, meanwhile, was busy spreading a layer of jam onto her toast, her blue fuzzy socks making a soft scratching sound against the floor as she shifted in her seat.

I felt a sudden pang of curiosity about those socks. Who wore socks to bed in the middle of summer? And why blue fuzzy ones, of all things? I glanced up at Rian, but she was too engrossed in her toast to notice me staring. I was on the opposite end of the spectrum, still trying to pull my shirt down to cover my privates whilst I was seated, and hoping they weren't too visible under the table.

As I continued to steal glances at Rian's blue fuzzy socks, I noticed that the scratching sound they made against the floor seemed to be synchronized with the sound of Susan's spoon clinking against the side of her cereal bowl. The combination of the two noises was almost musical, and I found myself mesmerized by the rhythmic pattern they created. My gaze drifted back up to Rian's face, and I caught her looking at me with a hint of a smile playing on her lips. I quickly looked away, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized I had been staring at her for too long.

"Laurie," she took the initiative in asking me, "is something the matter?"

I felt a surge of heat spread across my face as I struggled to come up with a response to Rian's question. My eyes darted around the table, searching for a distraction, but everyone's attention was focused on me. Susan's spoon paused mid-air, hovering above her cereal bowl, while my mum's gaze narrowed slightly, her eyebrows furrowing in concern. The scratching sound of Rian's blue fuzzy socks against the floor seemed to grow louder, more pronounced, as if mocking my inability to speak.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart, and **** a laugh. "No, nothing's wrong," I said, attempting to sound nonchalant.

"Has it something to do with your shirt?" she pressed on, "you know, it's really no big deal that you've not got anything under it, I was just surprised you were that cheeky."

I felt my face grow even hotter as Rian's words hung in the air, and I could sense the weight of everyone's gaze on me. I tried to brush it off, but my eyes involuntarily darted down to my shirt, which seemed to be clinging to my body in all the wrong places. I tugged at the hem, trying to pull it down further, but it only seemed to ride up higher. Susan's spoon finally broke the silence, clinking against the side of her cereal bowl as she took a bite. The sound was like a tiny explosion in the tense atmosphere.

The sound seemed to reverberate through the air, breaking the spell that had held everyone in silence. My mum's gaze softened, and she reached out to pat my hand reassuringly. Susan, still chewing her cereal, nodded at me, her eyes crinkling at the corners in a warm smile. Rian, however, continued to watch me, her expression a mixture of curiosity and amusement. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I met her gaze, and I quickly looked away, focusing on the tablecloth instead.

"Laurie, honey," my mum took the lead, "is there any way we can make you more comfortable?" I mean, mum and Susan were perfectly comfortable in just their nighties...

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond to my mum's question. The warmth of her hand on mine was comforting, but it didn't quite alleviate the awkwardness I felt. I glanced around the table, taking in the concerned expressions on everyone's faces.

"I...I don't know," I stammered, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. My mum's hand gave mine a gentle squeeze, as if to reassure me that everything was okay.

Susan, sensing an opportunity to break the tension, spoke up. " Why don't we all take a break and go for a quick dip in the pool? It's a hot day, and a swim would do us all some good."

My mum's face lit up at the suggestion, and she nodded eagerly. "That sounds like a great idea, Susan! Laurie, would you like to join us?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. The thought of parading around in my t-shirt in front of everyone made me feel uncomfortable, as did the idea that there wouldn't be spare suits, but the idea of staying inside while everyone else went for a swim was even more unappealing.