Cougars Know Best

Chapter 1

The cafeteria was loud and busy from being packed with students finishing lunch and fucking around before heading back to class. The air smelled faintly of overcooked vegetables and questionable meat. I sat across from Stacy, poking at the remains of a slice of pizza that tasted like a cardboard box, and had long since gone cold.

"So," she said, propping her chin on her hand, "you're really not doing anything this summer? Not even a part-time job?"

I shook my head. "Julie wants me to just have fun while I can, before college starts. Plus, I feel like I should help around the apartment while school's out. I feel like shit when she doesn't have to do everything on top of working for the both of us."

Stacy grinned. "You love your sister, but she's kind of a control freak."

"It's more me than her. But even if she were, she's earned it," I said. "She's been holding shit together since... well, you know."

Her expression softened for a second. "Yeah. I know."

The pause hung between us. I took a sip of my soda, trying to steer things back to lighter ground. "What about you? You doing anything this summer?"

"Not really. Mom's planned a big barbecue over the first official weekend of no school. You should come by. She's throwing it for graduation."

I smiled at that, though not for the reason she probably thought. I'd been to Stacy's house several times for things like movie nights or study sessions, and every time, I wanted to try and find some reason to get her mom to hang out and talk, but I never did.

I could still picture the first time I saw her leaning against the kitchen counter with a glass of wine in hand, and laughing at something I said. The sound had been the sweetest thing I could remember.

"Yeah?" I said, trying to sound casual. "Your mom's cool- for doing that, I mean. I might take you up on the invite."

Stacy rolled her eyes but smiled. "You say she's cool now, but if you're around long enough, she'll rope you into helping her move patio furniture or something."

"That's fine," I said, and I could feel the grin spreading, unable to fight it. "I don't mind helping out."

Of course she noticed my smile, she always did, but she always misread it, too. "Wow, you really must be bored if you're volunteering for chores."

I laughed and brushed it off. "Eh, I think I've just learned to help out where I can, since it's just me and Julie."

Out the cafeteria windows, the palm fronds scraped against a perfect blue sky. I knew that when I stepped outside, I'd almost be able to smell the salt in the air, even though the beach was miles away, unlike Stacy's house, which sat right on the beach. Summer felt close enough to touch, and so did the thought of seeing Stacy's mom again. Maybe I'd catch another one of those smiles that I liked to imagine was meant only for me.

Chapter 2

The last few weeks of school felt like a blur as graduation got closer. Me and my friends were counting down the days, trying our best to study but already mentally checked out. Finals came and went in a fog of caffeine and late nights, and before I knew it, I was walking out of my last exam, confident I'd passed every one of them. I may not be a straight A student, but the grades I carried were good enough for me, and good enough to get into the local university.

High school... Check - Done.

It felt like a massive accomplishment after losing my parents. I could still remember sitting in that counselor's office two years ago, hearing him tell me how hard it would be to stay on track after everything that happened with Mom and Dad. Julie never let me fall off though. She kept me moving forward, no matter what it took.

I don't know how she kept her shit together at 22, while managing to keep a roof over our heads and dealing with my anger issues at the time. And through it all, trying to process her own shit. I think that's probably what did it. We were always close, and after their accident, I couldn't let her feel like she failed, because I decided to fuck off. Not with how much she was giving up of her own life to keep us together.

I spent the next few days saying half-hearted goodbyes to people I barely knew, and promising to stay in touch even though most of us knew we wouldn't. By the time I packed up my locker, this stage of my life officially felt done.

Driving back toward the apartment in the car that used to be my mom's, I had the windows down and the music blasting, taking in the world that smelled like summer, filled with cut grass, exhaust, and a hint of the ocean in the distance. For the first time all year, I didn't have a deadline hanging over my head.

Julie was still at work when I got home, so I dumped my backpack in my room and crashed on the couch. The apartment was quiet, with just the faint breeze pushing through the balcony door. I should've been out with my friends, but instead I just sat there, realizing how good it felt to have no plans. I could catch up with them later.

That lasted maybe two hours before Stacy texted.

Stacy:You better be coming to the BBQ this weekend. My mom's been cleaning the patio since yesterday.

I wasted no time typing back.

Zack:Wouldn't miss it.

Chapter 3

By Saturday afternoon, the sun was brutal enough you could see the waves in the air above the asphalt. Stacy's neighborhood was a row of older coastal houses, well-kept but lived-in, with the front lawns trimmed and faded surfboards stacked inside garages where they were out of sight.

I parked a few houses down and walked up the driveway carrying a six-pack I'd swiped from Julie's fridge. The gate to the backyard was open, and I could already hear music and laughter coming from behind the house.

"Zack!" Stacy called when she spotted me. She was in a bright pink bikini top and denim shorts, holding a plate piled with chips. "You made it!"

"Like I said, wouldn't miss it," I replied, holding up the six-pack.

She rolled her eyes. "You know my mom's gonna act like she has to scold you for that, right? But she'll totally take one."

As if on cue, a woman's voice came from inside. "What am I taking?"

When Stacy stepped back, there she was. Mrs. Jacobs.

She wore a simple white cover-up over her white swimsuit and had sunglasses pushed up in her hair. Her skin had that sun-kissed glow that came from spending her weekends laying out in the sun, and she moved with this unhurried grace that made it hard not to watch her.

When our eyes met, she smiled. "Zack! It's so good to see you again, I'm glad you could make it."

"Wouldn't dare skip out," I said.

Her smile widened as she reached for the beer. "And she's right- I'll be taking all of these, thank you very much," she said, plucking them from my hand with a wink. "I really don't mind as long as you're all being responsible, but I'm not sure the other parents around here share the same opinion."

I laughed under my breath. "Fair enough."

"Good," she said, waving me inside. "Now come on, you can help me carry an ice chest out back."

"I told you," Stacy muttered with a grin, bumping me with her elbow before disappearing toward the pool.

I followed Mrs. Jacobs into the kitchen through the patio, trying not to stare at the way her cover-up swished from the swing of her hips or the way it clung to her when she bent to lift the cooler.

"I can get that," I said quickly, stepping in beside her.

"Such a gentleman," she teased, letting me take the handle. "Somebody raised you right."

"Guess so," I said, blushing. "Or at least tried, anyway."

The corner of her mouth curved as she studied me, just long enough to make my pulse skip. "Well, they did something right."

For a moment, the sound of the pool and people faded, replaced by my heartbeat. I wasn't sure if I imagined the extra beat she held my eyes for before turning away, but it was enough to make me feel every bit of the blood rushing to my groin.

The backyard was already filled with people. Music played from speakers spread around the yard, something poppy that everyone seemed to know. A few of our classmates splashed in the pool, others lounged in deck chairs with paper plates stacked high with pulled pork and baked beans from the catering trays lined up at the outdoor kitchen.

Mrs. Jacobs moved easily through it all, refilling drinks, laughing at something one of the boys said, and the sunlight catching in her blonde hair. I found Stacy sitting at the edge of the pool with her feet in the water, eating from a paper plate resting in her lap. I dropped down beside her, putting my feet into the water and feeling how warm it was.

"I can never get over how nice your setup is," I said, looking around. "Catered food, sound system, the beach right outside the backyard with a pool... I don't know how you guys pull this off."

She smirked. "Mom likes to go overboard. She always says "If I'm gonna host a party, I'm gonna do it right,'" she said in a mock voice that sounded nothing like her mom.

"I'll say. She must be doing pretty well for herself though."

Stacy shrugged, lowering her voice a little. "Yeah, well, the divorce helped with that. She got the house, which was already paid off, among other things. She got the better end of the deal, for sure."

"Oh." I took a sip from Stacy's cup, not sure what to say.

"Don't get me wrong, I think he owed it to her," Stacy added quickly. "He was gone all the time anyway. Business trips, 'late meetings.' You know how that goes."

I nodded. "Yeah. Julie never stops working, but I don't think she's taking any 'late meetings,'" I said, mimicking her air quotes. "I think she's scared if she slows down, everything'll fall apart."

She kicked at the water with one foot. "No offense, but your sister sounds like she needs a vacation."

"Try telling her that."

She just chuckled and bumped my shoulder with hers. The conversation drifted for a while, talking about classes we no longer had, mutual friends we probably wouldn't see, and summer plans to look forward to. Every now and then, I caught Mrs. Jacobs in my peripheral vision refilling chips, or tossing napkins into the trash. I wasn't trying to stare, but I couldn't help noticing the little details of her ridiculous body.

"She's pretty great, huh?" Stacy said suddenly, as if reading my thoughts.

My heart jumped. "What?"

"My mom," she said, glancing at her. "She's kind of the neighborhood favorite. Everyone ends up at our place when the weather's nice."

"Oh," I said, forcing a grin. "Yeah. She's... cool."

Stacy looked at me for a second, her smile half teasing. "It's alright, everyone checks her out. She's the type who likes the attention and I've gotten used to it. You, on the other hand, already have someone to look at."

"Shut up," I said, bumping her shoulder back.

She laughed again, reaching down to splash water at me. I tried to laugh too, but my mind was already back on her mom. Someone had turned the music up, and a group of guys were taking turns trying to make the biggest splashes off the diving board, while others tried to float around with drinks balanced on inflatable trays.

Stacy kicked her legs in the water for a moment, then setting her plate aside, she pushed off the edge and slid in. "Come on," she said, brushing the wet hair from her face. "I'm tired of just watching everyone."

Peeling my shirt over my head, I tossed it toward a chair and dropped in after her. The water was warm near the surface. Stacy kicked back and floated for a second, her eyes closed toward the sun. She definitely got her chest from her mom.

"This is perfect," she said. "I swear, Mom does know how to throw the best parties."

She wasn't wrong. Mrs. Jacobs was standing near the grill talking with one of the dads from the neighborhood, with a spatula in one hand and a flirty smile on her face. Every so often she'd turn toward the pool, waving off compliments or handing out another plate of food. She looked completely in her element.

I drifted to where Stacy had floated to, treading water in the deep end. A couple of kids were splashing in the shallow end, trying to dunk each other, while music pulsed lightly through it all, something that everyone half knew the words to.

Stacy swam a lazy circle around me. "You thinking about heading to the beach later? A few of us are talking about going there after this."

"Maybe," I said. "Depends if Julie needs me to do anything."

"She's not gonna keep you on lockdown all summer, is she?"

"Nah, not even worried about that." I smiled. "Besides, she'll prolly want a break from me before long."

Stacy laughed. "You're not that bad."

"Easy to say when you don't have to deal with my shit every day," I said, and she splashed a small wave in my direction.

We drifted near the corner where a couple of kids were climbing out, dripping and laughing as they ran for towels. Mrs. Jacobs crossed back through the clusters of guests carrying a tray of watermelon wedges. She offered them around before putting the rest on a table near us. The tie of her cover-up had started to come loose, letting it slip from one shoulder. Her swimsuit was already visible through the mesh material, but something about the way it sat, just felt like a tease. When she glanced toward the pool and saw me watching, her smile returned with a wink.

Stacy nudged me with her knee. "You good?"

"Huh- Yeah," I said, blinking out of it. "Just a little sun in my eyes is all."

"Sure," she said, teasing but was immediately distracted as someone called her name from across the yard.

She kicked away, swimming to meet a group that had started tossing a foam football back and forth. I stayed where I was, trying to watch them, but mostly listening to the sound of Mrs. Jacobs' laughter cutting through the music.

Chapter 4

A while later, the crowd began to thin. The few parents that were there drifted toward the shade with paper plates, and most of the kids were drying off, or eating sweets. Mrs. Jacobs weaved through the yard exchanging pleasantries, while collecting empty cups and half-eaten food. It didn't matter what she did, to me, she always looked sexy.

I climbed out of the pool and grabbed a towel from a stack near the steps. When I saw her balancing a tray full of trash, I walked over, looking for any excuse to talk to her.

"Need a hand?" I asked.

She looked up, surprised but smiling. "Aw, that's alright honey, you don't have to do that."

"I know," I said, taking the tray anyway. "But I'm trying to make a good impression. I heard you're known for putting guests to work."

Her laugh was light and genuine. "Is that what Stacy's been telling people?"

"She might've said something," I said, following her toward the outdoor sink.

"Well, I suppose she's not wrong," she teased. "You could say I got used to having a man around, so now I like people who pitch in."

We started tossing paper plates and empty soda cans into a trash bag. The shade from the patio awning was a relief after the glare of the pool.

"You've been busy," I said. "You ever actually sit down during these things?"

"No, not really my style," she said, wiping her hands on a napkin. "I like seeing everyone have a good time. And for whatever reason, it all makes the cleanup worth it."

"Well, there's no doubt it looks like it makes you the popular mom of the neighborhood," I nodded

"Meh. More popular with some, than others," she said, glancing toward a group of women standing across the yard. Then she looked at the pool where Stacy was now perched on a float, shouting instructions at a few others. "She does like telling others what to do, doesn't she."

"From the sounds of it, it seems like she gets that from you," I said before realizing how that sounded. "I mean- you asking people to pitch in."

Mrs. Jacobs glanced toward me. "Nice save."

"I tried," I paused, watching her breasts jiggle as she gathered more trash. "I was telling Stacy earlier, you really do have a good setup here. Your backyard could be in a magazine or something."

"That's sweet," she said. "But I think that's just the coast doing the heavy lifting."

"Maybe," I said. "But, it's pretty obvious you put in the work too."

That earned a small look. She set the last stack of plates aside and reached for a new napkin from nearby, wiping off her hands.

"Well, if you're going to stick around to take advantage of the 'good setup here', I may have to put you to work," she said lightly. "Compliments here don't get you much more than another chore."

"Worth it," I said, smiling before I could stop myself.

For a moment, her eyes lingered on me. Then she shook her head with a smirk, then turned toward the cooler. "In that case, be a gentleman and help me carry this one inside. Maybe you can earn a compliment of your own, while you're at it."

"Yes, ma'am," I said, grabbing the other handle.

She arched a brow at that. "Uh-uh, no calling mema'am.That just cost you a few points."

I grinned, tightening my grip on the cooler. "Guess I'll have to earn them back."

"Hmm," she hummed, leading the way through the sliding glass door.

The sudden drop in temperature hit like a wave from the air-conditioning as we walked to the kitchen and set the cooler down beside the counter. She crouched to open it, and when she did her cover-up started to come loose from around her shoulders again. I turned away just long enough to try and make sure it wasn't completely obvious I was staring at her.

"Do you mind grabbing a case of water from the pantry?" she asked. "I need to get some more out there, before you kids drain the last of what's to drink."

"Sure thing." I crossed to the narrow door off the kitchen to grab a large case of bottles. When I turned, she was knelt down, dumping more ice into the cooler. Her squatted position caused the mesh of her wrap to pull taut against her, and I couldn't help noticing where the bathing suit beneath ended, and the soft looking skin of her ass started.

"Here you go," I said, pulling myself together long enough to set the bottles on the counter. "You've got this party thing down to a science."

She gave a bit of a shrug. "After years of throwing them, you learn what works."

"Guess that must be what keeps everyone coming back."

Her eyes turned to me for only a moment, and it looked like there was a trace of amusement in them. "You're not bad at this, you know."

"At what?"

"The small talk."

"I'm of the belief that small talk's underrated," I said, trying to sound mature. "Sometimes it's the easiest way to say what you actually mean."

She tilted her head, studying me for a second longer, but she still had that amused look. "And what is it you actually mean, Zack?"

I shrugged, trying to sound as calm as possible. "That it's nice talking to you. That's all."

Her smile looked like it started to falter a touch. "Well... it's nice talking to you too."

Outside, a cheer went up from the pool. "I should probably check on whatever that was before someone floods the yard," she said.

"Want me to bring the water out?"

"Please." She lifted the lid back onto the cooler, before brushing a strand of hair behind her ear and grabbing the handle. "And Zack, while I appreciate you trying to show some courtesy, remember, don't call mema'amagain unless you're trying to make me feel ancient."

I smiled. "Noted."

She started for the patio, glancing back over her shoulder. "Good. I'd hate to have to deduct more points, when you've been doing so well."

I followed her out, watching her ass move side to side, still carrying the bottles, and wondering exactly how far I could push my luck without losing more points.

As the afternoon stretched into early evening, the energy around the pool began to wind down. The music had been turned down, and there was more conversation than laughter. A few of the older guests had already gathered their stuff, waving their goodbyes as the sun dipped lower over the palm trees.