AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I tried to do what he said, but my gut lurched and panic surged inside when I lost all contact with the bottom of the pool. I tried to calm myself, like he’d said, but I wanted to feel the ground under my feet again.
“You’re doing good.” Colin moved his other arm under my legs, keeping me from returning to an upright position. “I’ve got you. Straighten your body and breathe.”
I forced myself to keep breathing through my nose, despite the water lapping at my ears and back, and the urge to hold my breath until I was standing again.
“Relax.” His voice was calm and soothing. “I’ve got you.”
Now I understood why the younger kids liked learning from him. I forced myself to trust his hands, his experience, and I pushed the tension from my body.
“You’re doing it.” He sounded pleased. “You’re floating.”
“You’re holding me up.”
“And I’m going to take the training wheels off, okay?”
I didn’t dare shake my head. “Nope. Not okay.”
“I’m right here. You’ve got this.” He moved both his hands next to each other, near the small of my back.
I could do this. I was a grown woman for fuck’s sake—I could float at the shallow end of a private swimming pool. “I’ve got this.”
Colin moved one hand to mine, and squeezed. Then he moved his other hand away.
Panic flashed inside, and I thought through it. The water didn’t rush in to claim my soul, it rocked my body instead, holding me upright as if I were weightless. A laugh slipped from my throat. “I’m floating.”
“Cannon ball.” The shout from the other end of the pool carried above the laughter and shouts, and my entire world rolled and churned as water splashed me in the face.
My limbs flailed and I inhaled as much water as air.
“I’ve got you.” Colin was there, righting me and making sure my feet found the ground. Keeping his hands on my waist while I hacked up a lung full of water.
How super fucking attractive of me. Not. When I could finally breathe again, I forced out a tight laugh. “I think I’m done with swimming lessons for today.”
“We’ll do them privately next time.”
I looked up to find Colin watching me with adoration, rather than the disgust my undoubtedly red, splotchy face deserved. He really was a keeper.
“I’m not sure I can afford private lessons,” I teased, wanting to move on from the embarrassing moment.
He dipped his mouth near my ear, his breath caressing my skin. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
There was no way this exchange was escaping all attention, and I was pretty sure I didn’t mind. “I’m open to negotiation.” But for today, I was happy to wrap up in a towel and join Tanner at the edge of the pool again. Colin sat on his other side, and the three of us watched and chatted for the next couple of hours.
The afternoon crept toward evening, and we pulled everyone out of the pool and wrapped up the party. After everyone else had dressed enough to leave, Colin and Tanner vanished to do the same.
As the last girl was talking to Alana and waiting for her mom to pick her up, I chatted with Adrienne.
Phillip joined us near the patio doors. “You could leave the girls here for the night, if you wanted.”
His implication was clear.Ditch the girls, and go have hot sweaty sex with the cute boys. Something I swore I’d never do. “I can’t.”
“It’s okay,” Adrienne said.
Dustin seemed to appear out of nowhere. “We’ll stretch out the party. Watch movies. Color.”
“I need new art for my wall. Harmony can help.” Adrienne was too sweet.
I shook my head. “I don’t think so, but thank you.”
