Curtis peers down to me and mouths, Time?
Although I shouldn’t laugh, I can barely hold it in, figuring out the secret Tanner has been keeping. But instead of telling Curtis, I shrug my shoulders to appear as clueless as him.
We follow Tanner down the stairway, and the chlorine smell wraps around me like an old friend. Oh, how I’ve missed it. My feet rush a little faster down the steps, my body eager to slink into the water.
We lived in this pool on Fridays and Saturdays when we were younger. Before we could drive, our parents would drop us off, and we’d swim and play volleyball and tennis. My friend Ava and I even convinced Brad and Tanner to take an aerobic dance class once. I’ve always believed that during those days of swimming and sweating, is when I fell in love with Tanner McCain. It was when he clicked in my mind as more than my brother’s best friend.
He changed, too.
With one smell of chlorine, my mind floats back to my adolescence—his leg running along mine because he swam closer than normal, his high fives when we’d be on the same team for tennis, the long glances at the snack shop. It all weaseled him into my heart a little more. There were times when I was positive he wanted something more, but Brad always turned the corner or showed up out of nowhere.
Tanner turns to find me when he reaches the bottom of the stairs, and his eyes reveal everything I just remembered. The chance that he did in fact have a flashback similar to mine brings an enormous amount of hope within me, which guilts me at the same time—especially with my hand in my boyfriend’s at the moment.
When we walk into the commons area, a guy is there, appearing to be waiting for us.
“Hi, Lyle.” Tanner places his hand out.
The guy shakes it. “I can’t tell you how much this means to us, Tanner. The kids have been talking about it for the past month.” The older gentleman smiles over to Curtis and me.
I cock my head to Tanner, but he never glances over.
A month? I think to myself.
“No problem. Lucky for me, I was able to bring two friends. This is Curtis Zeker from Zeker and Son Law Firm.” He points to Curtis, who steps up to shake hands with Chris.
“Soon-to-be Zeker and Sons. Nice to meet you.”
Inwardly, I roll my eyes because I’m sick of him correcting that phrase to everyone under the damn sun.
Tanner doesn’t say anything more, but he moves over between Curtis and me, throwing his arm around my shoulders. “And this is Piper Ashby. She was practically raised in a pool. She should be in Colorado with me, but—” He doesn’t finish because he knows there’s no way I could have been by his side, trying for the Olympics.
“I’m not as good as him,” I finish the sentence.
Tanner pulls me tighter into him.
God, I shouldn’t be enjoying his nearness this much, but I want to lean in closer to smell his cologne.
“Not true at all. She’s an amazing swimmer.”
Lyle smiles and reaches his hand out for mine. I shake it and notice the embroidery on his shirt—Boys & Girls Club.
The puzzle slowly pieces together in my mind. Tanner’s always had a soft spot for this charity. Even in high school, he’d mentor for them. I look up to Tanner, puzzling it all together, and he’s already smiling down at me. Shivers run up my spine.
“Thank you all for helping out today. Do you mind if I grab Piper for the pool, too? There were a few extra kids who wanted to swim, and we need to make sure we have enough people,” Lyle begins.
I’m wondering what Curtis will have to do.
“Curtis, would you be willing to teach a few kids the rules of tennis?”
Tanner smacks him on the back. “Right up your alley.”
Curtis fumbles forward and bleakly looks over to me. He clears his throat. “What exactly do you need me to do?”
Lyle turns his attention to Curtis. “Just hit the ball back and forth. Teach them some rules. Just make it fun. Here, I’ll head over there with you.” He starts walking before turning around. “Tanner, why don’t you and Piper go right to the pool area? The items you sent me are in the bag there.” Lyle points to a bag on the worn-in chair.
“Perfect. Thanks, Lyle,” Tanner calls out.
Curtis turns around, his face still in shock from this sudden change of activities today.
“Don’t thank me. Prepare to cover your ears because the kids are going to scream when they see you.” He laughs and then begins talking to Curtis.
My teeth nibble on my bottom lip as I awkwardly stand there next to Tanner while he searches the bag. He pulls out two bathing suits, and I tilt my head, staring at him with my mouth ajar.
“Here you go.” He throws a blue Aqua Sphere swimsuit at me.
I catch it in my hands. “Why didn’t you tell me? You know I would have willingly done this with you.” I investigate the suit, not surprised it’s my size.
“Would you really have come?” He steps toward the locker rooms.
I scramble to catch up. “Of course. I haven’t worn one of these since college, Tanner.”
I hold it up in the air, and he chuckles.
“You have no idea how hard it was for me not to buy the two-piece, but I know how you always preferred the one-pieces—except for when we were ‘training.’” He puts up air quotes because he’s referring to our Truth and Dare games in the college pool during those early mornings.
“One-piece is just fine.” I begin to escape through the doors of the women’s locker room.
“Piper?” he calls out.
I stop, turning to face him.
“Thank you.”
He’s so genuine that I can’t be mad that he tricked us here.
“You’re welcome.”
The locker room hasn’t changed much. Benches are lined between rows of lockers. Showers are wide and open with no separation. This club is in desperate need of facelift. I change into the swimming suit, thankful I shaved this morning. Otherwise, I’d be swimming in my clothes.
Just as I’m about to walk around the circular tile wall to the pool area, an eruption of screams echoes throughout and right to my ears. Then, a chanting of Tanner’s name quickly follows. Stopping, I back up against the tile wall to hear how he is with the kids. When more yells echo, I know Tanner’s doing something to entice it. Once I turn the corner, I shake my head because Tanner will always remain a child himself.
Kids duck for cover while long sprays of water squirt toward them. My eyes follow the stream right to a Super Soaker in Tanner’s hands. All the boys and girls are squealing with laughter, enjoying every moment of it. My heart swells from watching his easiness with the kids, especially with how natural it comes to him.
After a while, he puts the Soaker down and sits on the side of the pool. His feet hang in the water, and all the kids swim up around his legs, spouting a zillion questions.
“Are you really going to the Olympics?” one kid asks, practically bobbing up and down.
“I hope so.” Tanner’s modesty is a quality everyone loves.
“What if you don’t make it?” the same kid asks.
I lean against the wall, crossing my arms, wondering how he’ll answer these questions.
“Then, I’ll work really hard and try again in four more years.” His muscles curve in a defined shape as he leans back on his hands.
“In four years, I’ll be fourteen. How old will you be?” This kid is full of questions.
Tanner chuckles. “I’ll be twenty-eight.”
“That’s old,” the kids remarks.
Tanner laughs. “What’s your name, inquisitor?” Tanner nods his head to the kid.
The kid steps up closer to Tanner and pushes out his chest. “Nick.”
A cute little blonde girl turns toward the young kid, and Nick backs up a step. “Nicky, stop asking questions.”
“It’s okay. Ask me whatever you want.” Tanner waves Nick closer.
The kid grins from ear to ear.
“Is she your girlfriend?” Nick asks, pointing right toward me.
Tanner leans forward and says something super quiet, so I can’t hear. All the kids listen intently, and then look over to me.