“Hello, Piper,” they all say in unison.
I shake my head, walking over to join them. Sitting down next to Tanner, a glint of humor in his eyes as he watches me. I swear he purposely grazes his hand over mine when he sits up straighter. How on earth will I get through this day?
“Hey, guys. You ready to swim?” I say excitedly, clapping my hands together.
Some of the girls crowd around me while the boys remain faithful to Tanner.
Dipping down into the water, Tanner bounces around a little, getting used to the temperature. “Why didn’t you guys tell me it was so cold?” He places his arms around his chest, pretending to shiver.
I kick some water toward him, and he submerges under before rising back up. He’s always looked good wet, but now, his shoulders are broader, and his stomach is further ripped. I think a god just emerged out of the pool. My eyes rake over every inch of his exposed skin as beads of water slide down the same spots I want to lick.
“Piper, get in.” One of the girls distracts me from my sexual thoughts of Tanner.
Tanner chuckles, and I narrow my eyes at him in an attempt to hide the fact that his body has an effect on me.
Sliding in like Tanner, I begin bouncing up and down because cold isn’t even the correct word. It’s freezing. I’m not used to an indoor pool being so cold.
“Get under!” one of the girls hollers at me.
For some reason, I’m reluctant.
“That’s okay. I kind of like this view of Piper,” Tanner jokes.
I follow his line of vision right to my chest, seeing my boobs bouncing up and down. I sink into the water, cooling me down from the heat Tanner elicits in me.
When I float to the surface, the girls cheer for me.
Tanner swims close to me. “You ruined these boys’ wet dreams tonight.”
He laughs, and I push him on the shoulder.
“Hey, just think you’ll have seven boys whacking off to the vision of you before they go to bed.” Then, he leans closer. “Including me,” he whispers.
The warmth rushes up my neck to my face. “Whatever!”
The other helpers divert the kids to the roped-off section for us.
“You have no idea how many times you in a bathing suit has been my vision while beating off. I was probably their age the first time.”
Without another word, he swims away, toward the children, leaving me in a combustible ball ready to explode all over him.
“Piper will take the girls, and I’ll take the boys. If you guys all listen good, we’ll do the diving board afterward.”
The kids scream and cheer.
Tanner has the boys laughing every second. My girls are drilling me with a zillion questions about Tanner—how long have I known him? Will he make the Olympics? Do I like him? I try to answer truthfully, but that last one catches me off guard. All their little faces fall when I respond that I have a boyfriend, and it isn’t Tanner.
Half an hour later, the kids have listened.
The lead helper, Sue, instructs all of them to climb out of the pool and line up to jump off the diving board. Tanner and I swim across the ropes to catch them. He’s so close that my breathing hitches constantly, anticipating the next brush of his leg.
“Can I talk to you tonight?” he asks.
Sue disciplines the children for pushing and not waiting their turns.
“Explain things,” he clarifies.
I’ve anticipated this moment from the second I heard Tanner was coming home. Not that my stomach stops plummeting each time I think about the conversation happening.
“I’m not sure.” It’s only because I can’t handle talking about two years ago. That mistake of a decision on his part is what ruined us, and once I forgive him, it’s sure to lift the gate keeping my heart at bay from him.
“I think your guy can be solo for one night.” He shifts in the water, moving a little farther away from me.
“It’s not that,” I fight. I’d say anything right now so that he’ll come back over to me.
“Then, say yes. I’ll have you back by midnight, promise.”
He holds up his two fingers as a scout’s honor, and I’m back on the floor in my apartment two years ago.
“Okay,” I agree, surprised I gave even the half-assed fight I did in the first place.
“Great. Pick you up at six.” His smile so wide, his teeth shine through.
“This isn’t a date, Tanner,” I remind him.
He nods. “I should probably tell you that I have a girlfriend.”
My legs stop treading, and every muscle in my body stops fighting the water. “You do?” I ask, my mouth drying.
“No. But will it make you more at ease with me tonight if I lie?” He winks.
Instantly, I confirm what he already assumes. This might not be a date, but he knows he’s got a shot to win me back.
“Lying has always been your strong suit,” I snap, angry that he’s testing me in some way. But maybe I’m madder because his plan worked.
He got the reaction he wanted from me—fear.
“Maybe you won’t believe that after tonight.” He stares at me, long and deep.
“Or not.”
Tanner’s face falls, and I swim away, waiting for the kids to jump off the diving board.
After everyone gets two chances to jump and Tanner and I help them swim to the side, everyone climbs out of the water and grabs towels. As I’m toweling the water off my body, my eyes veer over to Tanner, and I see Tanner sneaking looks here and there. We catch each other a few times, but quickly, I turn away. I’ve given away too many of my feelings already.
Nick comes up to me. “Will you be my girlfriend?”
“Aw, I’m sorry. I already have a boyfriend.”
The little boy’s head turns to Tanner and then back to me. “The douche,” Nick deadpans.
Tanner chuckles.
“No, Curtis is a nice guy. I bet you’d really like him.” I tell him nice things while shooting Tanner an evil glare.
Tanner has a way with kids, and he won Nicky over immediately today.
“He’s not Tanner,” the kid deadpans.
All of a sudden, the kids are in front of me, asking me why Tanner isn’t my boyfriend. I look up at him, and he’s covering his laughter with his hand. When I narrow my eyes at him, he holds his hands up in defense.
“Your doing?” I ask.
“No!” He shakes his head. “But they have a point.”
Douche? I mouth. Lately, that’s been Tanner’s favorite word to describe Curtis.
Sue comes over and calms the children down, whisking them away from me.
“You’re trouble.” I poke Tanner’s rock-hard chest.
His hand grabs mine. “Only when it comes to you.”
He opens my hand, weaving his fingers through mine. The worst part is that I don’t stop him. Instead, I tighten my fingers around his hand.
“I’ll play dirty to win you back.”
My heart stammers at his first declaration that he has a hidden plan.
“Even using a bunch of ten-year-olds?” I joke, still not pulling back from his grip.
“Yep. Since they didn’t work, I have other tricks up my sleeve.”
We stare into each other’s eyes, and I want to sway into his body. I want to have his warm arms around me as my arms hug his waist. I want to feel his lips kiss the top of my head, enticing the safe and cared for sensation he always cocoons me with.
“I’m with Curtis,” I say with little conviction.
“Not for long,” he says softly.
“Tan,” I sigh.
His smile lights up.
“What?”
“That’s the first time you’ve called me Tan since I got back. It means you’re softening.” He grins wide.
“It was a slip,” I lie. Today, in the water, he captured my heart, but I don’t trust my heart anymore.
He shakes his head, still able to call me on my bullshit. I try to straighten out my face because those three letters slipped much too easily off my tongue. He’s right. I’m slowly forgiving him, if not already.