Tank (Moonshine Task Force Book 2)(36)
It’s the very first picture that was ever taken of us. We didn’t know it was being taken, and we’d only just met hours before, but looking at the two of us, even then, you can see the chemistry there. “Holden gave it to me while you were in the hospital, and at the risk of sounding assuming, I thought you might like to have a copy, too,” my words are strained as I speak around my tight throat. “To remind us of where we started. The people in that picture had an attraction and quick smiles for each other, they laughed all night long while they talked about stupid shit, and then they exchanged numbers at the end of the night with no preconceived notions about one another. Sometimes we get caught up in the stupidest shit that doesn’t make a difference at the end of the day. Trevor, let’s never forget how we felt that night.”
He puts the picture down banding his arms around my body, crushing his mouth to mine. “I never want to forget it again, or how we feel this night. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so close to another human being, I know I’ve never felt so close to you before. I don’t want to lose this. Whatever we have to do, to make it work, let’s put the work in, let’s do the job. The only people who can fuck this up are us.”
And I know more than anything he’s right, and right here, on Christmas in front of the Christmas Tree, I decide once and for all – I’m fighting for what we have, I’m never letting it go, and even if it kills me, I’m going to tell him the truth about my past.
Not tonight, but soon, because nothing is going to ever stand in our way again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Trevor
I’m treading water, waiting for Blaze to come out of the women’s section of the locker room. She just got off work, and I’m doing one of my last physical therapy sessions before they’ll be releasing me. The month of January is flying by, but I can’t wait to know what my game plan is for the rest of my career, and truthfully, the rest of my life. I have an appointment with the shrink tomorrow, and I just need to make it through this workout.
We’re the only ones here, and since it’s near closing time, I think we’ll probably be the last ones to show up. Luckily for me, I know the owner and we have a key. I love working out in the pool because there’s little impact on my joints, and right now, they do hurt if I abuse them. The physical therapist told me in the next few weeks that should go away and then I’ll be able to rejoin my guys in the Moonshine Task Force. Truth of the matter is, I’m so ready. Sitting around is definitely not the life for me, I can’t fucking stand it. I hear the door open and turn around, whistling loudly as I see Blaze headed toward the pool dressed in a white bikini. The white shows off her hair, her skin color, and her tattoos. Damn, she looks smoking.
“I can’t wait until this summer at my parents’ house,” I wink at her. “I’m gonna do things to you in that pool I’ve always fantasized about.”
She gives me a look as she sinks into the water, shrieking at the temperature. I’d had to do a deep intake of breath when I entered the pool as well, maybe I should have warned her.
“It takes a minute to get used to.”
I swim over to her, gathering her up in my arms. I can’t help but notice her hard nipples rubbing against my chest. It puts thoughts of those fantasies back into my head.
“I’m all for doing sexually adventurous stuff, Trev, but it seems wrong to joke about doing it at your parents’,” she curls her arms around my neck.
“So much more exciting though, and need I remind you, we did it at yours” I tease and remind her, thinking about all the pervy situations I’d gotten into as a teen. There was something much more exciting about doing all those things with her.
As my eyes land on her tits, she smacks my bicep. “Get your mind out of the gutter, you’re supposed to be doing your laps.”
God, I hate laps. They help to build up the strength in my leg and it’s making a huge difference, but damn do I hate them.
“I’ll be here waiting on you at the end,” she blows me a kiss.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
The entire time I do the laps, I focus on my movement; one arm in front of the other, kick the way I need to, use my core to help offset the less muscle in my leg. Repeat over and over again until I count off the one hundred laps I’ve been told to do. Once I come up, panting from exertion, I see Blaze hanging out on the side of the pool. She’s holding a beach ball in her hands.
“You ready?” She bounces it from one hand to the other. In the shallow end, she can stand up straight and the water goes up to her shoulders, on me it’ll be at my chest.
“I’m always ready.” The cocky part of my personality shines bright sometimes.
As I’m walking to her, she rears back and throws the ball slightly to the left of me. I have to plant my feet and lean to catch it. Last time I did this, it knocked me off balance and I’d face planted in the water. This time I catch it – a little wobbly, but I make it.
“Good job, Trev! Now throw it back.”
I do as she asks. This exercise helps me become more flexible and tolerate standing. I can’t wait until they allow me to run on my leg. Hopefully next week, and damn am I ready. “Thanks for coming to hang out with me.”
She gives me a look, the ends of her lips tilting up in a pleased smile. She throws the ball, this time with a little more force behind it. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much. It’s hard getting back into the swing of things and obviously I don’t plan on working late, but sometimes emergencies happen when we’re about to go off shift.”