Epic Sins (Epic Fail #1)(54)

When we finally touch the wall, we emerge from the water, lungs burning, hearts pumping. Our breathing is hurried and deliberate as we try to fill our lungs with much-needed oxygen.

“Wow,” I pant. “I’ve seen you swim before, but man.” I suck in air and try to slow down my breathing. “That was intense,” I finish.

She’s breathing hard through her mouth and nose as her chest expands and contracts deeply. “I had no idea you were going to join me,” she says.

“Your aunt sent me out here to tell you she’d be done with Kai’s bath and dinner in about an hour. Then I saw you exercising and thought I should join you.” I pat my belly and say, “You know, pizza and all.”

She smirks. “Your six-pack thanks you.” Her eyes linger a little too long on my chest and abs, and she blushes.

“It’s time for my cool-down,” she says and begins to lie back in the water. “Do you want to float with me?”

I suddenly feel like I’m intruding. I know this is her private time, which she uses to decompress from her day. “I should go inside. Leave you to your… thing,” I say.

“You should try it, Garrett. You might enjoy it.” She’s on her back now, arms straight out to her sides and legs outstretched. She closes her eyes, and she allows the water to cover the majority of her body. She looks so serene. Peaceful. Beautiful.

I attempt to assume the same position, but my legs keep dropping to the floor of the pool. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but I can’t get as relaxed as she is. She senses my discomfort, mostly because I’m flailing around, and pops her head out of the water.

She reaches for my hand and lightly holds it. “The key is to relax. Let the water take your body whole. Breathe deeply and exhale slowly. Like this.” She doesn’t let go of my hand as she once again gets into her floating stance.

This time, I do as she instructs and I’m able to float. The water drowns out any external sounds and all I hear are my deep breaths mixing with hers. She releases my hand so only our fingers are touching. We drift apart and I close my eyes. I can hear my heart beating rhythmically in my chest. I’m completely relaxed.

So this is what it’s like.

I don’t know how long we float like this. My eyes remain closed and I’m practically comatose. I have no urgency to get out of the pool. No urgency to be away from her. We’re sharing something special. Almost secret. And I don’t want it to end.

I feel movement next to me, and I’m jarred from my position. “Sorry.” Her soft voice echoes throughout the room. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I was just about to head up to the house and I wanted to make sure you knew I was leaving.”

“Do we have to go?” I ask and suddenly feel terrible for not wanting to go inside to be with my son. I’m selfish.

“No, you can stay. I have to relieve my aunt in a little while,” she says and makes her way through the pool to the stairs.

“Wait up,” I call after her. “I’ll come too.”

We dry off next to each other, and I do everything in my power not to stare at her incredible body. She’s half naked next to me and I want to throw her over my shoulder and take her into the dressing room.

“Good job keeping up with me,” she says. “I didn’t think you had it in you.” Her teeth shine through her wide smile, and I can’t help but laugh.

“I don’t think I’ve swam that many laps ever,” I say. “As a matter of fact, it’s probably only the third or fourth time I’ve actually been in my own pool. And I’ve had it for several years.”

She looks at me incredulously. “Really?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I say, ashamed. “I can’t believe I don’t take advantage of having an indoor pool more often.”

“Well, you totally should,” she says. She looks up at the house, and from here it looks tremendous. I feel embarrassed again for the luxury around me and wish it was less over the top.

She wraps the towel around her shoulders and slips her flip-flops on. “Coming?”

“Yeah,” I say, and we step outside.

She immediately shivers and sprints to the back door. “It’s cold out here!” she calls back.

Once we’re inside, it takes her a few minutes before her shivers subside. I once again restrain myself from wrapping my body around hers to keep her warm.

“We should do that more often,” I say without thinking.

She smirks. “So Pizza Thursday and Swim Thursday?” Her grin is huge.

“Well, you said it yourself, eating pizza like that, we’re going to need to work it off somehow.”

She blushes again and shivers at the same time.

She fixes Kai’s bottles for the night and is ready to head upstairs. “I had a nice time tonight, Garrett. Thank you,” she says and walks toward the stairs.

“There’s nothing to thank me for,” I say. “I’ll be up to relieve you in a few hours. Sound good?”

She nods. “You don’t have to, you know. But I’ll never turn down a few hours of sleep in a real bed.”

My bed would be perfect.

“See you later,” I say as I watch her walk away.

A few minutes later, Peggy comes down and finds me in the kitchen. “It was nice of you to join Sam for a swim,” she says. She has a look in her eye like she knows everything that I’m thinking. It makes me uncomfortable.