“Lungs burning yet?”
Brett nodded. “Feels good.”
“You’re welcome.”
He dove back in and did another two, and when he paused at the wall the third time, Penny suggested they end there. Brett shook his head and pushed off the wall again. The water churned around him as he swam, and this time, he paused at the deep end. His breaths were shallow and rapid, his chest heaving as he clung to the edge of the pool.
“Let’s stop and tread water. Get different mobility in the leg.”
Brett nodded. Once his breathing slowed, he pushed off the wall and started to spin his legs beneath the surface. Penny laughed. “You’re flailing like a drowning cat.”
“I’m treading water.”
She shook her head. “That’s not treading water. You need to do this—” Penny stood on one foot and tried to demonstrate the motion. “Your legs should be two beaters on a hand mixer, you know?” Brett flailed harder, and Penny showed him a second time. “It needs to be smooth, not erratic.”
Brett reached for the wall and looked up at her, sucking in air. “I can’t hear you.”
“What?”
He pointed to the toddler who’d arrived a few moments before and was laughing maniacally in the pool next to them. He curled his finger and motioned for her to come closer. Penny crouched down and began to repeat what she’d called out from the pool deck when Brett’s hand circled around her wrist and yanked.
Penny plunged into the water, then flailed and spluttered as she grabbed onto Brett’s shoulder and thrust her head above the surface. “Are you serious? What are we, twelve?”
Brett’s laugh echoed off the tiled walls. “I just thought it might be easier for you to show—”
“I’m not even in a swimsuit!”
“Whose fault was that?”
Penny smacked him, then realized she was still clinging to him like a baby opossum and transferred to the wall next to him. She glowered at him, and Brett tried and failed to look repentant.
“My underwear is wet.”
“I do tend to have that effect.” He raised an eyebrow, and Penny groaned.
“I walked into that one.”
“You did.”
She shivered, then pushed off the wall and treaded water while she fixed her hair. “This is how you do it. Like a duck. Smooth on the surface and busy underneath, and do not make a comment about getting busy.”
Brett smirked, then pushed off the wall and tried to mimic her motions. “So much easier when I can see it demonstrated.”
Penny’s lips drew into a thin line. “I bet it is.”
“How long do we go for?”
Penny lowered her voice. “As long as you can, I guess.”
Brett’s lip twitched. “I’m known for my stamina.”
Penny arched a brow. “I’m going to need references.” She expected Brett to laugh, but instead, his expression clouded over. “I waskidding.”
He shook his head as he started to grow short of breath. “That was what Daniel did at work.” Penny frowned, not following. “He was acting as your reference.”
“What?”
Brett kicked harder, and his shoulders rose in the water. “He got a phone call. Said he’d asked for his office manager to forward those kinds of calls, then proceeded to trash you on the phone to someone interested in hiring you.” Penny’s blood turned to ice. “Did it right there in front of me.”
