It’s set on a hilltop with gorgeous views of the surrounding hills and valleys, and we get there right at golden hour. It’s pretty empty and we set our things on a couple of lounge chairs. I’m wearing a simple black one-piece suit but it’s backless and gives my ass the perfect boost. I feel good in it, and I can tell Daniel agrees I should feel good in it with the way his eyes light up when I shed my cotton cover-up.
The pool has a beach entry so we walk into it easily, the water heated and delicious. After the chaotic past few weeks of work, this feels perfect. I dip my head back, letting the long ends of my hair submerge in the water. “So, are you one of those weirdos who has to start doing laps when you’re in a pool?”
Daniel’s guilt-ridden silence makes me laugh. He grabs ahold of my wrist underwater and pulls me to him, my body buoyant and light as it drifts toward him. “I’ll hold back on the butterfly stroke today.” His killer smile dims suddenly. I follow his gaze over my shoulder.
A group of people have entered the pool—Daniel’s employees who I recognize, and some others who I don’t. They all have drinks in hand and that “It’s Fridaaay” vibes. But standing a head taller than most of them is Ellis.
Suddenly I am so glad we ran into each other, that this isn’t shocking for him.
“Jefe!” cries out a redheaded woman who I know is named Mary. “You got an early start on the pool, huh?”
“Of course,” Daniel says, his voice even, his expression neutral. Then he tilts his head to me and whispers, “Sorry!”
I hear someone say, “Wait, isn’t that Cassia?” Then someone shushes them and there is an awkward passing of information. I wasn’t sure who would know that Daniel and I were dating now and the idea of breaking that news to his employees at a wedding, in person, felt a little dramatic, but at the same time it’s painful and quick.
I hear Marcella’s voice telling me that being forty means giving zero fucks and I cling to that as I smile at everyone and say, “Hey.”
Ellis is the first to say, “Hey, guys. How’s the water?” It instantly puts everyone at ease, and I feel a pang, recognizing and appreciating this small mercy.
“Aces. Ten-out-of-ten pool temperature,” Daniel says.
And everyone makes their way in, with the Madonna Inn’s signature colorful glass goblets in hand. When Ellis gets in, I try so hard not to look at him more than anyone else. It’s hard, and not just because he’s in swim trunks. I am hyperaware of him, my body always in tune with where he is. I chalk it up to having slept together, at how irresistible he is as a human being. That the connection is no deeper than that.
Introductions to dates and spouses are made and I notice that Ellis doesn’t have anyone to introduce. I try not to read into that even though the guilt and relief are undeniable.
We stay a little separate from the group, but the intimacy of a sunset swim has definitely been dampened. Daniel looks at me with an amused but slightly concerned expression.
I don’t want him to feel bad about this. “It’s okay. This will be the worst part. And if the worst part is being in a swimming pool atsunset with you in those tight little trunks, then I think I’ll be able to handle the rest.”
Underwater, he brushes my hip, then keeps his hand there, keeping me within arm’s reach. “Glad to hear it.”
After a few minutes of boozing in the pool, someone starts a game of chicken. This is probably the worst idea ever but after a few rounds of people screaming with delight, it’s actually pretty fun. In the middle of a bout with me on Daniel’s shoulders, trying to knock over a buff guy named Zachary who’s sitting on the shoulders of the firm’s accountant—the gate to the pool opens and in walks Avery. Avery from the park. She’s wearing two tiny scraps of white crotchet, with an open oversized man’s shirt thrown over it.
She smiles and says, “Who’s winning?” before tossing the shirt on a chair and jumping into the water—straight into Ellis’s arms. I ignore the clench in my chest and smile back at her. “Us!” Then I push Zachary off with a splash. Daniel pulls me off his shoulders with a slide down the front of his body and turns me for a celebratory hug.
“I’ll take that challenge,” Avery says as she starts climbing up a surprised Ellis’s back. He makes eye contact with me for the briefest of seconds before he grips her toned dancer legs, which are now thrown over his shoulders.
All right. Okay, bitch.
I climb back up on Daniel and we face Avery and Ellis. Someone starts laughing hysterically. “Ohshit,” someone else says. Yes, folks, welcome to the fucking show.
“You’ve got this,” Daniel says. His grip on my legs is tight and I can feel that he wants to win this, too. It’s stupid and macho because he’salreadywon this. But my own competitive streak roars to the surface, too. I am not going to let us lose to these unfairly built kids.
Someone does a countdown and when they shout, “Go!” Danielcharges ahead and I have to grab hold of his shoulders to keep myself from falling off.
Avery is all smiles when we rush them, but I catch a glimpse of Ellis’s grimace before I reach for Avery’s arms. She instantly pulls out of my grip, surprisingly strong for such a slip of a girl. She laughs. I hear theKill Billsirens in my head.
All right. Level up.
Daniel seems to understand and lunges forward again just in time for me to dig my shoulder into hers. She makes a surprised “oof” sound but stays on. Our audience starts making wild cheering noises.
“Go Avery and Ellis!”someone yells. Others join in. Okay, we’re the bad guys here, clearly. The expression on Avery’s face is a little more determined now. She reaches for me first next, gripping my upper arm with one hand, and I feel myself get slightly off-balance. But Daniel shifts so that I’m steadied again, and I grab ahold ofherarm with my left hand. We’re stuck in this mutual grappling hold for a second, both of our jaws clenched as we try to hold on. Then I see Ellis move forward and Avery gracefully twists her upper body so that I lose my grip and she tightens hers. Then she gets ahold of my other bicep so that I’m trapped. The cheers get louder.
“Inside, get inside!” Daniel shouts over the cheers. I know what he means. I twist my arms in an outward motion so that she is forced to let go of both my arms and I instantly get my hands on her upper arms, my arms braced inside of hers. I feel the strength of that position andpush.
She topples off Ellis’s shoulders, but he catches her before she can fully crash in the water.
We’ve won and Daniel whoops while hoisting me up higher in the air. I try and smile as everyone groans, and someone even boos. I don’t care what they think, but I see Ellis’s expression as he handlesAvery with care, setting her in the pool and examining her upper arms where my hands had been holding on with a death grip. They are red and you can see little crescent-moon imprints where my nails had dug in.
