His bedroom door clicked open and shut like clockwork. I grabbed my gym bag filled with a change of clothes. Once I heard the front door lock after him, I slipped out of my room.
The community pool was a twenty-minute bike ride away. I texted Leo that I was on my way and his response was a simple thumbs-up emoji. When I got into the parking lot, his car was already parked out front. He was leaning against the driver’s side, dressed in black shorts and an Amber U sweatshirt.
“When did you get here?” I swung off of my bike and locked it to the chain fence surrounding the pool.
“Half an hour ago,” he said, starting towards the entrance.
“Didn’t think you’d be earlier than me.” I fell into step behind him. My cheeks burned at the warm smile he gave me.
Nate’s warnings probed at me from the back of my mind. I did my best to keep them as low as possible. I needed to make my own judgment. Needed to get to know Leo for myself because for so long, I’d crafted stories about him from our limited interactions. This summer, I could finally fill in the gaps. Finally, let him show me who he was and who he could be.
“I wanted to make sure Isabella gave us the right key.” He pushed the already unlocked gate open. I slipped in after him and watched as he replaced the padlock. “We’ve got two hours until Isabella’s dad rolls in. You ready to get to work?”
I nodded numbly, eyes on the water. My near-drowning had been the last time I came to this place. I’d been to other pools as a spectator of swim meets and never once felt nervous. I thought I was fine. My sweaty pits and heavy feet indicated otherwise.
“Kira.” Leo’s voice brought me back to the present. “We’ll take it slow.”
“I’m good,” I insisted, not even making eye contact as I moved closer to the pool.
We both stripped down to our swimsuits. My attention was briefly stolen because of Leo’s bare upper body. Whenever his gaze flickered in my direction, I focused on anything and everything that wasn’t him. His tan from working outside made the lines in his stomach much more defined. When he passed me to get into the pool, I took a breath to calm myself.
Once I saw him dive into the water and resurface in one powerful stroke, my incessant crush got the best of me. He swam to one end of the pool and then back. Each stroke showed off the careful curve of the muscles in his back. His movements mixed grace with force. No one could blame me for imagining where else he could put those two things to work.
When he reached the side of the pool I stood on, he pushed himself up to sit on the concrete. Water dripped from his face and he wiped the drops away with his hand.
“We won’t go in the deep end yet,” he promised as he held his hand up to me. “We’ll stay where you can stand and practice floating today.”
I had no good reason to back out. This was what I wanted for so long: someone who would be patient enough to teach me. Still, I racked my brain trying to come up with an excuse to avoid even touching the water.
“It’s cold at first.” Leo’s voice was gentle as he wrapped his fingers around mine. My heart raced as he urged me down. Once I lowered myself onto the ledge, he slipped into the pool. My legs dangled in the water and he moved in front of me. He was close enough so that his torso pressed against my shins. Under the water, his hands brushed against the back of my calves.
“I’m going to give you some space and you’re going to come in,” he instructed. “I want you to duck your head under the surface for a few seconds.”
“Okay.” I nodded. He squeezed my legs encouragingly and moved away to give me enough space to climb in.
The water was more than just cold; it was numbing. Goosebumps trailed across my arms as I lowered my shoulders into the pool. I glanced up at the dark sky, wondering how long we had until sunrise. There was a fog in the air, making me lose all hope of seeing the sun soon.
“We’ll do it together,” Leo decided when he noticed my hesitancy. He moved close enough so I felt his body heat.
“How are you not shaking with hypothermia right now?” I asked through chattering teeth.
He chuckled. “It’s not so bad. I prefer the cold to the heat any day.”
“Unbelievable.” I couldn’t breathe steadily with how bad I was shaking.
“You’ll get used to it,” he promised. “Once we get you moving, you’ll be swimming through this water in no time. Give me till the end of the summer, I’ll have you good enough to race against Nate and me.”
I snorted. “I just need to not drown, thank you very much.”
“Not competitive?”
“Not in the slightest.”
He raised a brow, impressed. “That seems impossible considering your family.”
“Competing against an Anderson will breed a lifetime of heartbreak. I gave up the need a long time ago.” I pinched my nose before dipping myself under the surface. Leo followed suit, without the need to follow my dramatic nose pinching.
I could only stay underwater for a few seconds before freaking out and forcing myself back up. The silence under the surface was terrifying. I hated how my body felt lighter and there was nothing of substance to grab onto.
