She’s seated on one of the loungers around the pool, her book and bottle of water on the table beside her. When she sees me approach, she holds up a bottle of sunscreen. “Can you put some on me?”
My dick twitches. I haven’t been inside her since we left the island. I understand why, and I’m not going to be an asshole and pressure her to sleep with me when she’s dealing with so much, but I still miss her, miss her body, miss our connection during sex. I only ever thought of the act of sex as physical, but with Hattie, it has a way of centering me, making me feel so much closer and loved.
“You know how much I love to do that.” I grin, trying to keep the mood light. I take the bottle from her and sit at the end of the lounger. “Sit up and give me your back.”
She does as I say, and I enjoy every second of rubbing my hands over her body. It’s the most action I’m getting for a while.
I’m concerned about how Hattie will react if Carla doesn’t get good news today. I continue to lie to myself that all I’m concerned with is Hattie’s feelings, not the welfare of the mother who abandoned me.
We relax in the sun, and Hattie reads her book while I catch up on some work stuff on my phone. Eventually I lean my head back and enjoy the feel of the sun’s heat.
“Do you want to go for a dip?”
I turn my head in Hattie’s direction. She’s shielding her eyes from the sun, looking at me. Her sunglasses lay discarded on the table beside her.
“Sure.” I bolt off the chair and take a couple large steps toward the pool, then jump in cannonball style.
When I resurface, Hattie is at the edge of the pool, giggling.
Mission accomplished. I know she’s stressed and worried right now. I just want to do what I can to lift her spirits.
“Let’s see what you got, babe.”
“Okay, prepare to be amazed. You might want to hold on to the side of the pool so you don’t drown from this crazy wave I’m going to make.”
I chuckle. “Let’s see it.”
She steps back, then runs toward the pool, leaping and dropping into the water in a cannonball that makes about half the waves my jump did.
Her head pops out of the water, and she’s grinning. “Well?”
“Sorry, babe, I’ve got you beat.” I tug her to me by the waist. It’s not the easiest while you’re treading water, but I manage to kiss her quickly.
The sun’s rays reflecting off the water bring out the gold flecks in her eyes, and for the first time all day, there’s something other than fear in them. I want to keep it like that for as long as I can.
“You want to play Marco Polo?” I ask.
“Sure! You try to find me first.” She wiggles out of my arms and swims away.
“All right, I’ll count to ten. Better hurry.” I close my eyes and start the countdown out loud.
I’m not sure how long it takes me to catch her, maybe five minutes, then our roles reverse.
She comes after me with no luck. A few minutes in, I decide to play a trick on her. I swim to the pool’s edge and oh so slowly pull myself out of the water. My sister and I used to do this to each other the few times our dad took us to the public pool growing up. I always found it hilarious to see Ari frustrated and searching around in the water, knowing she was never going to find me.
“Marco,” Hattie calls.
“Polo,” I say right before I completely pull myself from the water.
She swims in the direction of my voice, feeling around with her hands. When she comes up empty, she calls out Marco again.
I quietly slip to the end of the pool and say, “Polo,” leaning over and dipping my hand in the water to make a splashing sound for good measure.
She swims that way with her eyes closed, and I move to the other side of the pool so I’m facing away from the house. Hattie lets out a growl of frustration when she makes it to the area I was just standing beside, and it’s all I can do to not laugh.
“Marco,” she shouts into the warm summer air, louder than the previous times and clearly annoyed.
This time I can’t stifle my chuckle, but before I can give up the game I’m playing, something crashes behind me, and the sound of shattering glass rings through the warm air. Hattie’s eyes pop open, and I whip around.
