‘I think he missed you.’
‘He did.’
‘You don’t sound happy about it.’
With a sigh, she looked up at him. ‘I don’t know how to feel. I mean, the shock… I never expected to see him here. I’m still processing.’ She snorted. ‘That sounds wanky, doesn’t it? I’m confused, surprised and cross.’
‘Cross?’
‘Yeah, I feel like I’ve been blindsided. Like it’s all on his terms.’
‘Ah,’ said Felipe as if he understood exactly what she meant.
‘This has come out of nowhere and I’m… confused.’
‘There’s no hurry to make any decisions.’ He leaned in, his shoulder touching hers. ‘You do whatyouwant.’
She turned to face him, his mouth just a touch away. A pang of longing caught her.
Their eyes locked. The longing turned into an ache. Just as she was about to lean in further, Felipe slipped into the water.
‘Still think you can beat me?’ he asked, his features settling into their usual teasing grin. It pierced the tension like a pin in a balloon. Felipe was fun but he’d had so much to bear. So much responsibility on young shoulders for so long. He wasn’t looking to add any more responsibility to what she now knew was a very long list. She understood why he’d made it clear from the outset that serious relationships weren’t on the cards for him. She needed to remember that and remind herself that her feelings for him were nothing more than a crush and a lot of lust, because there was no denying the man was good in bed. He was good at a lot of things, like making her feel good about herself, and that wasn’t something she’d ever regret.
Will was what she’d always wanted. It was just unexpected the way he’d turned up.
‘Of course I can,’ she said, standing up and diving into the water in one fluid motion.
She surfaced and swam the length in a fast, fierce freestyle. Reaching the end, she bobbed up, gasping both with the cold and the sudden exertion.
‘Beat you,’ she said with a cocky smile as he swam towards her.
His mouth opened in an O of outrage, making her laugh with mischievous delight.
‘We hadn’t started. You cheated.’ He lashed at the water sending a big spray towards her. She ducked and sang, ‘Snooze, you lose,’ at him.
In response, he lunged towards her and she turned tail and dived away, shrieking as he grabbed her ankle. She struggled, making sure she splashed him, deliberately thrashing the water with her other leg. He hauled her back and grabbed her before dunking her underwater. She emerged spluttering as he swam away.
‘I’ll get you back for that, Felipe!’ she yelled, sending another plume of water his way, flicking her long hair out of her eyes, breathless with laughter.
‘Morning,’ called a cool voice and Rebecca glanced over to find Will standing at the top of the steps in a pair of brightly coloured board shorts.
‘Hi,’ she squeaked, embarrassed although she wasn’t sure why.
‘How’s the water?’ he asked.
‘Fine… once you’re in,’ she called back.
‘Lovely,’ called Felipe now floating lazily on his back. ‘Come on in and join the fun.’
Rebecca shot a quick look his way. She wasn’t sure why she was suspicious; she just was. Felipe gave her a bland, innocent smile back.
Will inched his way into the water, holding his hands above his head.
‘It’s best just to take the plunge,’ advised Rebecca.
Will’s mouth pursed but he did as she suggested and threw himself forward, swimming hurried, clumsy breaststrokes all the way to the other side of the pool.
‘Wow, that’s cold,’ he said.
