“Brad.” Cami walks up to me with a mom and a baby. “This is your four o’clock.”
I turn and my heart pounds in my chest. The boy is so small, and is that a diaper around him? “Hi,” I greet, swallowing my fear.
The mom’s eyes scan my body. I’m sure I’m a hell of a lot better looking than her husband, so I’ll let her take full advantage. “I’m Brad.” I hold my hand out, and by the time she sees it, her face is flushed.
“Hi. I’m Melanie and this is Austin.” She points to the baby, whose hands are being swallowed by his mouth.
Great.
She holds Austin out to me, and I almost deny the drooling little bugger. There’s no way she should trust me to hold her pride and joy on concrete.
I clench my fists for a second, willing them to stop shaking as I take Austin from her arms.
“Hey, buddy. You ready to get in the water?” I ask, and his mouth releases his hand only so his bottom lip can quiver.
“Brad,” Cami steps closer, whispering in my ear, “Try to pull him to your chest. Holding him at arm’s length is scaring him.”
My eyes snap to his mom, and the look of fear in hers alarms me. I bring Austin to my chest and his grubby fingers begin to play with the small hairs on my chest. It’s still odd to have those after shaving my body for so long due to competing.
“Right.” I smile, and the mom returns a tight hesitant one back, her body tense.
I walk him over to the stairs of the pool and his mom wanders over to the bench, I’m sure to watch me like a hawk with her young.
The warm water swooshes around my legs as I move through it. Austin’s fingers dip down and I’m thankful he’s not one of those kids who scream bloody murder as soon as their toes touch water.
The more I allow him to let the water move through his fingers, the more relaxed we both become. I gain confidence, and with every smile, I become more comfortable.
Obviously, Melanie feels the same since she’s now busy on her phone. I take the opportunity to plunge the two of us in the water. Maybe too soon, because when I bring Austin back up, tears are streaming down his face and his little hands are splashing the water.
I’m not sure where the instinct comes from, but I draw him into my chest and circle us around the water, making small waves. His fingers grab onto my ears and he squeals in delight.
Thank fuck it worked.
I hand Austin back to his mom at the end of our lesson, and Melanie’s hand strokes my arm.
“Thank you so much, Brad. He’s never done so well in the water.”
I’m positive she’s lying, but I’ll take the compliment.
“He’s a great kid.”
She smiles and walks toward the locker room. Her eyes glance over her shoulder one last time before she disappears through the door.
“An admirer?” a feminine voice says behind me, and I turn to find my next lesson.
“Hello.” I hold my hand out for the attractive girl. She’s in her early-twenties with red hair and knockout tits.
She’s holding a baby in her arms. This one is squirming, and I fear she’s about to drop her.
“Brad, I presume?”
“Yours truly.” I hold my arms out. “Is this,” I glance down at the sheet on the clipboard, “Ava?”
“No, Quinn.” I tilt my head and check my clipboard. “I have an Ava next.” I scan the few names, and there’s no Quinn.
“Oh, Ava.” She lets out a flirtatious giggle. “This is Ava.” The little girl raises her hand. “I’m Quinn,” she introduces herself and lets the little girl down so she can shake my hand, but the girl runs over to the water.
“Ava,” I call out, but the girl doesn’t stop.
“I guess we’re starting the lesson,” I say, having no choice but to ignore Quinn’s outstretched hand.
“She’s a handful,” she yells out.
I think I figured that much out.
Ava is bold enough that I don’t have to worry about getting her used to the water. She has no problem going under, rather she actually enjoys it. The girl never stops laughing and splashing. If her mom’s eyes would just stop looking at me as if I’m a decadent piece of chocolate cake after a long stretch of dieting, I’d say she’s my favorite client. Usually, I enjoy a good-looking woman’s eyes on me, but Quinn is creepy. She doesn’t even turn around when I catch her staring.
“Down!” Ava screams and I dunk her again. I’ll need to do more research on how to move another step ahead when the babies are ready. I’ll call my sister, Piper. She’s been taking classes for instruction in Colorado. The nerd she is, I’m sure she has some helpful tips.
Wes sits down on the ledge of the pool and I watch the boys file to the locker room. Jealousy zips through me because I would much rather instruct a swim team than a bunch of babies.
“Hey, you’re five-thirty is coming in early. So your gap will be later.”
“Okay.” It doesn’t really matter to me either way.
“You’re doing good,” he says, and I cock my head at him, while Ava smacks my cheek.
“It’s my dream in life to get hit by little kids.”
He laughs and nods toward Quinn.
“I see you met the nanny,” he says, a smirk evident across his lips.
“Nanny? I never got that far when this one decided she was ready.”
“Yeah, she sure seems to like you. Warning, she’s only eighteen.” My head instinctively moves her way. Her eyes bore into mine, no care that I caught her. Then I look back at Wes.
“No worries, man. I’m taken.”
“Long distance? You’re here every night; I just assumed you were single.”
“I am.” Ava hits me again, and I dunk her. She comes up laughing.
He tilts his head, clear confusion in his eyes.
“I’m trying to get my ex back.” I’m not sure why I’m telling Wes this, but he doesn’t know my past, Taylor’s and my history, which is nice for a change.
The others don’t think I hear their tones, the one that insinuates Taylor might be better off without me, and they don’t even know I cheated on her. I’ve kept that hidden because I’m too ashamed to admit it. Tanner’s the only one who knows, and if he’s the best friend I think he is, he hasn’t shared that piece of information with anyone.
“Then you shouldn’t be here so much. Win her over somehow.” He glances over his shoulder. “Cami was my ex once and look at us.”
“Really?” I give Ava a toy to put in the water and pull back out.
“Yeah. We were young, and I didn’t want to commit to just her. We broke up, and then I heard she was dating someone else, so I went after her. The hurt Cami buried was tough to get through, but we did.” The bastard smiles so wide, jealousy ignites in me. “Don’t hold back, just go for her.”
“Thanks. I’m going over to her house tonight.”
He pulls his feet from the water and moves to stand. “That’s a great start.” He smiles. “Good luck, man.”
My eyes veer to the office and I see Cami standing there, talking to another instructor. Her eyes lock with Wes’s for a second, and he’s like a magnet, walking directly to her. Taylor used to look at me like that, as if I was a fucking rock star and she couldn’t believe I was hers. One look from her made me come alive.
Pushing back the past, knowing she won’t be looking at me like that tonight, I swim over to the side and hold Ava out to Quinn.
“She did great. See you next week,” I say, and Quinn takes Ava in her arms.
“You’re great,” she says, her eyes not leaving mine for a second.
“Thank you.”
“No, I mean really, you are so good with her.”
I smile again. “Thank you.”
She pushes out her tits to me a little more, but I turn my eyes in another direction.
“See you next week, Ava.” I disregard Quinn. Eighteen, fuck that. Even if I wasn’t after Taylor, that’s way too young.
Quinn stands and
straightens her back before walking away. Her ass sways back and forth as she steadily makes her way to the locker room. The door swings open, almost hitting Quinn in the face. I snicker to myself at the look of disgust she gives the person. The two must exchange words, and then my heart plummets to my stomach, and my breathing stops altogether.
Taylor steps through the doors, holding a little girl in her arms. I watch in awe as she saunters up to Wes and Cami. Cami reaches for the girl and spins her around in a circle while Wes talks with Taylor. Taylor swipes her long dark hair off her shoulder, listening intently to whatever Wes is saying.
My whole body freezes in the pool, unable to move a muscle. She’s breathtakingly beautiful and still has that self-assured posture that made me want her from the start.
Wes turns and my heart slams against my ribs. Her eyes find me and panic flares in those blue beauties. As I stare at her, her eyes quickly dart to the little girl. She shakes her head adamantly and says something to Wes, and at the same time, she plucks the girl from Cami’s arms.
My feet move through the water, and Taylor backs up toward the locker room. Wes tries to reach for her, but Taylor shakes her head. Cami’s eyes volley between me and her. The little girl starts crying, and I’m guessing it’s from how hard Taylor has her face pressed into her jacket.
Taylor looks at me with a small shake of her head, but I’m not staying away this time. Then she turns around and bolts to the locker room.
Taylor
MY HEART POUNDS AS I run to the locker room. Em cries in my arms and I hate how this whole situation is affecting her. If my keys weren’t locked in the locker with my purse, I’d have escaped this place by now.
“Taylor.” His deep voice sends a tingle throughout my body.
I unlock the locker and grab my purse before throwing Em’s coat over her small body. She tosses it to the floor, and I bend down to pick it up. My fingers reach for the down fabric and his feet appear right next to it. As I grasp it, my eyes skim up his near-naked body. I take in his strong calves, now covered in dark hair, and his taut waist, rising up into a chest of chiseled, contoured muscles. Our eyes lock, and his bear nothing but confusion.
That easy smile I had grown used to years ago isn’t there, but the lines on the outside of his eyes are becoming evident, showing the passage of time. We’re no longer the young, carefree college kids we used to be.
“Mama,” Em screams, and I’m jarred back to Earth.
“It’s okay, baby,” I soothe her, my hand holding her protectively against my chest. I look to Brad as he steps closer.
“Taylor?” he repeats.
My heart breaks. I don’t want to tell him he’s a father in the middle of this locker room. I had the whole thing planned for later this evening. Having Em’s usual swim instructor quit and finding her father as the replacement wasn’t part of the plan.
“I can’t,” I stutter, backing up while he steps forward.
“Who is that?” he asks, and I’m fairly sure we both know the answer, but he’s willing to act ignorant on my behalf.
“Can you just come over tonight as planned?” I take another step, and my back presses against the hard wall. Brad moves closer, and the smell of chlorine coming off his body is sweet torture. Reminding me of all those late nights when he’d promised me I was the only one.
“Who is the girl, Taylor?” He’s careful to move slowly as he inches closer, but remains far enough away as not to scare Em, who’s still tucked against me.
I swallow, feeling my pulse quicken. “Please, Brad.”
“No. Answer me.” His voice is casual and sweet; however, there’s authority in it as well. He’s not going to let this go.
The words are about to come out of my mouth when Em peeks out from under my chin like a joey kangaroo out of their mother’s pouch. Brad steps back, distancing himself from us as his eyes widen with disbelief.
“This is Em . . . well, Emerson actually.”
Seeing the man is not a threat, Em sits up more on my hip, intrigued about who he is. Could it be instinctive?
“Her eyes,” he softly says. The similarity in their eyes isn’t hard to miss. The gold flecks are a little more prominent in Em’s, but warmth shines from both. The long lashes only seal their commonality.
I inhale a breath, grasping for an ounce of courage, which I’m not sure I have. “She’s . . .” The words lock in my throat.
“Mine,” he finishes for me. Although there’s certainty in his tone, his voice breaks over the one word.
“I’m sorry,” I say, unsure of why the hurt in his eyes is affecting me to the point I’m apologizing, when he’s the one who ruined us.
His bare feet back up another step, and then his eyes finally leave Em and meet mine, switching from confusion to disgust. “How could you not tell me?”
His retreat has my arms tightening around Em, as though I can protect her from her father, who isn’t so enamored by her he swoops her up in his arms. Those few steps back spurs a rage so fierce, I want to run away and hide her in a tower, so she never experiences the sting of rejection.
“I told you,” I say. He might have been drunk and my voice might have been soft, but I did tell him.
“I think I’d remember you telling me.” He crosses his arms over his impressive chest and widens his stance.
“You were high on either drugs or alcohol and too busy scooting the blonde off your lap.”
Em’s hand reaches for my necklace, playing with it. I’m thankful she’s distracted. The diamond and emerald necklace is the last possession of my mother’s that my sister didn’t sell. Em always enjoys how the diamonds shine in the light.
“You could have—”
“Could have what, Brad? Stuck around to watch the two of you . . .” I glance to Em, “finish?”
He winces. Yeah, the truth hurts. “I tried to see you after.”
“You tried once, Brad. One time, and you were still high as a kite on my doorstep.”
His head drops between his shoulders, shaking lightly back and forth. “I was in a bad place.”
“I know, and that’s why I made the choice I did.”
“Which was to deceive me.” His eyes fly up to meet mine again.
“My only option was to raise my daughter with love. You wouldn’t have stuck around, and eventually, you would have resented me.”
“No, I—” He stops, because we both know it’s the truth. Two and a half years ago, Brad would have never wanted to settle down. I doubt he wants to now. He’s always chasing something, and it was a hard lesson to learn.
The locker room doors open and a family shuffles through, looking between us.
“I should go.” I glance at Em and Brad agrees with a nod.
Some things never change.
“Can I still come by tonight?” he asks.
My body stiffens as I think about him being a part of her life now. Suddenly, my decision to tell him seems worse than any choice I’ve ever made where Em is concerned. I’m not sure I can share her. Then, without knowing what’s going on, Em reaches for him, and my heart shatters and soars at the same time.
He takes it, and her little hand gets buried in his larger one. A smile creases his lips, getting wider the longer he admires her.
“Hi, Emerson,” he says.
She looks at me then back to him. “Hi.” Her voice so small and low, but interest fills hers eyes. She wants to know who he is.
“You have our address,” I tell him, shifting her to my other hip, ultimately making their hands separate.
Brad nibbles on the inside of his cheek, watching me back step to the door.
“I’ll be there.” He waves. “Bye, Emerson.”
“Bye.” She smiles as her small hand goes up in a wave of her own.
I exit through the locker room doors, glad to have a reprieve, to suck in oxygen not shared by Brad. There’s relief that the secret’s out. He knows he’s a father, and he didn’t run away, which is what I had imagined
would happen when I thought about this moment. Could he have changed? The old Brad would have, at least, had to process the information before dealing with such a serious revelation.
Setting Em on the chair, I throw on her leggings and wrap her coat around her.
“Swim!” she screams, and I shake my head.
“No swim today,” I whisper.
“SWIM!” She becomes louder, and I know from prior experience, she’s about to have a meltdown.
“Not today, baby.”
“SWIM!” Her voice rises another octave, alarming the girl behind the desk.
“Taylor.” Cami walks out of the locker room.
“Hi, Cami. Sorry. I’ll pay for today, but we’re not going to have the lesson.”
“I know Em really liked Kevin, but Brad’s good. He has a lot of experience.”
Do I even bother telling her?
“It’s not that. It’s just—”
“SWIM!” Em yells again, and my face flushes with embarrassment.
“See, she wants to swim.” Cami holds her hands out and Em immediately goes to her.
“Cami.” I try to stop her, but she trudges through the locker room doors.
“Come on, Taylor. I’ll make sure Brad does a great job.”
I follow the spunky girl with my daughter, not stopping at the lockers this time. I’ll have all my belongings should I need to hightail it out of here. Under different circumstances, I’d grab my daughter and never return, but Cami was my sister’s friend since childhood. We’ve been through a lot over the years. Unfortunately, she knows Em’s the product of a college relationship gone bad, but she doesn’t know that the man is now her employee.
Brad’s leaning on a table with his ankles crossed casually while talking to Wes when we appear again. For some reason, I thought I’d shaken his world up by telling him he’s a father. Confusion swarms inside me as I wonder what he’s expecting from Em. Either he’s indifferent, making that the reason he can stand there unfazed, calmly, as though I’d just told him Em was a little girl I was babysitting. Or he’s confident, and figures he’ll patch everything up.
Love Rekindled (Love Surfaced) Page 4
