Page 5 of Slippery When Wet

Abel.

Abel Peña.

The very man of every one of my fantasies had come to my rescue. I’d called him daddy, and he’d called me his princess. He’d cut me out of my seat and pulled me out through the open window. If it had been real, I would have died of mortification for calling him the dirty little moniker.

The coach whistled and snapped me out of my Abel-driven thoughts. I sat back and watched the kids get out. They talked and laughed, so carefree and fearless. They had no idea how lucky they were. It wasn’t even the fact that they were young that helped them be that way. I’d been their age once and had never felt that easy at just being. Fake it till you make it, I reminded myself.

When the pool area cleared, only the office staff was around. I knew because Susie had been kind enough to share. I’d planned on asking the coach if he’d be willing to give me swim lessons, but my daydreaming got the best of me, and I’d chickened out. Karol had offered to talk to someone for me, but I knew her. She’d get someone sweet, like one of the teenagers who taught the three-year-olds or something, and how embarrassing would that be?

“Hey,” Susie called, and I watched her climb up the bleachers. She sat down next to me, shoulder bumping me. “You came inside today. That’s a win.”

“I didn’t ask him,” I muttered, staring out at the water. The day had been crazy hot with summer in full swing. Being an indoor pool, no matter how good the vents were, it always got muggy and humid inside. I knew firsthand how refreshing it would feel to take a dip. My body was aching for it.

“You still got further today than yesterday. Small steps,” she encouraged. But that was my Susie. Always sweet and kind.

“Baby ones.” I sighed and turned to look at her. “How are you?” I asked. Her shoulder rose and dropped.

“Same thing, different day.” She winked. “So, I’m gonna stay a little later today. The locker room is open, if you wanna go change,” she offered. I knew what she was doing. She was giving me some more time to try for myself. She knew I could handle myself in the water. I just needed to overcome my stupid, heart-clenching fear.

“I wore my suit under my dress,” I shared. Susie’s eyes softened.

“See! Progress is progress! Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“I didn’t do any—" I started to say, but she cut me off.

“Give yourself the grace you give everyone else, Abs.” She held my hand, and I blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. “Hey! No.” Her eyes widened with horror. “Don’t cry!”

“I’m not just a chicken, I’m a crybaby, too.” I rolled my eyes, and she chuckled.

“You’re none of those. It’s okay to feel how you feel.”

“Thanks.” I rested my head on her shoulder. We sat there, quietly enjoying each other’s company for a moment.

“Well, I’m gonna go finish all the paperwork. You stay here as long as you want. If you leave through that door,”—she pointed at the far exit door—“it’ll lock behind itself. And you will be right by your car.”

“Thanks.”

“If you need me, just yell, okay?”

“I will.”

“You promise?” she asked because she knew me all too well.

“I promise.” I smiled.

A moment after she left, I stood and walked down to the edge of the pool and stared at the water. It was so blue. So beautiful and inviting. I knew how refreshing it would feel if I jumped in. And with the scorching temp, it beckoned me.

Maybe if I just dip my toes in the water? I chewed on my lower lip and looked around. Just like Susie said, it was empty. I toyed with the hem of my dress and pulled it up and over my head.

“I can sit and dip my feet in the water. That’s not scary,” I muttered even though I had been sticking to fast showers since I’d been discharged from the hospital.

Folding my dress, I set it on the edge of the pool and sat down. Slowly, I extended my legs and let them sink into the water. I exhaled and forced myself to relax. I rolled my shoulders as my legs kicked back and forth a little.

“Okay, this is nice. I can do this,” I told myself out loud.

“I’m sure you can do anything,” a deep voice sounded behind me, and I yelped.

“Shit!” I jumped but stayed where I was. My eyes caught sight of very manly feet before they roamed upward. A lot. They felt like they were going to pop out of my skull when I realized who the man standing beside me was.

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