Page 76 of The Best Friend Power Play

I am definitely not that woman.

And the boobage? Don't even get me started on that.

I don't just have side boob on display, I'm showing top and bottom boob as well. It's basically a pastie.

This is a nightmare.

"Hannah? What's wrong? You okay in there?"

"No."

"Just come out. Look. We don't even have to go into the water. We can sit by the edge. And then, only if you're comfortable, we can put our feet in. We'll amend the hot girl summer list to Put feet into ocean water rather than Swim in the ocean."

Hearing him say that triggers some reverse psychology within me and makes me want to push myself out of my comfort zone and do this. I can swim, and I'm fine with pools, but for some reason, open ocean water petrifies me. I've never been able to go any deeper than waist-level.

But I want to do this.

And Culver's idea is the perfect way for me to do that.

He's found a little-known ocean pool—one of only a few on the west coast—about an hour's drive south of Comfort Bay. It blends in almost seamlessly with the sea, but it is in fact protected from it. Since it's still the ocean, it technically counts as swimming in the ocean.

It's so sweet and thoughtful of him—and the ideal place for me to push past my fear.

I huff out a determined breath, refusing to let this burlesque bikini win. I'm in control here, and I'm going to do this.

Who knows? Wearing this monstrosity might be the motivation I need to get me into the water faster.

I step out of the change room, which is a small cabin in a row of small wooden cabins running along one side of the pool, and I'm greeted by a smiling Culver.

Well, he was smiling when I stepped out.

Now his face has morphed into that clown at the country fair…except this time, it's not shock that's registering on his face.

It's something else.

Something that looks a lot like desire.

A sexy half-smile stretches his lips. "Oh, Hannah. You look…wow. I mean, you're always gorgeous, but this is…this is…I don't have words."

"I'll take gorgeous," I say, running a hand up and down my arm self-consciously.

He strides up to me and cups my cheek. "Gorgeous," he repeats, his brown eyes shining intensely. "You are so, so gorgeous."

A warm shiver races through me as I hold his gaze. "How come you're still wearing a towel?"

"No reason."

I can tell there's a reason and I should be asking about it, but I can't stop looking at him, just like he can't stop looking at me.

Eventually, the squawks of a seagull flying overhead break us out of the trance.

He extends his arm, and I take his hand as we walk over to the pool. It's a cloudless summer day with just the slightest hint of a breeze, but the pool isn't busy.

It really is a well-kept secret.

"How did you find this place?" I ask.

"Did some online research about the best way to support someone to overcome their fear of ocean swimming. That led me to a few chat forums. I posted a couple of questions to get some more information, and someone privately messaged me about this place."

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