Page 41 of Beneficial Misfortune

“Yeah, but everything’s more fun with more people to play, isn’t it?” Something about his tone and the way his eyes narrow tells me he isn’t talking about swimming anymore.

He turns away, walking back through the doorway he’d just come through a few minutes ago, and I’m struck silent by his comment still. Just before he leaves, he stops, catching my gaze over his shoulder.

“Why don’t you guys go get changed? I’ll grab my trunks and meet you in there.”

With that, he disappears, and the realization that I’m going to have to be in my swimsuit in front of him smacks me in the face.

Shit.

Chapter 13

I didn’t have a bunch of stuff prior to moving in, and even less after so much was destroyed. Honestly, it was hardly worth having movers, especially with a room that was already fully furnished with stuff way better than what I had. But Nathan had insisted he would pay for it so I could be with Addison instead of wasting my time moving my things. Not to mention, he didn’t seem keen on the idea of me going back there alone, not that I was either.

It sounded great at the time, but that also meant I went from living alone to a live-in nanny. Nowhere in that time did I think about the fact that I would have to swim. Addison had been so excited that she took off to get changed, and I was left standing in my room, staring down at my bikini.

It’s not as if it’s a string bikini; no, it’s more than appropriate for a backyard swim. Even with a little girl present, everything important will be covered. But knowing Desmond will be in the pool with us has me longing for a one-piece or, hell, maybe even a wetsuit.

Just his presence in the kitchen rocked me to my core. How the hell am I meant to swim with him with both of us half-naked?

I look down at my suit that lies out on the bed as if the red fabric has somehow personally offended me before I snatch it up and go into the bathroom to change. It’s not as if I have another choice, and delaying isn’t going to change anything.

Slipping into it, I do a turn in front of the mirror. I’d bought it online when I got my first check and never even tried it on. It had still been kind of chilly then, but it was on my list of things I didn’t take when I left and seemed easy enough to get. Thankfully, it fits, but I also seemed to have gained a bit more ass since then. Well, I’d gained a little everywhere, and while most of my clothes fit better for it, I’m not sure this is one of them. The bottoms come up to my belly button; I remember the ad saying they were slimming, but fuck me, could they have given me a bit more fabric on my actual ass? As it is, the fabric only covers a little more than half of my cheek, and while they make my ass look good, that's not at all what I want. I’m trying to keep my ass away from these guys, not put it on display.

The top is better, at least. The girls are snug, and while I have cleavage, it’s not enough that I’m worried they will spill out if I move around too much. Overall, it’s fine, and I’m probably overthinking it, but I still quickly jump online in search of a one-piece for the future.

A knock sounds at my door, startling me. “Are you ready, Ms. Kat?” Addison's voice filters through the door, and I can hear herexcitement. I can almost picture her bouncing in place, waiting on me.

“Coming,” I yell back, looking myself over one last time before I go to my closet and grab a pair of flip-flops, another purchase I’d yet to use. At least I had the foresight to buy them when I did.

Slipping them on, I pause for a second. I don’t want to leave her waiting long, but…

Before I can second guess it, I reach out, snagging one of my thin summer dresses and throwing it on over my suit. I’d bought them because they are simple and thin. Perfect to beat the heat but still acceptable at the school, and right now, this gray one will make the perfect cover.

Addison beams up at me when I pull the door open. Her suit is also a two-piece, but it's much more age-appropriate. The top is a lot like a sports bra, coming down to just above her belly button with thick straps, and the bottoms are shorts with a little skirt built into them. The whole thing is black with rainbow butterflies outlined all over it, and her little black flip-flops also have large butterflies that sit on her toes.

“That’s not a swimsuit,” she says, her face scrunching up in confusion as she takes in my dress.

“No, it’s not,” I tell her with a laugh as we head down the hall back toward the kitchen to go outside. “It’s a little cold in here, so I put it on to keep warm until we’re ready to swim,” I explain. It’s not exactly a lie; the house is kept at a lower temperature to combat the heat outside. It’s enough that I have goosebumps even with the dress covering me, but also, I’m not trying to explain to a five-year-old that I’m hiding from her brother.

She seems to accept my answer and happily hums as we make our way through the rest of the house. With every step, my heart beats harder in my chest until I have to force myself to take a deep breath to try to calm it.

We’re just swimming. I tell myself over and over until we reach the screen door. Earlier, when we went out, we did so at the other end of the house near the playset. I’d seen the pool. It’s impossible to miss how big it is, but standing here in front of it is kind of crazy and once again reminds me that we live in very different worlds, or we did.

When I think of a pool, I picture a large rectangle with one side deeper than the other, maybe even a slide or diving board with sun chairs around it.

This is nothing like that.

A deck with a grill, chairs, and a few tables sit right outside the door under an awning that I’m pretty sure is actually another deck for the second floor, though I can’t say for sure as I haven’t been up there to see. Off the deck, you can take the walk bridge to the center of the pool area, which is all dark stone. From there, you can get into the lazy river that circles the whole thing, or you can get into the main pool, hot tub, or the slide that’s built into the rocks that make a waterfall into the main pool…

Not feeling swimming and just want some sun? You can do that too because there are recliners on the stone divide between the pools, along with tables and a towel rack.

“Come on!” Addison whines, pulling at my arm, and I realize I’ve been standing here staring for a while now.

“Sorry, dear,” I tell her, letting her pull me across the deck and little bridge. She doesn’t waste a second before running to a rock and pulling it open.

What…

It takes me a second to understand what I’m seeing, but when she pulls out a pair of goggles, I realize it’s a deck box disguised as a large rock to blend in.

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