Page 48 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

Right. I take my cue and step back, heading for the upstairs bathroom as Brad shuts the door.

I make it back outside first and help clean up a bit as I wait for Brad. He emerges after a good ten minutes, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. His swim shorts—nota speedo, thank God—are in place.

“You good?” I ask, not used to seeing him so twitchy in a way that looks almost…nervous, as opposed to due to an excess of energy.

“Sure, sure,” he says quickly, eyeing the pool. Sonia and her kids are already in it. “So we just…get in the water?”

“Unless you don’t want to?” I check.

“Pft. No, it’s fine. Good. Yep. Just, uh, don’t toss me in, okay?”

“Of course,” I say, frowning after Brad as he heads toward the pool. He stops at the edge, sitting down and gingerly extending the toes of one foot into the water. After a second, he puts both feet in.

I ease down next to him, twisting around and dropping into the pool, knowing it’s best done fast. The cool water is a shock to my system, but considering the heat today, I welcome it. Brad has a grin on his face when I break the surface.

“Feels good,” I let him know.

He nods, but he makes no move to jump in. He does strip off his shirt, however, prompting my gaze to skitter away.

I swim for a bit while Brad sits with his feet in the pool. Sonia is floating again, and her kids are wading in the shallow end, floaties on their arms. When it’s been over ten minutes and Brad still hasn’t moved a muscle, I head his way.

“Everything okay?” I ask, settling my hands on either side of his hips.

He spreads his legs a little to give me space between his knees, a move I try not to read too much into. “Yeah,” he says. “It’s just…”

“What?” I prod gently.

He leans a little closer before saying, “I don’t know how to swim, Joey.”

I try to keep my shock from showing, but I’m not sure I manage it. “Why didn’t you say so?”

“I was embarrassed.”

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” I assure him, even as my gut twists. “Shit, bub, what if you’d fallen in?”

His lips turn up the slightest bit at the corners. “You said you wouldn’t let me drown.”

Well, that’s the absolute truth.

I take a quick breath. “Want me to teach you?”

He looks around again, and it’s not hard to guess why.

“None of them will judge,” I promise. “And they don’t even have to know. We can start in the shallows, and I’ll lead you out to the deep end, okay?”

Brad looks into my eyes for the longest time before nodding. I ease back as he hops to his feet, heading around to the other side of the pool. My pulse is thundering as I swim his way, although I’m not even sure why. It’s just swimming lessons.

But it’s Brad. Trusting me.

He’s confident enough as he walks down the steps into the pool, even as he shivers. I try not to stare too long at all that exposed skin, instead focusing on making sure he’s comfortable. I meet him where the water starts to get deeper.

“Ready?” I ask quietly. I’m pretty sure Sonia will clue in to what we’re doing, but I’ll still try my best to make sure Brad isn’tself-conscious about it. “Just hold on to my arm, and I’ll do the rest, okay?”

He nods, taking my arm and walking forward as I step backwards toward the deep end. As soon as we get to chest height in the water, Brad scrambles, all but attaching himself to me. I brace as he wraps his arms over my shoulders, his legs curling around my waist.

“Sorry,” he whispers frantically. “Sorry, sorry. I freaked.”

“It’s okay,” I assure him, rubbing his back as my heart thrashes wildly.

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